Aspach 1999
by James Frolik
|
Saturday morning arrivals getting ready, Sunday morning pilot briefing, and Sunday's first flight line. |
EVERY SUMMER there are many electric airplane meets, but depending on where you live in the world there's usually one yearly event that everyone looks forward to with much anticipation. In Germany this is Aspach, and many in Europe think it is the best of its kind. The ninth such gathering was held the 17 and 18 September 1999, and over the two-day event 149 pilots registered some 249 models. The event is run very orderly, including the flying, and one must not forget this is more an air show than a Sunday chili-feed funfly; imagine a modelers' casual Oshkosh. Between the official 10 am to 5 pm flying time you might only get in two—at most three—flights, but the information acquired and sights you witness should easily occupy the time while waiting your turn. Outside these times the flying is open and not officially controlled.
Aspach is about 15 miles north of Stuttgart just outside the little village of Gross-Aspach near the town of Backnang. The host club, MFG Aspach e.V., has a beautiful flying site with an approximately 300 x 30 foot tarmac runway on about six or seven acres of nicely cared for green grass. With or without landing gear, you can fly it here. And neighboring countryside is primarily gentle, rolling cornfields. A camping place is available free of charge (but without utility hookup) and plenty of reasonable hotels are located some 10 minutes drive away in Backnang.
The meet could almost be called a scale event, and it is the scale models that captured the most attention. There are few sport or non-scale funfly types, a typical scene at Aspach. Of all models in 1999, electric ducted fans were about 23 percent in number but seemed to occupy about 40 percent of the flight line. Helicopters also received good billing—nearly 7 percent in '99 compared to about 3 percent in '98—which is an area of electric flight that I believe is developing quickest at the moment. A few sailplanes were also present and used for electric tow plane demonstration.
The craftsmanship of all models is also worth mentioning. After attending his first Aspach meet, newcomer Gordon Tarling from England noted, "I honestly can't recall seeing what I would call a `tatty´ model—they were all built and finished to a very high standard." He and fellow Englishman, Robert Mahoney, also visiting for the first time, relished their visit and were amazed at what they saw—in piloting skill too. But each did comment they were used to events where more models flew at the same time, such as KRC in the U.S. which Gordon had attended.
About a dozen vendors the likes of WeMoTec, Kontronik, Batt-Mann, and Savex + Schreiner were located nearby behind the impound tent (center photo above). And if you weren't flying, snacks and beverages like Bratwurst and Coke, and naturally good German beer, were available.
Many people were hoping that prominent Swiss modeler, Hans Bühr, would show up with his much talked-about radio-controlled Buran space shuttle atop his 1:25 scale Antonov An-225 EDF model. But other priorities kept him near home. He and some friends had just bought a real Bücker Jungmann that required attention. Well, maybe next year. But for the sake of attraction, a photo of his An-225 which I took at Aspach '97 is placed at the very end of Part 2 of this review (to be published online in February 2000).
Included are a few photographs of other interesting models I took two weeks later at the Eudenbach E-Meeting some 40 kilometers south of Cologne. These are noted with (EU) after the caption. Any prices quoted within the entire article are figured at an exchange of $1 = DM1.946.
As in my previous E Zone reviews, nearly all measurements are listed in metric. With so many e-flight products being manufactured in Europe, I would highly advise adequate familiarity with the metric system. Nonetheless I will include a few basic conversions and a helpful metric conversion website.
25.4 millimeters (mm) = 1 inch
0.3048 meter (m) = 1 foot
28.375 grams (g) = 1 ounce
1 kilogram (kg) or 1000 grams = 2.2 pounds
For those who desire more information about MFG Aspach e.V., you can easily view their website at:
http://members.aol.com/mfgaspach
I have listed some models as targets within the article to help reduce scrolling.
Propeller
Models
|
Shortly after its appearance at Aspach 1998, photos and mention of this model circulated in magazines and the internet for a while. Well, here it is again, but new and improved! The giant C-130 crashed at Aspach 98 during its second flight after the left wing separated at the root. The cause was diagnosed as insufficient spar strength needed to sustain the unexpected negative G-forces encountered in flight. After the crash Jörg Golombek sadly collected the few salvageable pieces and disappeared. A while later he returned to the workshop to rebuild it (which basically meant starting over), but this time with a spar designed to withstand roughly +5/-5 Gs; the original was +5/-2.5 Gs. Because the additional reinforcement and modifications added weight, he was forced to remove 48 battery cells to keep the model under 20 kg, but he was also able to use RC2000s instead of 1900 mAh cells. (Starting at 20 kg a model here must be registered with federal aviation authorities.)
Returning in 1999 with assistant Michael Häberle, these two guys known as the Hercules Team demonstrated the C-130 again, and this time Jörg made a handful of flights without any problems. Although the model flies unrealistically slow, it sounds nearly real and appears to be a more solid flyer than before. Jörg was very pleased with the performance—the audience too! Those remembering last year gave him some extra applause. He can be contacted at j_golombek.of(at)werzalit.de.
|
|
In the second and third photos above, one interesting point to mention is the area between just beyond the takeoff spot and the forest in the background. The pictures don't show depth very well, but the distance is about 300 meters, and what lies in between is the southern end of a rock quarry with vertical walls about 100 meters deep, and then some. Even thought it's fenced off, it can be dizzying standing near the edge, and occasionally a model disappears over it and doesn't return—crash! Nonetheless it's impossible to avoid flying over the quarry when landing from that direction, and some modelers actually enjoy diving their planes into it and out of sight, then (if their timing is good) pulling up and suddenly into view just before reaching the flying field. With practice this maneuver isn't really that daring, but if it's done in a real airplane..........well, more on this later (or click here).
|
Wing span is 3200 mm, weight 13.9 kg. Power is by 2 x Ultra 1800-6 motors with Kruse Synchro-Gear 2500, 2.4:1 gearboxes, 13.5 x 8 Super props. Controller: 2 x Schulze f43-60bo. Battery: 2 x 28 Panasonic 1700, one for each ESC. Retracts are Gietz, the model has landing lights, and flight times are appr. 7-8 minutes. The plane uses 10 channels and 9 servos. |
|
|
This model appeared in last year‘s Aspach review, but with a different propeller. (Big news, huh?) But you also need some of the following information for Michael Sokowski‘s picture (right). A balsa kit converted from gas power, the wing span is 1850 mm, wing area 1 m2, wing loading 60 g/dm2, weight 6 kg. Power is an Aveox 1412/4 to a Planeta Super Chief 6:1 gearbox turning a modified Menz 20 x 12 prop. Battery: 36 x 2000 mAh. Covering: Oracover. |
This model is the same as Klaus Dieter-Sohn‘s, only it has a different power setup, wing loading, and all-up-weight. Power is an Ultra 2000-5 with a self-built 3:1 synchro gearbox turning a Menz 19 x 10 prop. Wing loading is appr. 55 g/dm2, weight is 5.5 kg. Controller: Schulze 60 amp (outdated) without brake. Battery: 28 x 1700SCR. |
|
Marcel‘s Do-24 is 4 years old and has flown in a number of sea plane competitions, notably the Bodensee (Lake Constance) competition in southern Germany. It‘s scratch-built from balsa and covered in silkspan with a lacquer finish. Wing span is 3750 mm, wing loading 80 g/dm2, length 2750 mm, and it weighs 17.5 kg. Power is from 3 x Ultra 2000-7H (helicopter) motors with Kruse Synchro-Gear 2500 2:1 belt-drive gear boxes turning APC 15.5 x 13 props. Each motor has its own ESC and battery pack. Controller: 3 x Schulze mcf43-75bo. Battery: 3 x 24 x Panasonic 1800EX. Retracts are from WABO and the flight times are around 10 minutes. Although he often flies from hard surfaces, Marcel says the model starts better from water. (Top) |
|
If responsibly trained, there‘s no reason an 8-year-old can‘t perform with the adults. With a little launching help from his dad, Nico Niewind from Müssingen did just that. It‘s great to see the next generation of modelers get their day in the arena. His Styrofoam C-130‘s wing span is 1800 mm and weighs 1.95 kg. (I think it's from Conzelmann Modelltechnik.) Power is from 4 x Speed 400/7.2v motors with 5.5 x 4 Günther Props and 8 x RC2000. |
|
|
This is a beautiful second world war French fighter that you don't see many models of. Built from plans, the D-520's construction is all balsa and covered in........well, everyday paper. Wing span is 2000 mm, wing area 75 dm2, and weight 5.7 kg. Motor is an Ultra 2000-5 with a Kruse Sychro-Gear 2500, 2.4:1 belt-drive, turning a Menz 18 x 12 prop. Controller: Kontronik 50 amp Cyber-Opto. Battery: 24 x 1700SCRC. Retracts are Giesendanner EL-7, and average flight times are appr. 5-6 minutes (full throttle is appr. 3 minutes). |
Bob's rebuilt scratch-built Piper is of balsa and plywood construction and covered in Glosstex. Wing span is 2500 mm and weight is 11.4 kg. Motor is an Aveox 1415/2Y brushless to a Robbe Planeta 3.7:1 gearbox and Robbe 17 x 8 prop. Controller: Aveox H-160. Battery: 21 x RC2000. Flight times are at least 7 minutes. Bob Mahoney and Gordon Tarling came over from England to experience their first Aspach. Gordon had already been to KRC in the U.S. a number of times and its cancellation offered him the opportunity to come here. Both men enjoyed the event. |
olik S-137
Juraj Tinka is founder of Jeti speed controllers and hails from Pribor in the Czech Republic. Until recently, Juraj was a Czech Air Force pilot and instructor who flew the Antonov An-26, and the Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatross.
|
The Smolik S-137 is a scale model, only the original was never built. Plans for the full-size airplane were drawn in the early 1900s and a static model was built for display at the 1920 Prague Air Show, but that‘s as far as it ever got. The design had never flown until Juraj came along. Since much of the original documentation was lost, misplaced, or destroyed through neglect over the communist years, a lot of research went into this model to enable Juraj to scratch-build a model replica.
|
Construction is all balsa and plywood, and the covering is fabric. Wing span is 4050 mm, wing area 1.6 m2, length 2350 mm, and weight 14.5 kg. Power is from 7 x Mega Mini 7E motors, each weighing 220 g and designed for 7-8 cells. The 8.5 x 5 props are handmade and direct-driven—no gearboxes. The 4 wing motors are wired in series to one ESC, and the 3 fuselage motors are wired in series to another ESC. Controller: 2 x Jes 40. Battery: 28 x 1700SCR to the wing motors, 24 x RC2000 to the fuselage motors. It flies very slowly, but quite nicely. (Top) |
|
Ludwig Retzbach is a very active and experienced modeler in Germany and he regularly contributes a wealth of information to the electric flight literature. Among his many articles and publications is his updated book “Ratgeber Elektroflug“ (translated it means “The Electric Flight Advisor“) by Neckar-Verlag GmbH (Neckar Publishing, © 1999) Neckar-Verlag(at)t-online.de. At Aspach he handed me a copy and asked if I would take a look at it and comment. The book is a current and detailed overview of electric flight. It is highly saturated with often sought after and hard to find information on many aspects of the hobby, particularly the ever-improving electrical and technical parameters we are often forced to wade through—and hopefully understand. It's full of excellent black and white photos and very useful diagrams, graphs, charts, and formulas. The one downside is that it‘s only printed in German, but Ludwig would like to have it published English. Ludwig can be contacted at LRetzbach(at)t-online.de.
|
|
|
This Aero-naut model has a 1830 mm wing span, wing area 42.1 dm2, length 1130 mm, and weighs 4.2 kg. Power is from an Ultra 1300-7 motor, 2:1 LMU gear-reduction and 15 x 6 Menz prop. Controller: Schulze f43-60bo. Battery:14 x RC2000. Flight times are 5-6 minutes. (EU) |
This Velcom kit is made in the Czech Republic and has a fiberglass fuselage and abachi wing and tail. Price is DM 395 (US $203). Wing span is 1700 mm and weight 3.2 kg. Power is from 2 x Velcom 25-16 motors direct to Super 9 x 5 props. Controller: Schulze f43-60bo. Battery: 10 x CR3000. Current is 55 amps. Flight times are around 4 minutes at full throttle. After Aspach Josef rewired the motors in series and hooked them up to 20 x RC2000, which brought the current down to 28 amps. For more about this model go to http://www.modellbau-hoelzl.de. |
This model was also here in '98. Scratch-built from balsa, the wing span is 2240 mm, wing area 80 dm2, and it weighs 4.3 kg. The motor is an Aveox 1412/Y4 brushless with a self-built 4.05:1 gearbox turning a Menz 21 x 10 prop. Current is 44 amps from 24 x 1700 mAh. Controller: Kontronik 3PO-35-14-32. |
|
|
|
Wing span is 1600 mm, weight 4.6 kg. Motor is an Ultra 2000-5 with a self-built 2.3:1 belt-drive gearbox turning an 18 x 10 prop. Battery: 24 x RC2000. |
Built from a plan review featured in “Flug- und Modelltechnik“ magazine‘s 2/91 issue, this all balsa model has a wing span of 2400 mm and weighs 12 kg. Power is from 2 x Ultra 1300-7 motors wired in series with LMO 2:1 belt-drive gearboxes turning Menz 15 x 6 props. Controller: Schulze f43-125fo. Battery: 30 x CR3000. Peak current is 48 amps. Retracts are Hawe with pressure air struts. The model has flaps, and flight times are appr. 6-8 minutes. |
This info is a little sketchy. Wing span is 1250 mm, weight 2.2 kg, motor an unknown LRP with 7:1 gearbox turning a 13 x 7 prop, 10 battery cells. Current is 29 amps. |
P-51D Mustang
Most people spend the off-season—or whole year—building just one or two nice models. But folks familiar with British modeler Chris Golds‘ ducted fan projects are often amazed at how he builds beautiful and `fan´tanstic models at a seeming rate of, say.......one a month! Well, okay, I'm gushing a bit. He‘s not that fast—or is he? Anyway, there is only one other guy I know who could possibly produce as many superbly finished models in the same amount of time. That guy is Franz Schmid, but unlike Chris Golds, he fancies propeller models. (For those unfamiliar with Chris Golds, he is a regular columnist in Traplet Publication's Electric Flight International magazine.)
Franz was here last year with his beautiful JU-87 Stuka, but unfortunately a visitor accidentally fell on the left wing and seriously damaged the model. Franz has since repaired the Junkers and flown it successfully, but this time in its place he brought his new P-51 Mustang “Hurry Home Honey“ which had only flown 5 times before Aspach. On one flight he performed a beautiful one-wheel landing after the left gear failed to extend, and fortunately the model wasn‘t damaged. He also brought a trio of early century scale models, two of which he built for friends Klaus Seidel and Georg Höfelschweiger. And Franz Stockinger brought his Rheinland Schwalbe (above left), also built by you know who. Franz's trade as a cabinet-maker provides the skill and resources to—it‘s relative, but shall I say “easily“—construct such nicely finished models.
|
Scratch-built from balsa and fiberglass, the scale is 1:5, wing span 2260 mm, and weight 6 kg. Motor is a Lehner 22/40/17 brushless with a Reisenauer 6:1 Planeta gearbox turning a Maro 21 x 11 prop. Controller: Lehner. Battery: 30 x CR3000. Current peaks at 25-30 amps. Retracts are Giezendanner, and the tail wheel is also retractable and steerable. Flight times are around 8 minutes. (Top) |
|
The one-wheel landing after right gear failed to extend, P-51D engine compartment. |
|
The Bleriot (right) is scratch-built from pine struts and fiberglass, wing span is 2000 mm, wing area appr. 1 m2, and weight 1.3 kg. Motor is a Speed 600/8.4v with a 6:1 FEMA gearbox turning a Forte 18 x 10 prop from Conrad Electronic. Controller: Schulze Slim 35be. Battery: 8 x RC2000. Flight times are around 15 minutes. Instead of ailerons this plane utilizes cable connections which warp the wingtips‘ trailing edge up or down. |
|
|
Scratch-built construction is identical to the Bleriot and the wing span is 2000 mem, weight 1.4 kg. Motor is a Sped 600/8.4v with a self-built 4.8:1 gearbox turning a Forte 18 x 10 prop from Conrad Electronic. Controller: Schulze Slim 35be. Battery: 8 x RC2000. Flight times are around 15 minutes. Controls are elevator, rudder, and motor. |
Scratch-built construction is identical to the Bleriot but controls are like the Harlan's. Wing span is 2000 mm, weight 1.55 kg. Motor is a Speed 500 BB Race/7.2v with an 8.4:1 drivetrain-to-belt-drive gear unit (built by Klaus Seidl, see diagram) turning a Forte 18 x 10 prop from Conrad Electronic. Controller: Schulze Slim 35be. Battery: 8 x RC2000. Flight times are around 15 minutes. |
|
Beautifully constructed from plans, this balsa model is covered with Eco-Span. Wing span is 1800 mm, wing area 10 ft2, length 1350 mm, weight 3.8 kg. Motor is an Astro Cobalt 40G (with unknown gearbox ratio) turning a 13 x 9 Master Airscrew prop. Controller: Schulze f43-60bo. Battery: 20 x RC2000. Flight times can easily exceed 6 minutes, but Barry sets his timer for that duration and when it beeps he lands regardless of the power remaining. (Top) |
|
The Sky-Lady was used to tow a glider. Also at Aspach in 1998 (left picture) and featured before in other journals, this balsa kit model is 6 years old, has a wing span of 2020 mm, wing area 76 dm2, wing loading appr. 50 g/dm2, and weighs 4.96 kg. Power is from an Ultra 1800-7 and Zimmermann 2.3:1 belt-drive gearbox turning a Menz 18 x 12 prop. Controller: an unspecified Kontronik 50-30. Battery: 30 x 1700SCR. Flight times are around 10 minutes. |
|
|
|
Scratch-built from balsa, this model‘s wing span is 1500 mm, wing area 30 dm2, and weighs 1.5 kg. Power is from 2 x Speed 400/7.2v motors with Graupner 1.85:1 gearboxes and 8 x 4 Slim Props. Controller: Jung 35A/BEC. Battery: 10 x 1700AE. Flight times are 15-19 minutes! |
This plane was shown only sitting in the grass in my Aspach 98 review. It‘s scratch-built from balsa, wing span is 2000 mm, and weight 5.1 kg. Power is from 12 x Speed 400/7.2v motors (3 x 4 in parallel) direct to 6 x 3 props in front and 6 x 4 props in back. Controller: old Schulze f-60bo. Battery: 24 x RC2000. |
Wing span is 1090 mm, weight 1.6 kg, motor a Speed 700 BB Turbo 9.6v direct to an Aero-naut 8.5 x 6 prop. Battery: 12 x RC2000. |
Joachim Stopfer is owner of Jost Modell & Formenbau in Oberhaid, Germany, and two of his kits are the P-38 Lightening and Pushy Galore Both have a fiberglass fuselage and foam abachi wing. Pre-market price estimates are DM 735 (US $377) and DM 375 (US $192) respectively and subject to change. For more information contract jo.stopfer(at)t-online.de.
|
|
Wing span is 1260 mm, wing area 30 dm2, length 1200 mm, and weight 2.7 kg. Power is an Ultra 1300-8 direct to an APC 10 x 8 prop. Controller: Kontronik 100 Optomax. Battery: 16 x RC2000. The nose gear is retractable and the flight times are appr. 4 minutes. (Top) |
Wing span is 2350 mm with a NACA 2415 profile, wing area 64.6 dm2, 106.8 g/dm2, length 1650 mm, weight 6.8 kg. Each motor is a Speed 700 Neodyn with a 3.6:1 belt-drive gearbox turning a Menz Ultra 15 x 10 prop. Controller: Schulze bo53-60. Battery: 30 x RC2000. Flight times are appr. 5 minutes. |
|
|
|
Franz really came prepared. |
A Simprop model with a fiberglass fuselage and obechi wing, this plane‘s wing span is 1340 mm and weighs 1.7 kg. Power is from 2 x Viper 450/8.4v turning Aero-naut 6.5 x 4 Glas props, 8 x RC 2000 cells. Controller: Jung 30 amp. Flight times are 8-9 minutes. |
I think this model is a Ryan Hellcat, and I think that is Walther Verberne (associated with Jépé Fiberlatier) launching it. |
|
Scratch-built from balsa
with a fiberglass fuselage, the He-400‘s wing span is 1080 mm, wing area 19.3 dm2, wing loading 50 g/dm2, length 900 mm, and it
weighs 1 kg. Power is from 2 x Speed 400/6v turning 4.7 x 4.7 Cam Props. Controller: Power
Chip 25. Battery: usually 8 x 1250 mAh. Flight times are 4.5 to 15 minutes, depending on
flying style. Plane has self-built retracts. Email: mibe77(at)gmx.de
|
| Phillip Gardemin, editor of the German magazine Aufwind, wasn‘t at Aspach but I caught up with him at Eudenbach two weeks later. Email: gardemin(at)aol.com |
|
|
|
This model from Bahüer in Spain is all cardboard, the only exceptions being the motor mount and landing gear. Wing span is 1600 mm and it weighs 3.6 kg. Originally for a 6.5 cc gas motor, Phillip converted it to electric using a Robbe Sports 420/5 motor with a Graupner Power Gear 2.5:1 belt-drive gearbox turning an APC 11 x 5 prop. Controller: Simprop P60. Battery: 12 x RC2000. (EU) |
From RBC Models is the AT-6 Texan (see "Hollein" in Dortmund 99 article, 8/99 E Zone issue). This all balsa model has a wing span of 1260 mm and weighs 1.52 kg. Phillip‘s power setup is a Hopf Viper 600/20/8.4v motor with a Kruse Intro-Gear 300 Pico 2.54:1 gearbox turning an APC 10 x 6 prop. Controller: Jung YGE 30A/BEC. Battery: 10 x 1250SCR. Robart retracts are self-installed. Covering is 12 g silkspan with thinned white glue, then sanded and painted with Pactra spray paint. (EU) |
Competition & Novelties
(Top)
In August the Swedish F5B championship was captured by Gutmar Rüb, the German F5B champ. He and fellow F5B modeler Friedrich Mursch were also at Aspach to “Wow!“ the crowd with their planes‘ lightning speed and maneuverability. Unfortunately, during one screaming low flyby, both ailerons on Friedrich‘s plane completely severed at the hinge and it continued flying uncontrollably, but straight, about 400 meters into the tree base at the edge of the quarry‘s opposite side. It‘s amazing it didn‘t lose more altitude and slam into the quarry‘s wall. The cause of the aileron problem was never positively identified, but seeing how ultra fast it was flying, I‘d suspect excessive aileron flutter.
|
|
This is his
own F5B design and is 100% fiberglass with a carbon fiber spar and reinforcing. Wing span
is 1615 mm, wing loading 75 g/dm2, weight 1.85 kg. Motor is an HP
220/20/A2 with an HP 7:1 planetary gearbox turning a 15 x 20 folding prop. |
This Russian kit produced by Serge Sobakin is nearly 100% fiberglass, the exception being a 1 mm balsa skin glued to the wing and covered with yet another layer of fiberglass. It‘s not cheap and costs roughly US $670, but it does come with two 10 mm Volz aileron servos already mounted in the wing. Wing span is 1650 mm, wing area 22.37 dm2, weight 1.84 kg. Power is by a Kontronik Drive 1000 unit consisting of a KBM 52-18 brushless motor, a KPG 28 3.7:1 planetary gearbox, and a 3SL-60-14-32 FAE controller. He also uses a 15 x 15 self-built, carbon fiber, folding prop. Battery: 27 x 1000 mAh GM Racing (pushed). This is a hard-to-come-by imported model, but if you are interested in having one, inquiries should be directed to Mike at Kontronik GmbH in Germany. Email: info(at)Kontronik.com. |
|
|
|
This is a scratch-built original made from balsa and beer cans. Wing span is 500 mm, wing area 9.5 dm2, length 400 mm, and it weighs 400 g. Power is a Speed 400 Plus 6v (with integrated ESC), 6 x 3 Super prop, and 7 x 500AR cells. Model has 4 channels. André never could get it to take off at Aspach, as for it wouldn‘t track straight and continuously performed ground loops. He later told me it did fly the day after Aspach, but unfortunately not for very long. (Hopefully it's still in one piece!) |
Real Antonov An-2
|
|
As part of Saturday's Aspach entertainment, an aerial flyby of a real DO-27 and An-2 was an unexpected highlight. They had been casually flying high around the area at a safe distance until it was announced to temporarily stop flying any models. Then, unexpectedly, the An-2 appeared to begin a landing approach and made a low pass before the crowd. It climbed out, turned around, and made another low pass. That was extremely fun to watch! (Top)
The Aspach Quarry
Photo courtesy of Ulrich RöhrThen it was the DO-27's turn. Expecting a similar performance, everyone actually became a little frightened when it nearly did a one-wheel landing with its left wingtip banked toward the crowd, dropped only to within a few feet of scraping the ground! It climbed out, made a quick chandelle and headed around for another low pass, this time toward the quarry. Then it dove and disappeared into the quarry—yes, it is a big, deep, quarry. After the dive the sound became muffled. Many spectators were really unsure what was happening, but deeming from the daredevil flying, one couldn't ignore the possibility of an accident. But in the quarry and out of sight, the pilot performed another chandelle and dramatically pulled up over the quarry's edge and made a very low, sweeping left turn over the crowd at an altitude of, oh.........maybe 50 feet! Impressive, scary, and, concerning the low flight over the crowd, illegal and dangerous. The An-2 returned Sunday for a solo performance. No further word on the DO-27.
Back to article title.
N
ext month I will present "Part 2—Helicopters and Ducted Fans." I think you'll like it!Any questions? Send me an e-mail and I'll do my best to answer. I hope you have enjoyed this much.
James Frolik
Cologne, Germany
jdfrolik(at)hotmail.com
These photos, unless otherwise noted, are the property of James Frolik in Cologne, Germany, and may not be copied or reproduced for journalistic or commercial purposes in any form without written consent from the aforementioned person.
