Model Airplanes

While time and age have “clipped his wings” a bit, Odis Brown of Millington, Tenn. still yearns to have his “head in the clouds,” even by watching a model of an airplane he helped fly soar through the Mid-South skies.

Within the next month or so, Brown should have the dream made real, thanks to the aid of DeSoto County men proficient in flying model airplanes and who also have an interest in flying the real thing.

Brown, a flight engineer on a plane that was known as the “Puddle Jumper II” while in the Pacific Theater of World War II, including Iwo Jima, about four years ago had started to build a 1/16th model of the airplane.

The 91-year-old Brown, who also has a passion for radio-controlled airplanes that grew with his love for the “real thing,” wanted to build what is called a Jack Stafford B-24 and had two kits that he started to build, hoping to finish one and fly it.

However, the project became more than he could handle, so in stepped the DeSoto Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and the North Mississippi Radio Control Club (NMRCC), or “Hernando Tale-Draggers” as they are known, to give aid and a “lift” up.

DeSoto Squadron CAP Commander Jim Harris, who has been a long-time friend of Brown, initiated the project to finish what Brown had begun and is grateful for the help provided by the RC club.

“It’s almost like building a real airplane,” Harris said. “The tolerances are very small and

Article source: http://www.desototimes.com/news/puddle-jumper/article_ded53b78-ea34-11e5-b05c-07fecfad6b87.html

Murland Taylor lifted the front end of the 3/4-sized model AT-6 Texan Advanced Trainer, while volunteers lined the body and helped him to raise it up and sit it atop the scissor lift inside the Parsons Historical Museum.

“They used the AT-6 at the Coffeyville and Independence (Army airfield) training bases,” Taylor said. “This is similar to what they were flying during World War II. They would start them out in Piper Cubs for primary flight training. What they had for training was a lot of private planes that were loaned or they rented to train (Army, Navy and Marine airmen) in the basics. Then they moved them to a basic trainer and then the AT-6 Trainer. They all used this kind of plane. They did this for about two months and then they were taken to Europe or South Asia. They went from

Article source: http://www.parsonssun.com/news/article_511e729a-ea48-11e5-a035-7bc72e7b4023.html

It was a busy afternoon in the sky, as airplanes and helicopters soared among the clouds. The Durban Deep Radio Flyers is a club based in Ruimsig where 50 plus members come out on weekends to fly their radio-controlled airplanes and helicopters.

Peter Carlisle, treasurer of the club said that this sport is such a good way to get rid of frustrations. “In order to be a part of this club a person has to be a member of the South African Model Aircraft Association,” said Carlisle. According to chairperson of the club, Roy Starr, the simple airplanes start at about R2000, but once people get more into the sport the airplanes become much more expensive.

To be able to fly these planes, you don’t need to be a pilot. Starr said that children as young as ten years old can fly the planes if they understand the technicality. “We have a training plane that people can use to learn how to fly,” explained Carlisle. He added that a trainee’s radio can be linked to a professional flyer so if there is a problem the expert can take over.

“If someone with no experience comes to the club, our members will even help him assemble his plane,” said Carlisle. The venue has a tar runway that is 170m long and a grass runway, 100m in length. “This sport is so good just to get away from everything. You have to concentrate on the plane the entire time. You cannot think

Article source: http://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/217879/is-it-a-bird-no-its-a-model-airplane/

Dreary gray clouds and rain hung over the Centre Region Sunday, but that didn’t deter families from enjoying the indoor SpikesFest 2016.

Hosted at the Penn State Multi-Sport Facility, SpikesFest brought the enjoyment of a day at the ballpark away from the rain, where parents and children could play games, hear music and take in a fun Sunday afternoon.

Sunday marked the 10th annual SpikesFest, Spikes Producer of In-Game Entertainment Director Ben Love said, as sponsors, community groups and nonprofits gathered together. Community groups stepped up by bringing their own activities this year, he said.

While we’re a baseball team, it’s not just about baseball. It’s all about all of Centre County and getting active in your community.

Spikes Producer of In-Game Entertainment Ben Love

“While we’re a baseball team, it’s not just about baseball,” he said. “It’s all about all of Centre County and getting active in your community.”

Many community sports groups were present, including the State College Lions Youth Football, Centre Bulldogs Youth Football and Cheer and State College Little League, and provided ball tosses and other activities. The Spikes provided entertainment, too, with an inflatable bounce house, obstacle course and a giant game of “Golfzilla.”

Taking over one corner of the room, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania provided foam building supplies, toy car races and other building and learning opportunities. Outreach Events Coordinator Natalie Kapustik said the event gave Discovery Space an opportunity to spread the word about its preschool camps and weekday programming.

The museum will usually see an increase

Article source: http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article65853537.html