Model Airplanes

Paul Catala

LAKELAND — It’s a scaled-down way to take a time-traveling trip back to the skies of World War II.

Beginning today, Oct.20 and running through Saturday, Oct. 22, the war birds of yesterday will take to the sky over Lakeland once again, as the Twelve O’clock High Warbirds Classics radio-controlled aircraft event is held at Paradise Field at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, radio-controlled model planes — some of which have wingspans of over six feet — will fly under the remote-controlled instruction of their makers and owners. The sky will become abuzz with replica warplanes, biplanes and planes of yesteryear, representing more than six decades of aviation history.

Event organizer and promoter Frank Tiano some of the radio controlled airplanes have average weights of 50 pounds, run on 20 or more horsepower and can cost up to $30,000.

“These aren’t your kids RC models,” said said Tiano, who’s been in the model aircraft hobby since 1951. “These are serious hobbyists.”

Tiano said 12 O’Clock High draws about 100 pilots flying 220 airplanes and as many as 4,000 spectators on the ground, looking up. He said the event is also a draw for boosting local business and is “the only scale aero-modeling event in the world with cash prizes.”

“I came to realize it’s also good for the community,” he said. “I enjoy making things work and people making money, people having a good time. So, I’m providing a service and fun at the

Article source: http://www.theledger.com/news/20161019/12-oclock-high-model-aviation-event-takes-off-oct-20-22

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Article source: http://www.eacourier.com/news/pima-co-chief-deputy-indicted/article_b518f462-9265-11e6-83a5-4b5cf442f9c1.html

As consumer drones become increasingly common, governments around the world are keeping a close eye at the dangers they pose — especially to regular aircraft. The UK government has even commissioned a series of test crashes between drones and planes, to find out exactly how much damage a quadcopter could cause in a real-life collision.

The tests are being funded by the UK’s Department for Transport and will be carried out by military contractor Qinetiq, with a full report set to be published before the end of the year. A spokesperson for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, which sets the country’s drone regulations and is providing technical support for the tests, told The Verge that the crashes will be examining damage to airplane fuselage. Contrary to a recent report by The Daily Mail, the crashes won’t be carried out in mid-air and nor will they involve commercial jets — military aircraft will be used instead.

“The testing of potential collision impacts between a drone and a fixed wing aircraft is currently being carried out on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defense,” a CAA spokesperson told The Verge. “The findings of this research is expected to be published when completed.” However, it’s not known where the tests will take place, or exactly what they will involve. Neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Department of Transport would comment when contacted by The Verge.

In the UK, there have been a number of reports of “near misses” between drones and commercial airplanes, but regulators say

Article source: http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/18/13314916/drone-crash-airplane-test-uk-dangers

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Planes from a range of eras took to the skies above Love-Hatbox Sports Complex Friday and Saturday. Of course, they were-remote controlled models, but that didn’t stem the crowd’s enthusiasm during the 15th annual Hatbox Memorial Giant Scale Fly-In. 

The event, hosted by the Three Rivers Area Model Plane Society (TRAMPS), saw pilots flying everything from a Japanese Zero fighter aircraft to a Piper Pawnee crop duster. Each plane was “giant scale,” which meant they were larger than your standard model aircraft.

While most planes relied on standard propellers, there also were several jet aircraft, which used turbine engines to climb into the air.

Pilots stood in a safety box nearby as they guided their planes through twists and loops, coming down for low passes over the runway or chasing one another through the sky.

The Pawnee crop duster showed off its functioning applicator, thanks to pilot and Oklahoma Sooner Squadron member, Jim Ellis. He sprayed the runway during a sweeping pass early Saturday morning.

Ellis said the plane was a 40 percent scale model of its real-life counterpart, and took about 10 months to build because it was created from “scratch,” using plans.

There also were planes at the show described as “ARF,” or “almost ready to fly,” he said, which can take around a month to prepare for flying.

Ellis said a large part of the fun when it comes to building model airplanes is delving into the original aircraft’s past.

“You have to do a lot of research,” Ellis said. “You learn a little history. All

Article source: http://www.mooreamerican.com/oklahoma/news/model-airplane-group-takes-to-the-skies/article_21225d4f-081f-5380-a203-648835e184be.html