Mike in DC

Yes indeed. This thread has been wonderfully nostalgic for me. When I first learned to fly, I built a balsa plane. The first hard landing, not even close to a crash, the tail broke off. I decided the punishment did not fit the crime and built my Aircore. It was a slow, lumbering, clumsy thing, perfect for a trainer. One time on training day, it got shot down. The guy who did it came over with his wallet out to apologize. I said forget it, there was no damage at all. I got some gentle ribbing at the field, but most guys were more curious than hostile. They loved it when the landing gear folded up. "Look, retracts!" I did love that plane, but eventually I was ready for a DPS. Now I have two of them, and they just fly and fly. The Aircore wasn't perfect, but it was the original inspiration for SPAD.