CHICAGOLAND FESTIVAL OF GIANTS

 

RCWarbirds.com
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)
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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.

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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

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