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RE: Combat anyone? - 11/11/2003 5:32:50 AM   
golojo



Posts: 8
Joined: 1/25/2002
From: Russellville, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Jack !
It is really great to meet someone here with your history. I still have my Johnson 35CS that was in my posted story, as well as a few others that I fly on stunt planes. I am sure others , as well as myself, would like to hear of some of your experiences working with Mr. Johnson, and what you did while working on the engines. As an example, I am curious on where they were built, how they were designed. What was he like as a man, and a modeler? I have always heard that the Orwick line of ignitions were the predecessor to the Johnson line, but have never heard the whole story of how all of this happened.
Looking forward to more posts from you......

Joe

(in reply to Jack garcia)
       Post #: 26

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/11/2003 4:29:19 PM   
Jim Thomerson



Posts: 2822
Joined: 10/9/2002
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Jack, We met at the '60 Dallas Nats. You may recall we went out and flew ratracers for fun in front of the hanger. I was living in Lubbock then. What a blast that Nats was!

Jim Thomerson

(in reply to golojo)
       Post #: 27

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/11/2003 6:20:03 PM   
pink-yama


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 6/26/2003
From: HAZLETON, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I still fly my beloved VOODOO when I get a chance. Last combat compition was Icelip Ny, 1967/68. One time I even survived three laps with Scaringi. Actually I mainly flew Navy Carrier which I still do for fun now and then. I flew combat in between flights on the carrier. Once you have experienced fast C/L combat nothing else really satisfies. Getting alittle slower and flying higher these days. I have a johnson and a supertigre, but the 36x is my favorate these days. I can't seem to keep up with the supertigre or the johnson at all out speed.

PINK_YAMA

(in reply to BMatthews)
       Post #: 28

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/11/2003 8:46:07 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Jim and Jack:

The '60 Nats at Grand Prairie. I was there too.

Lou and I took a wash tub and a pack of purple Rit dye, we planned to dip Duke Fox and his everpresent purple suit in it. But he didn't show up that year.

Who did show, that I remember? We mentioned Wooten and Carl Berryman, Johnny Brodbeck was always at the Nats, Shelton and Harris, Bill Wisniewski, Dave Cotton, Bryant Thompson, me of course, Warren Kurth, Bill Werwage. and... Can't forget Ed Kasmirski and the Taurus... I didn't see Dubby Jett that year. Better stop, I'll run on too long.

Remember the "Giant" Cub that was at the north end of the hangar? About an 8' span, Why would anyone want a plane that big? Had a pair of McCoy 50 engines built into a twin for power, almost impossible to start, All hand flip, nobody but c/l speed used mechanical starters then. Yes, purely mechanical. The starter gearbox from a Stearman, hand cranked, with a chunk of garden hose to stuff the spinner in once you got it up to speed. Some were using a car starter and battery on a cart, still with a short piece of garden hose. My first was the starter motor from an Onan diesel generator set, with 12 NiCad wet cells. And another wet NiCad for glow heat.

Sealed NiCads were available, but they wouldn't take the current needed, the battery cells would get hotter than the glow plug, and then explode.

And it was the last year we could run tetra in our fuel. Not sorry about that one, tetra was way too dangerous,

Enough rambling through the memories.

Bill

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to pink-yama)
       Post #: 29

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/12/2003 1:01:14 AM   
jessiej



Posts: 1803
Joined: 7/6/2003
From: STATESBORO, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I had a friend with a Johnson in a Nobler. While flying over concrete he did 2/3 of a wingover-everything but the pullout. I must say the impact was perfectly vertical so he had the middle part right

My friend ,A WWII Marine Corsair pilot BTW, sent the shattered remains of the engine to Johnson along with a note stating that while he was admiring his new Johnson he dropped it on the carpet and it broke. In about a week he received a new engine with a note from Hi Johnson congratulating him on his creativity.

(in reply to William Robison)
       Post #: 30

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/12/2003 3:42:49 AM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline 		Hi guys, It's great to find a web site where we can talk Ukie and combat.
It's great to see that The Johnson engines are still around. Hi Johnson flew mostly stunt planes. He and I did a lot of flying together testing engines. Hi was a great humanitarian and a great family man. He was a very talented man. Designed many planes for Veco and himself. Remember the Panther and the Cougar. We lost Hi while he was piloting a sailplane. My understanding is that the wings folded under tow.
Dynamic Models (Johnson engines) was located in Fullerton Ca. Later moved to Van Nuys Ca. and yes Joe, the Johnson engine was an Orwick at one time. Hi redesigned
the inside somewhat and made the bypass wider at the top.
There were three of us working at D.M. Myself, Hi, and Keith Lynn. We all did everything from machining the parts to putting the engines in their boxes. One of my favorite jobs was running each engine. I once asked Hi if I could have a couple goodies. Hell, they were all goodies. That's what kind of quality Hi wanted.
Glad to be here guys Jack

(in reply to jessiej)
       Post #: 31

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/12/2003 5:51:06 PM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline 		BTW, The Johnson engine has not been manufactured since the late 60's early 70's, so where are these engines that ya'll are talking about come from. Hi Johnson's boy's and myself would really be interested to know.

(in reply to Jack garcia)
       Post #: 32

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/13/2003 10:58:09 AM   
gcb



Posts: 2419
Joined: 10/24/2002
From: Port Ewen, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Jack,
There are Johnson collectors, some are found at swap meets, collectos, and of course *bay. Some gather parts and rebuild them.
There is a discussion over on "Stuka Stunt Works" that mentioned a guy who pranged one in on concrete, then sent it to Hi, explaining how he was examining it when he dropped it on the carpet and it broke. ..which I'm sure he intended as a spoof. Anyhow, Hi sent him a new engine for his ingenious story.
I do not have a Johnson engine, but someday...

George

(in reply to Jack garcia)
       Post #: 33

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/13/2003 3:12:41 PM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: gcb

Jack,
There are Johnson collectors, some are found at swap meets, collectos, and of course *bay. Some gather parts and rebuild them.
There is a discussion over on "Stuka Stunt Works" that mentioned a guy who pranged one in on concrete, then sent it to Hi, explaining how he was examining it when he dropped it on the carpet and it broke. ..which I'm sure he intended as a spoof. Anyhow, Hi sent him a new engine for his ingenious story.
I do not have a Johnson engine, but someday...

George

Yup, I remember that. Also a free flighter sent one in with the crankshaft all bent our of shape, obviously did a bad nose dive. He claimed that it was damaged glidingit in he tall grass. We repaired it free.

(in reply to gcb)
       Post #: 34

RE: Combat anyone? - 11/14/2003 9:34:27 PM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Thomerson

Hi Jack, We met at the '60 Dallas Nats. You may recall we went out and flew ratracers for fun in front of the hanger. I was living in Lubbock then. What a blast that Nats was!

Jim Thomerson

Jim, I remember Dallas, but all I remember it was very hot, and a watermelon farmer brought out ice cold watermelons and gave them away to us. Nice guy!!

(in reply to Jim Thomerson)
       Post #: 35

RE: Combat anyone? - 12/4/2003 5:01:40 AM   
combatpigg



Posts: 9791
Joined: 11/22/2003
From: arlington, WA, USA
Status: offline 		BRUCE!! After reading this post, now I KNOW that we've met, and have probably talked at length while judging at a BLADDER GRABBER! CHEERS, COMBATPIGG

(in reply to jessiej)
       Post #: 36

RE: Combat anyone? - 12/4/2003 12:56:13 PM   
golojo



Posts: 8
Joined: 1/25/2002
From: Russellville, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Jack,

I have really enjoyed your comments about Mr. Johnson, and the stories you have shared with us. For most of us, the things that happened in our youth have influenced us for the rest of our lives. For me, it was my combat days as a high schooler, and the first quality engine I ever bought. After the McCoy 29's and 35's for $3 at the base exchange, then the Fox 35's and 36x's, I bought my first Johnson 35CS at a hobby shop in downtown Orlando. As I remember, and the memory is somewhat vague nowadays, it was about $18. That was a bunch of sweat and toil from doing 50 cent lawn jobs...and worth every bit of it. Another major event was when I bought my first car as a Freshman at U of F in 1966. A 55 Chevy post for $35. I would still have the 55 today if it had not been stolen when I got home from the Army in 1970. The Johnson was destroyed in a combat circle, but I still have the second one ! And now a few more. A few years ago when the Ebay disease descended upon me, I saw a Double Voodoo kit that I just had to have...for $66 !!!! And the NIB Johnson 35CS I got for it some time later was a bargain....at $100. Now, if I can just find that 55 Chevy .

Youth springs eternal....

Happy Landings

(in reply to combatpigg)
       Post #: 37

RE: Combat anyone? - 12/4/2003 4:30:02 PM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline 		Gogo;
Interesting story. My engines in my hobby history were, Dooling 60. Fleetwind ?, Cameron .09-19, Mcoy 60 & 29, Holland Hornet .049-.051, Jonhsons of course and K&Bs.
I went to work for Hi Johnson knowing squat. We met at a Ukie fun fly and he wanted me to try one of his engines,(I was flying a K&B greenhead .35 a the time) so he invited me to his plant. I was impressed by all the machinery and asked him for a job doing anything. He took a chance on me and hired me. Hi taught me to be a machinist and a draftsman. Now I R one.
Jack

(in reply to golojo)
       Post #: 38

RE: Combat anyone? - 12/4/2003 7:00:48 PM   
pink-yama


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 6/26/2003
From: HAZLETON, PA, USA
Status: offline 		You guys are really stirring up some memories. No one who ever flew a VOODOO with a supertiger 35 or Fox 36x will forget the feeling. I flew maily Navy Carrier envents in the 60s but I would fit in a round or two of combat when both events were available. Still fly my VOODOO with the 36x - the 35 tiger needs a back plate and I havent been able to locate one. I have no choice but to do figure eights etc after two or three laps. Age must have something to do with it I guess. If ever in the area please let me know . I have a couple of old streamers.

I too make dust out of balsa.

PINK-YAMA

(in reply to Jack garcia)
       Post #: 39

RE: Combat anyone? - 12/5/2003 12:21:26 AM   
Jack garcia


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 11/9/2003
From: Hobbs, NM, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pink-yama

You guys are really stirring up some memories. No one who ever flew a VOODOO with a supertiger 35 or Fox 36x will forget the feeling. I flew maily Navy Carrier envents in the 60s but I would fit in a round or two of combat when both events were available. Still fly my VOODOO with the 36x - the 35 tiger needs a back plate and I havent been able to locate one. I have no choice but to do figure eights etc after two or three laps. Age must have something to do with it I guess. If ever in the area please let me know . I have a couple of old streamers.

I too make dust out of balsa
PINK-YAMA


I too have that problem. When we lived in California, My wife worked at Cox Mfg. They gave me a new RTR 049 plane to test fly. This was years after I quit flying Ukie. Weeee, sure got lightheaded. Know what you mean.

(in reply to pink-yama)