RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       

All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> "1/2 A" & "1/8 A" airplanes >> RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection
Page: <<   < prev  1 2 [3] 4 5   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 12/22/2005 2:12:10 PM   
Gofli


 

Posts: 57
Joined: 12/12/2002
From: Clayton, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Well,

I was wrong, I asked for the tracking # and it does indicate that the package was damaged, just as he said. The turnaround for UPS there must be amazing. I may try to buy it damaged and fix it, we're discussing it.

(in reply to Gofli)
       Post #: 51

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 12/22/2005 2:45:29 PM   
skylane42


 

Posts: 361
Joined: 4/6/2002
From: Portage, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I have heard others and experienced myself the destruction that UPS can do. I ship anything that USPS will take priority mail and have never had a problem and the delivery is almost always cheaper and always faster than UPS.

(in reply to Gofli)
       Post #: 52

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 12/23/2005 3:17:14 PM   
S. Christensen


 

Posts: 72
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Montezuma, IA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Tony,
Wow! This thread brought back a flood of memories! My first commercial job in the hobby industry was with Cox/Airtronics back in 1978. I was hired by Lee Renaud as a design engineer and one of my first assignments was the design of the Piper Turbo Arrow III. I remember clearly designing the model and building the prototype. Lee and myself went out to Mile Square to conduct the test flights and these were successful from flight one, with no need for any changes. During our test flying session, we noticed a fella sitting in the bleacher seats, taking photos. This guy was none other than Carl Goldberg. The Piper Turbo Arrow III presented some real manufacturing challanges for Cox but these were overcome and the model sold well. If you find one of these kits, you will see a photo of myself holding the model on the side of the box. This same photo was used in the 1979 Cox catalog. Later, the same basic airframe was used, with graphics changes, to create the follow-on product, the Piper Archer.

Interestingly, my prototype Piper Turbo Arrow III was used for all of the box art, advertising and press release photos that were required for this product. This was a bit intimidating because this was also the same model that we had to use for flight testing purposes.

In those days we had a group of pretty good pilots at Cox and these guys - myself included - made up the "Cox Demonstration Team". The company had special shirts made up for us and I still have mine to this very day. We performed at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and at the relatively new "Big A" stadium in Anaheim. We flew and demonstrated the Cox R/C aircraft products, including the Piper Turbo Arrow III. What a thrill for a fairly young designer!

I went on to design some additional products for the Cox/Airtronics company, including the Warlock 40 and the smaller sistership, the Warlock 05. The Warlocks were kits and sold under the Airtronics name. These were very successful products for Airtronics and I remain proud of them to this day. I still believe that the Warlock 05 would make a very viable product today, especially considering the lightweight radio systems available now. Working at Cox/Airtronics in those days was a dream come true for me and let me work with folks like Lee Renaud, Bill Seltzer, Roger Theobald, Dale Kirn, etc. All of these guys were already legends and working with them was a huge bonus for me.

Sorry to ramble on but your thread brought back so many good memories and I thought you might enjoy hearing at least a little bit of the story.
Scott Christensen

_____________________________

Scott
AMA L-47765, AMA Hall of Fame, Waco Brotherhood #42

(in reply to skylane42)
       Post #: 53

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 12/24/2005 4:12:08 AM   
EASYTIGER


 

Posts: 7676
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: nyc, NY, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: MajorTomski

Has anyone besides me flown both versions of the Sportavia?

The kit that came with US N numbers was .049 powered, the one with German markings was electric. Big ole can motor and a 3-C size nicad power pack.

I still have a gas one that can be made flyable.


Tom OKC


I flew both...climb on electric power was, how shall we say, stately, at best...but it did indeed fly.

I have a Fairchild 24 and a Canario nowadays, somewhere around here...

Scott Christensen, you were a legend yourself to a kid like me, back then...for real.

(in reply to MajorTomski)
       Post #: 54

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 12/24/2005 4:46:52 AM   
subarubrat


 

Posts: 613
Joined: 4/1/2005
From: Remington, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Same here, that Piper Archer is one that I have been chasing for a long time. They hardly ever show up on Ebay. And if I do find one I will most certainly have to wait till I find a second one to actually fly.

_____________________________

DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY

(in reply to EASYTIGER)
       Post #: 55

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 6/26/2006 6:28:29 PM   
troy55


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: Gardendale, AL, USA
Status: offline 		I know this series of messages is from a while back, but I just purchased a Cox Turbo Arrow and googled this and found these posts. I just wanted to say I'm a huge cox fan, first plane was a Sportavia when I was about 10 years old. Then I got a Centurion. Love these planes and wish they would make them again. I found a Sportavia a couple of years ago on Ebay still in the box. It is hanging in my workshop. Can't wait to add the Arrow to this. Any other cox fans feel free to email me troyharris55@hotmail.com

Later,
Troy

(in reply to Tony A.)
       Post #: 56

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 6/27/2006 6:15:16 AM   
lukesp



Posts: 364
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: BrisbaneQueensland, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Man, what an interesting thread. It makes me wish I had bought that Cox Ez Bee I drooled over years ago. Everyone around me said they were crap so I didn't bother.

(in reply to troy55)
       Post #: 57

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 7/28/2006 8:55:50 AM   
KA6IPK


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 10/10/2002
From: American Canyon, CA,
Status: offline 		It seems we always return to our first Love, and in the case of airplanes for me it's a Cox Sportavia. No matter how much more accomplished a modeler or flyer I've become, these old birds bring back an excitement and recollection of the hobby when I was just starting out, and the days long ago when the maiden flight of a new plane might or might not result in the plane coming home in one piece especially in the hands of a beginner flyer.

Today, I delve into Electric Ducted fan jets, electric helicopters, and an assortment of sailplanes and .15 to .40 size gas planes, but it still brings a special smile to my face to fly an old classic Cox plane. I know the planes were made of injected foam, but I think the old Cox planes had heart in them. What is it they say, "they don't build them like they use to".





Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize

(in reply to lukesp)
       Post #: 58

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 7/28/2006 8:59:37 AM   
KA6IPK


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 10/10/2002
From: American Canyon, CA,
Status: offline 		A few more pics

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize

(in reply to KA6IPK)
       Post #: 59

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 7/29/2006 4:11:52 AM   
brown-robin


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 7/29/2006
From: , MI, USA
Status: offline 		I just came across this forum and brought back a lot of memories of my first COX experience. I had just turned 7 years old or so in the late 1970's when my father had bought me a PT-19 control line trainer for my birthday. I think we flew it a few times and then I ended up keeping it on my shelf as a toy.

I also remember those lazy summer Saturday afternoon's when my father and I would go to the hardware store to run errands. For some reason, I remember him buying me a Testors control line Spitfire at the toystore. These Testors kits came in the square box and included the floppy disk like record that you would play and would provide you instructions on safety. Remember those?

For the past few years, I have been obsessed with collecting vintage COX airplanes, the one's that I remember growing up with in the late 1970's to mid 1980's. I collect the kits but don't put them together - keep them mint, unassembled condition. My collection has come mainly from eBay.

Right now, I am the proud owner of (3) American Eagle's, (2) Eagle II's, (2) Hawk electric powered - vintage, (1) EZ-Bee, (4) Cessna Centurion fuselage kits, (1) Sportavia - gas powered version, (1) Sportavia - electric powered version, (1) Typhoon, and (1) Scorpion.

Am still searching for a Piper Arrow.

Again, this site brings back many memories when I was growing up. I really wish COX could sell these kits again.

Regards,
Mike

(in reply to KA6IPK)
       Post #: 60

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 7/29/2006 4:48:26 AM   
lukesp



Posts: 364
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: BrisbaneQueensland, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		You don't collect the Cox CL models ? That is a big thing now, depending on type.

(in reply to brown-robin)
       Post #: 61

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 7/30/2006 4:46:29 PM   
brown-robin


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 7/29/2006
From: , MI, USA
Status: offline 		No - I don't really collect the plastic CL models. Mainly focus on the COX foam R/C models. The larger R/C foam models is what I really remember seeing being flown in parks and I think are much harder to come by in mint, unassembled condition.

The only CL model that I would love to own "mint in box", unsassembled condition would be the pink Super Sport. I am guessing that MIB condition is very rare for this model and hard to find. Have never come across one on eBay that is MIB, but continue to keep my eye's open.

Mike

(in reply to lukesp)
       Post #: 62

RE: Cox R/C Aircraft Collection - 8/6/2006 1:18:28 AM   
Tony A.



Posts: 32
Joined: 11/14/2002
From: Edwards AFB, CA,
Status: offline 		Hello Everyone,

Sorry I've been away for a while. The Air Force and my family have kept me pretty busy. It's been exactly a year since the last visit to this thread which I posted almost three years ago. Hard to believe! Last night, I spent time reading all of the replies and I'm just blown away by the deep personal Cox stories. This thread has taken on a life of it's own and I'm just tickled to know that many of us share a common passion. Several of the stories have a very similar theme of moving on to bigger, fast and even cleaner R/C models yet nothing can take the place those early days flying Cox aircraft. The great thing is that several stories even touched on Cox C/L models which is fantastic.

I want to thank the guys who worked at Cox and designed some of these R/C models that taught so many of us how to fly an R/C aircraft. I had no prior experience when I repaired my best friends Cox Cessna Centurion and took it out to an open field 20 years ago for my first flight. The landing gear was removed to reduce drag and weight. My buddy hand launched it and the rest is history. Now it may sound like I was a natural and maybe so but here's the rest of the story.

After my buddy threw the model and I got the airplane flying straight and level with a mild climb, I began a gentle left turn and flew the airplane off my right shoulder so that I would not push the stick in the wrong direction and screw up. I felt like I was flying a C/L model but much higher. After the engine ran out of fuel, approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds later, I was now committed to land the craft, in a gentle left turn, while I was walking around in a circle with the Cessna Centurion off my right shoulder. I lined up on final, over shot the grass landing strip due to the Centurion having a much better glide rate than I expected without the landing gear and then set in down in a 7 foot high corn field.

My buddy and I yelled with excitement, "We did it" but the hard part was still to come. If you have ever walked thru a corn field it can be painful and intimidating when you're, at that time, 5 feet tall and trying to find a Cox Cessna Centurion more than 30 yards into the corn and several feet above you. After five minutes, I stop in frustration because I knew I was close. Then... just above me and one row over I spotted something white on top of the corn. I had found it, laying flat on top of the corn. Now your thinking..success, right? Wrong! I was now confronted with how I was get it down without damaging the corn and the STYROFOAM Cessna Centurion. My buddy moved the corn to one side and in one quick jump, I grabbed the plane, rotated the left wing down and landed successfully. Looking back.......I wouldn't trade that day for anything! Thank you Dion Garber (my friend) and thank you Cox!

To all of you who have and still share your stories with these wonderful Cox models....Thank you!

Keep the stories coming!

All the best,
Tony Accurso
Edwards AFB, CA

_____________________________

"I love the smell of Cox Engines in the morning!"

(in reply to brown-robin)
       Post #: 63