In a story found here a 15 year search came to a successful conclusion. It seems that British soldiers buried 20 Spitfires in Burma to avoid their falling into enemy hands.
More of the story can be found here The Spitfires are to be dug up (buried 40ft below ground) and returned to England after 67 years!
This is a tremendous find. There are only around 35 Spitfires flying today. If any of those found can be restored to flying condition (given that they were buried in their original shipping containers and never unpacked that could very well be the case), warbird enthusiasts will be truly pleased.
Here is a Spitfire that is availalbe at RTF Skymasters:
With electric RC airplanes, you avoid the bigger costs and dangers associated with nitro-powered RC planes. Additionally, with electric RC airplanes and remote control helicopters, you get a safe and environmentally clean way to have RC fun. Neither AMA membership cards nor RC flight insurance are needed to use our electric powered RC planes; also, you are able to fly within most parks around the country without a permit. Essentially all you need to fly our RC planes is an open field.
RC airplanes that are electrically powered have several advantages over nitro RC planes.. They are clean running, make very little noise and are easier to operate than Nitro RC airplanes. There are some that insist that the sound of a nitro powered airplane add to the experience – and for them that may be true, but the restrictions on where you can fly do exist. Electric aircraft don’t require messy fuel, glow plugs or engine adjustments. Just charge your batteries, connect the wires properly and your electric RC plane will work without hassle.
An argument has been made that flight times for nitro powered aircraft are longer. On a per flight basis, there is truth there, but having an extra battery or two can give an electric powered airplane plenty of flight time and only need to be purchased once where fuel must be purchased on an ongoing basis.
Here are some new additions for your RC enjoyment:
Hobby Zone Super Mini Cub – ~32″ wing span. Find out more here
Hobby Zone Champ – 20″ wing span. Find out more here
Parkzone Micro J3 Cub – 18″ wing span. Find out more here
Parkzone Ultra-micro T28 Trojan – 16.8″ wingspan. Find out more here
PArkzone Ultra-micro F4U Corsair – 15.9″ wing span. Find out more here
(we call this the J3 starter to differentiate it from the J3 Super Class)
Special pricing at RTF Skymasters until April 30, 2012 on this RC airplane – look here
With family and other work considerations, it had been a while since my last flight. Conditions were finally favorable in both weather and the pull of other commitments to get in a flight. This time it was the J3 starter (3 channel, 380 motor, 37” wingspan, 28” length).
Very easy to install the battery. The compartment is just the right size so that battery placement is assured and center of gravity is maintained. The throws were set in the mid-range at both ends of the push rods. Tested the rudder and elevator to make sure there was free movement. Ran up the motor (need to push a button on the side of the fuselage to activate the motor – no accidentally hitting the throttle on the transmitter and getting a wrist full of spinning propeller!). Everything checks out.
Set the cub up facing the wind at my second favorite elementary school airfield (just because it is closer to home) and begin taxiing. Hmmm. Small problem. It appears that one of the wheels is not moving as freely as the other, so the cub taxis in a circle. Clean that up (dirt from having set the cub down on my lawn for some pictures). OK – ready to go again!
Throttle up – the cub needs very little “runway” (parking lot) to get airborne. The elevator was trimmed for take off and quickly reaches 40ft altitude. Back off on the elevator for neutral flight and start some gentle turns. The 380 motor is working well and not much stick is needed to change the flight path. Flew some circles to the left and right and did some climbs and dives – very responsive to the inputs.
The cub is handling the wind well (up to around 10mph this day) and flying at half throttle is quite relaxing. After flying for about 12 minutes this battery is about done. The motor turns off (rudder & elevator control does function) when the cub is about 30ft up. Wow, this thing has great glide characteristics. It barely descends even going with the wind setting up for a landing into the wind. Do the last left turn to line up with the parking lot and set it down nice and easy.
Unfortunately, forgot to bring along the other batteries that had been charged up that morning, so the flying was over. It was quite enjoyable – too bad the weather is supposed to be very windy and rainy for the next several days. Can’t wait to take it up again, this time with the extra batteries along.
The J3 starter is highly recommended as an airplane to learn RC flying with.
Happy Flying!
