|
|
Here
we are looking down the front row of tents on Saturday just before the
noon airshow. The warbirds ruled this year and I think there were twice
as many as last year. I took pictures of 26 warbirds and did not get them
all. If you are looking for a great fly-in for your warbird you can't
do any better than the July Chicagoland Festival of Giants |
 |
The
radio impound held more JR 10X's than I have ever seen in one place. The
guys from the "Fox Valley Areo Club" working behind the scenes
put in some long, hot hours and did an incredible job. Don Bennish CD'd
the event and keep everything running smoothly.
|
| On Saturday
night the Robart group invited everyone over to their facilities for a free
picnic. The food was great and the drinks were cold. They do this every
year for this event. |
 |
|
The
line-up for flying was long and hot on Saturday after the noon show. |
Ok
lets look at the warbirds that came to fly
 |
Mike
Kaas from
Leclaire Iowa showed up and flew his sharp P-47 Thunderbolt. Mike started
with Meister Scale plans, than made a foam plug for the fuse than cut his
own foam wings, glassing the finished assembly. This warbird weighs 40lbs
with a 103" wingspan. A Quadra 100 really pulls this Jug and the prop
noise is pure warbird. Scale static prop and functional side vents add realism
to this very nice P-47. (Click on picture to see
more) |
Terry
Olds from Ontario Canada brought his
PZL P-24 G Polish fighter. Terry scratch built this unusual model from balsa
and ply than covered it with Super Coverite. It came out at only 18lbs with
an 84" wingspan so the Quadra 42 in the nose really moves it. (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Gary
Dye From
Mission Texas brought this beautiful F6F Hellcat that he scratch built from
enlarged Bates plans. Wood and foam glassed than painted with PPG paint.
She has an 87" wingspan and weighs 27lbs. A Sachs 3.2 provides the
power. Gary says this will be a future Yellow Aircraft kit. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Gary
Dye from
Mission Texas also brought this fine looking P-38. Gary built this twin
from the Robart kit and used Stitts paint for the finish. Two G-62's pull
it's 53lbs with ease. 114" wingspan and Robart retracts finish her
up just fine. (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Bob
Walker from
St. Charles Illinois flew this nicely weathered Ziroli Corsair. Balsa construction,
Z-Poxy, glass. This warbird has a 96" wingspan and weighs 30lbs. A
Sachs 4.2 makes all the difference in this great looking F4-U.
(Click on picture
to see more) |
Gary
Bussell From Muncie Indiana shows us his Ziroli
Corsair. Wood construction with Coverite covering bring it to only 26lbs.
This warbird has a wingspan of 84" and is powered be a G-62.
(Click on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Dennis
D. Crooks from
Greencastle Ind. came to fly this great looking Mustang. A Ziroli design
with built up wing and glass fuse. Finishing is by Sikkens Auto and it
looks great. Wingspan is 96" and weight comes in at 45lbs. A Husky
Challenger 5.4 twin really gives this warbird a unique sound and plenty
of power. Dennis flew this several times during the event and each flight
was a thrill to see. (Click on picture
to see more) |
David
Chew from Spiceland Ind. flew his good looking
Ziroli Hellcat. David used all wood construction with fiberglass finish
on this beauty. She comes in at 40lbs with a 96" wingspan. The very
popular G-62 gives it the go and Robart gear get it straight down the runway.
(Click on picture
to see more) |
 |
 |
David
Chew from
Spiceland Ind. also flew this nicely done Sky Raider. David used Ziroli
plans and all wood construction. He finished with Z-poxy, glass for a great
finish. The Sky Raider weighs 32 lbs and has a 100" wingspan. A G-62
in the nose provides the power with Robart gear handling the ground stuff.
(Click on picture
to see more) |
John
and Debbie Howe from Hanover Park Ill. show off their great looking Nosen P-51. Conventional
construction finished with fiberglass and paint. Only 26lbs with a 102"
wingspan and a Quadra 65 to make it happen. Johns says this bird flies great
and proved it! (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Paul
Costello from St. Paul Min. gets ready to start
his Top Flight P-51. Balsa construction and Ultracoat covering help weigh
it in at 26lbs. A G-38 pulls it's 85" wingspan around just fine. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Steve
Gawlik from Downers Grove Ill. flies this nice looking Byron P-51. The construction
is fiberglass and foam glassed and painted. A Q-42 turns that great Byron
four blade. The wingspan is 87" and she weighs 23lbs. (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Vince
Maryanski from Naperville Ill. poses with his Ziroli Stuka. Vince used balsa construction
and glass cloth and came out at 33lbs. This 101" wingspan Stuka is
powered with a 4.2 American 70. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Merlyn
Graves from Coldstream Ill.proudly shows off his Ziroli Stuka. Wood construction
with fiberglass finishing put it at 32 lbs with a 101" wingspan. A
G-62 provides the thrust. (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Jason
G. Rigney from Arlington Hts, Ill. gives us
a look at his nicely finished Byron Corsair. Byron fiberglass and foam,
23lbs and an 86" wingspan complete the package.. This beauty is powered
by the ever popular G-62. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Paul
LeTourneau from Oconto Wis. is the proud owner
of this sharp F8F Bearcat. The Bearcat is a Ziroli design and constructed
of balsa and plywood with glass overlay. The bear comes out at 37lbs and
has an 86" wingspan. A G-445 turns the prop. This finish you have to
see larger so (Click on picture to see
more) |
 |
 |
Greg
Wright from Aurora Ill. brought this Yellow Aircraft P-47. This beauty is glass
and foam with fiberglass and paint finish. The Jug weighs 22lbs and has
an 80" wingspan. A Sachs 2.6 gets if flying just fine. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Jack
Conwell from Mooreland, In. owns and flies
the wings off this great looking Ziroli Corsair. This warbird weighs in
at 34lbs and has a 93" wingspan. A G-62 gets it rollin'.
(Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Bob
Tomasulo from Palantine Ill. brought
his great looking Vailly Aviation FW-190, version F8. Bob used a Vailly
glass fuse and a Precision cut wood kit for the rest. She came in at 38lbs
and carries a Latex paint job while a Zenoah GT74 powers her nicely. Bob's
beauty features Vailly retracts, Vailly custom front spinner fan, and a
Sliding air operated canopy/cockpit (Dynamic Balsa). Bob says she Flies
like a trainer and lands gently at 15 degree flap. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Paul
LeTourneau from Oconto Wis.and his F7F Tigercat. Paul scratch built this twin out of
balsa and then glassed it and painted it with acrylic lacquer.. It weighs
52lbs with a 124" wingspan and runs fine with two G-62's up front.
Paul flies this large warbird like a pro and always puts on a great show
wherever he goes. (Click
on picture to see more) |
 |
 |
Bob
Tomasulo from Palantine, Ill. with his Ziroli Corsair. This
good looking warbird was built by Jeff
Quesenberry and features a built up wing with fiberglass fuse. 93"
wingspan with functional flaps keep it flying while a Sachs 4.2 spins the
prop. Bob uses Coleman Fuel and says it performs the same as gas but with
no gas smell. (Click
on picture to see more) |
Victor
Fortino from Bartlett Ill. has a good hold
on his colorful Spitfire. Scratch built from Dave Platt plans by Roger Layton
this beauty flies with a B&E 2.7 and Robart retracts. Perfect paint
provides the color. (Click on picture to
see more) |
 Victor Fortino from Bartlett Ill. has a good hold on his colorful Spitfire. Scratch built from Dave Platt plans by Roger Layton this beauty flies with a B&E 2.7 and Robart retracts. Perfect paint provides the color.
|
 |
Victor
Fortino from Bartlett Ill.
also
brought this great looking Byron Corsair. The Byron Corsair is one of the
most popular Corsair kits and will be available again soon. This fine example
features a 4.2 Sachs, Robert retracts, and Perfect paint. (Click
on picture to see more) |
"Doc"
Yocke from Sugar Grove Ill. brought this very
nice T-34. Built from Mark Frankel plans using fiberglass, balsa, and foam.
This trainer weighs 40lbs with a 98" wingspan. A Zenoah 445 gets her
airborne. Robart retracts and flaps round out the package. |
 |
 Merlyn Graves from Cold Stream Ill. with his magnificent enlarged Ziroli B-25. Constructed from balsa and ply than fiberglassed this twin comes in at 44lbs with a 126" wingspan. Two G-45's fly it very scale. Merlyn Graves from Cold Stream Ill. with his magnificent enlarged Ziroli B-25. Constructed from balsa and ply than fiberglassed this twin comes in at 44lbs with a 126" wingspan. Two G-45's fly it very scale. |
Merlyn
Graves from
Cold Stream Ill. with his magnificent enlarged Ziroli B-25. Constructed
from balsa and ply than fiberglassed this twin comes in at 44lbs with a
126" wingspan. Two G-45's fly it very scale. (Click
on picture to see more). |
Armin
Weber from
Aurora Ill. holds the best looking Stafford B-24 I have ever seen. Covered
with brushed Chrome Ultracoat, 90" wingspan, 13lbs. Four O.S. .25's
fly it very well as
does Armin. Be
sure to Click on picture to see more.for this one! |
Armin Weber from Aurora Ill. holds the best looking Stafford B-24 I have ever seen. Covered with brushed Chrome Ultracoat, 90" wingspan, 13lbs. Four O.S. .25's fly it very well as does Armin.
Armin Weber from Aurora Ill. holds the best looking Stafford B-24 I have ever seen. Covered with brushed Chrome Ultracoat, 90" wingspan, 13lbs. Four O.S. .25's fly it very well as does Armin.
|
Event
CD Don Bennish sums up this great event
"The
pilot count was just over 150. Many of the registered pilots have attended
every Festival since it started 8 years ago. There were about 300 planes,
everything from WW1 Biplanes& Tri planes through Helicopters, Sport
planes, WWII fighters & Bombers, Turbines and lots of good old Piper
Cubs. We had pilots registered from Canada, IA, NY, NJ, OH, IN, MN,
MO, MI, KY, FL, IL and several others that I don't remember. The specter
crowd was much larger than ever before and even included a group from
Germany. My current estimate is over 3000 based on food, ice cream and
beverage sales. As you know, the weather was about perfect."
|
|
This
event was one of the best I have been to. The warbirds were everywhere
and the owners brought them to fly, not just display. Be sure and watch
this site for next years dates. |
Fox Valley Aero
Club
BACK to EVENTS
|
|
Become an RCWarbrids site supporter by making a donation.
|
$5.00 |
 |
$10.00 |
|
$15.00 |
|
$20.00 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
