Duane:

I also think that Retracts look cool. My first retract plane was the Tiger Tail in 1975 and then a Moidwest Mach 1 in 1977 so that is the only reason I will install them. When I was a Jr. member of the R/C Propbusters (1970's under age 19) they had a combination pattern and scale contest at Waterford, CT every year. Most all the planes had 61's and retracts. I remember seeing guys like Tony Bonetti, Ed Izzo, Phil D'Ostilio and the New York guys and occasionally Dave Brown and the Ohio guys would come to some of the local area meets and fly the patterns back then with the wheels up and it stuck in my mind forever. I always figured that if you had a pattern plane it had to have retracts. Those days truly are the meaning of Classic Pattern to me.

As far as the SPA flying they will stay down and unlike Jim Hamiltons full scale ride we don't have a gear down speed restriction to deal with. They really don't hinder the performance at all. I have a Vic Koenig Dirty Birdy I am finishing with an OS 91FS (got it from Jim Hamilton) and fixed gear with wheel pants taildragger style. Should be another great flyer.

Peace

Mark O