In February 1968 Model Airplane News published Phil Kraft’s article about his award winning Kwik Fli III design. The design was quickly released as a Top Flite kit and was very, very popular. In fact, even today, when a Top Flite kit is listed on ebay they still generate a lot of interest and aggressive bidding.

Shortly after the publication of the design a small kit manufacture in Seattle, Washington, Howard Engineering, started production of a fiberglass and foam wing version of the famous Kwik Fli III. The Howard Engineering version has a tapered wing and some modifications to the aileron configuration, thrust line and the stab placement. I purchased one of the kits in the early 70s, built it and really enjoyed its flight characteristics. The kit was very well done with impressive fiberglass work and well thought out design elements.

My Kwik Fli was powered with then the hot engine of the day, a Webra Black Head and had CAS retracts activated with a Sonic pneumatic system. The radio was the requisite Kraft 6 channel. See images below. The color photo was taken at the 1973 Northwest Symposium showing my orange Kwik Fli and a yellow Kwik-OS. The Kwik-OS is a Kwik Fli with a Kaos wing. The black and white photos of me and the Kwik Fli circa 1973 .

To be continued..