John Bergsmith

Always enjoyed the Pronto so I decided to scratch build Pronto #3. I installed a new OS 20FP that runs perfectly. I had forgotten how much fun this little simple airplane can be. Tracks easily on takeoff, and landings are simple. It's amazing how aerobatic the Pronto on 3 channels can be.

Most importantly, easy and cheap to build.

John Bergsmith

A few more flight shots.

dennis

My Feedback: (90)

I had the pleasure of flying with Dave when I was at Langley AFB in 1968 and a few times in the 70's. Flew his original Pronto and it wasn't
hard to understand why it was such a favorite. He left us way too early.

Dennis

John Bergsmith

I agree Dave was a talented designer and a super nice guy. I got to fly with him many times, and always enjoyed talking to him. Yes gone way too soon!

Mad Man Marko-RCU

I never met Dave but agree that he was a fantastic designer. I was just working down in my shop and found a brand new kit of a Pronto plus a Pronto 25. I have also had Dave's Playmate and Parakeet bipe designs. They all flew fantastic. I have plans for many of the micro designs he did in RC Microflight and Backyard Flyer also. I spoke with him on the phone regarding his Micro Vagabond design. It was really saddening to read of his passing. He was a very nice and talented guy.

dennis

My Feedback: (90)

I had seen his micro Sperry Messenger and Corben Super Ace models with throttled TD-010 engines flying and at that time with micro single channel super regenerative receiver and actuator. This was heady stuff in 1968 and it was amazing to see low level, head level flying with a single channel super regenerative radio.

Mad Man Marko-RCU

Back in the mid 70's and early 80's starting with H-Rays and Esquires I flew a lot of single through 3 channel planes and the birds in the Pronto series and designed by Dave always flew extremely well and in most cases you didn't even miss the ailerons. I just went through my file of RC Microfli8ght magazines and Dave Robelen became a very prolific small and micro plane designer. All of his designs flew extremely well back in the days of brushed motors and small nicad packs. It's too bad that Dave really didn't get to see the electric revolution through to its current state of the art. He would have had a real blast with the power and radio equipment we have now. His Pronto series designs converted to electric make super easy and fly awesome with modern power and control systems.

RACE 66

Oh the memories, 1971 or 72, group of us in college dorms were rabid builders and flyers. Myself got a Pronto kit and assembled it in the dorms. Flying my Kraft Sport 5 channel with KPS 11 servos (HUGE by today's standard, even then) Veco .19. Great little flyer, would fly in a windy day, idle down and use the wind to 'soar' with it. A good primary plane, a great 3 channel flyer.

ebeneezer3

I was a broke airman at Langley in the early 60's. I joined the local RC club there and met Dave. He was indeed a great guy. I've built 3 of his Prontos. when I work up my nerve, i"ll put up a Parakeet. Dave described it as the biplane version of his Pronto. I always thought he had a nest on the ground, when I was at Langley he built and flew model airplanes for NASA research.

Ted

Truckracer

My Feedback: (19)

Oh the memories! In 71 or 72, our club had a one design "Pronto" event with monthly fun flys and a traveling trophy that the winner of the most events during the year could keep. I was fortunate to win that trophy, the first trophy of many I would win in this wonderful hobby. The local hobby shop made package deals with a Pronto kit and .15 engine of choice with the Enya or Fox .15 being the most popular. Radio choices were all over the place but I used an EK 3ch. LRB that always worked flawlessly and was extremely easy to install.

What a wonderful little airplane and a fantastic, extremely easy to build kit. I learned so much from that airplane and a couple more along the way. Recently at a friend's estate sale, I snagged a new, never used Pronto wing from the 70's so I guess there will be at least one more Pronto in my future after I build the fuselage to go with the wing.

kcc

Had one of these in the early 70's--Super Tigre 23 powered, Orbit single stick for occasional guidance. My dad and I flew it so much that on it's last flight, I did a loop and the front dowel holding the rubber bands pulled out......and the wing separated. It went down in a healthy farm field and we never found the fuse. About a year later, I got the engine back from a guy who got it from a guy who got it from a guy..... Was a fun plane! As I recall, it had a dowel as the leading edge of the wing.