Well.... looks like our fighter pilot friend has been busy since the end of August. A view days ago I received a preliminary version of the promised DVD video update he has been working on all this time. He wanted an HONEST CRITIQUE, and he certainly came to the right guy. I sometimes have been TOO HONEST with my opinions, but that's another story.

In one word, the new, expanded DVD is spectacular if you care about the history of RC pattern, (actually early RC in general as I will explain). Since this is a "Classic Pattern" forum, most of us should fall under that heading.

Remember, the video originally came from home movies of three Detroit Invitational meets, (held in 1963, 1964, and 1965, what many consider to be the early part of the "Golden Era" of RC pattern). This meet was one of the largest, most prestigious pattern contests in the nation at the time...similar in some ways to the TOC. People attended ONLY by invitation, and a "whos who" of RC pattern pioneers would gather, (LIKE A REUNION) each September to compete, and have fun, people like DeBolt, Kirkland, Kazmirski, Izzo, Keck, Hester, Lowe, and many others. It was wonderful to see these classic airplanes actually be flown by their designers. We are so used to seeing these planes in "still" pictures. To see them taxi out and take off is sooooo cool. ANYBODY interested in vintage RC pattern should be "begging" Chuck to get a copy of the original video, and now it's even better with a new section that is a tremendous tribute to Tom Brett, who belonged to and was president of the Radio Control Club of Detroit at the time, and 1962 World Champion.

Chuck has combined still photographs, (many from Helen's personal scrapbook), along with the Brett's personal home movies of their trip to England for the 1962 World Championships, (which Tom won in a flyoff). There is even rare professional "movie newsreel" type coverage of the 1962 "Worlds", with that old-style narration of the proceedings...great fun.

The single thing I enjoyed the most was part of the professional coverage showing a close-up of Tom flying the Perigee with his Bramco reed system. There may be video somewhere of somebody flying an old reed system, but I have never seen movie or video footage of a world champion, (and one of the pioneers of RC), actually demonstrating his skill with "reeds". It is a whole world removed from today's modern programmable proportional radios, and a real treat to see. Tom was "playing" that Bramco like a piano, when you watch the speed and agility by which he toggled the controls...amazing.[X(]

Chuck will be adding a few more rare photos from the personal scrapbook, and putting the final touches on the video in the days to come. I don't think Chuck is making any money with this video...it is a rare gift to anyone wo says they are interested in RC pattern history, and a MUST to see.

I'm just glad you enjoy doing this kind of thing because I don't have the inclination, interest, skill, or patience necessary to do it. Thank goodness for people with different skills!!!

Duane