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Celebrating it's 20th anniversary the 2008 Top Gun Invitational pulled out all the stops. Pilots from all around the world come to compete in this World Class event. Held each spring the event has seen some changes over the last two decades. Out growing its original location of the Palm Beach Polo Club in West Palm, Florida; the event is now home at the Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. This years event took place on April 23th - 27th and was a great weekend for those flying as well as for the spectators. With a wide variety of models in attendance there was something for everyone to enjoy. |
The event had 111 competitors this year competing in 5 classes, Masters, Expert, Team, Pro-Am Am, & Pro-Am Pro. Although the event is dominated by warbirds there were other civilian scale models as well. Below are just some of the great warbird models that were at the show. Enjoy!!! |
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Event coverage by: Michael Kramer |
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Dave Johnson took 2nd place in the masters class with his scratch built Albatros DVa, 118"WS, 32lbs, Fuji 64EI, Futaba 2.4, functional exhaust. |
Dave Johnson took 2nd place in the masters class with his scratch built Albatros DVa, 118"WS, 32lbs, Fuji 64EI, Futaba 2.4, functional exhaust. |
Dave Johnson took 2nd place in the masters class with his scratch built Albatros DVa, 118"WS, 32lbs, Fuji 64EI, Futaba 2.4, functional exhaust. |
Dave Johnson took 2nd place in the masters class with his scratch built Albatros DVa, 118"WS, 32lbs, Fuji 64EI, Futaba 2.4, functional exhaust. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans Hawker Typhon, 97"WS, Quadra 75, 47lbs, features landing lights, sliding canopy, electric retracts. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans FW190, 90.5"WS, 31lbs, features fiber glass fuse and built-up wings. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans Hawker Typhon and FW-190 |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans FW190, 90.5"WS, 31lbs, features fiber glass fuse and built-up wings. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans FW190, 90.5"WS, 31lbs, features fiber glass fuse and built-up wings. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans Hawker Typhon, 97"WS, Quadra 75, 47lbs, features landing lights, sliding canopy, electric retracts. |
Roy Vaillancourt's Vailly Aviation Plans Hawker Typhon, 97"WS, Quadra 75, 47lbs, features landing lights, sliding canopy, electric retracts. |
David Wigley designed and scratch built this Westland Wyvern 100"WS, features a free spinning counter rotating prop and functional trim tabs. |
Ron Schwarzkopf's scratch built this rarely modeled F-107A, 56"WS. |
This Team entry twin turbine Avro Vulcan was scratch built by Sam Snyder and flown by Steven Ellzey, Power comes from two JetCat P120's. |
This Team entry twin turbine Avro Vulcan was scratch built by Sam Snyder and flown by Steven Ellzey, Power comes from two JetCat P120's. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Ray John's and Mike Selby's team scale A-10 Warthog. The A-10 is powered by two PST 1300R turbines and is modeled after Col. P.J. Johnson's full scale A-10. |
Making an appearance at the show was Col. P.J. Johnson's in his full scale A-10. |
Making an appearance at the show was Col. P.J. Johnson's in his full scale A-10. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
Brian O'Merea's took 2nd place in Pro-Am Pro with his Sea Fury from Jerry Bates plans, 101"WS, 50lbs, 250cc Moki radial w/ 32x12 prop and Seirra retracts. |
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Jim Jenson's F-86F flown by Ali Maschinchy is 5th scale and is powered by an AMT turbine. |
Jim Jenson's F-86F flown by Ali Maschinchy is 5th scale and is powered by an AMT turbine. |
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PJ Ash's Meister Scale P-47, 102"WS, Quadra 100, Seirra retracts, fiber glass fuse and built-up wing. |
PJ Ash's Meister Scale P-47, 102"WS, Quadra 100, Seirra retracts, fiber glass fuse and built-up wing. |
PJ Ash's Meister Scale P-47, 102"WS, Quadra 100, Seirra retracts, fiber glass fuse and built-up wing. |
PJ Ash's Meister Scale P-47, 102"WS, Quadra 100, Seirra retracts, fiber glass fuse and built-up wing. |
PJ Ash's Meister Scale P-47, 102"WS, Quadra 100, Seirra retracts, fiber glass fuse and built-up wing. |
Andreas Gietz with the prototype Composite-ARF F4U-1D Corsair. 110"WS, 250CC RCS radial, folding wings. |
Andreas Gietz with the prototype Composite-ARF F4U-1D Corsair. 110"WS, 250CC RCS radial, folding wings. |
Andreas Gietz with the prototype Composite-ARF F4U-1D Corsair. 110"WS, 250CC RCS radial, folding wings. |
Andreas Gietz with the prototype Composite-ARF F4U-1D Corsair. 110"WS, 250CC RCS radial, folding wings. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Jason Shulman took 4th place in Pro-Am Pro with this Scale-Jets F-16C, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
David Ribbe took 3rd place in the masters class with this BVM MIG-15. |
David Ribbe took 3rd place in the masters class with this BVM MIG-15. |
David Ribbe took 3rd place in the masters class with this BVM MIG-15. |
David Ribbe took 3rd place in the masters class with this BVM MIG-15. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
Graeme Mears built this Scale-Jet 5th scale F-16C piloted by David Shulman. Together they took 1st place in the team class, 80"WS, AMT turbine. |
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Wolfgang Kluehr piloted this Jim Jensen A-4 Skyhawk in Navy Blue Angels colors. Composite-ARF kit w/ JetCat 160 turbine. |
Wolfgang Kluehr piloted this Jim Jensen A-4 Skyhawk in Navy Blue Angels colors. Composite-ARF kit w/ JetCat 160 turbine. |
Wolfgang Kluehr piloted this Jim Jensen A-4 Skyhawk in Navy Blue Angels colors. Composite-ARF kit w/ JetCat 160 turbine. |
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Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
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Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
Frank Alvarez's SAAB Draken competed in the expert class with this 121" long SimJet 3600 powered missle with wings. |
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