Can anyone please find this pattern ship 'LA-1'?

http://aztecair.net/la-1.htm

George Truett (AztecAir) is overseas until approximately May so he won't be producing any kits until he gets back stateside...

The Summit III and the LA-1 on that AztecAir website are defiantly on my list of things to get!!!

Here is a shot of the LA-1...Then the rest of the pictures are of the LA-2 which I *think* may look similar...I've never seen one in person and am not sure what the differances are?? That orangish/white one was on e-bay...Boy I wish I could have afforded that sucker...I think someone I've seen on the RCU Forums actually won it...It was Nize!!!

Wasn't there a SLA also? Or is the LA-2 the same plane?

dp

Hey Guys,

These planes were designed by Geoff Combs and kitted for him by RC City.

LA1 1 piece wing, .60 2 stroke

LA2 2piece plug-in wing, .60 2 stroke

SL1 1.20 4 stroke

I believe there was a SL1a, but my memory fails me right now, maybe I'll remember later, I'm playing the grey hair card for now.

The letters used in the designation for the planes were the initials of his daughters names.

Gene

I have a LA1 wing in mint comdition, all I need now is a fuse anbody got one

Gene
I'm holding one of those grey hair cards also. I think you are correct
on the name SL1 (not SLA).

When George (AztecAir) gets back from overseas...Get him to build you one!!

Sooo...Were the Fuses of the LA-1 and LA-2 the same?? Just different wing configurations??


Below is a photo of the SL1-A...It's apparently a 2m ship according to the website I got the pic from...

The LA-2 was part of the "stretched tail" revolution. It's basically a longer version of the LA-1.

The LA1 and LA2 fuses are not the same, although they look the same. The LA2 has a removable hatch/canopy and all your radio, servos and battery are accessed through this opening. The LA1 has a one piece bolt on wing and all the internal stuff is accessed through the opening in the fuse bottom. They both have a full length belly pan.

The LA1 is 800 sq. in wing

The LA2 is 840 sq. in plug in wing.

I have fond memories of my LA1, but alas it has crossed over into airplane heaven.

I have an original framed-up LA2 in storage.

Hope this helps...

Gene

Geoff Combs designed the LA-1 the LA-2 and the SL-1 and SL-1A

If I remember correctly he named the models after his daughters.

Laura Ann type of thing. I don't know for sure their names but I had a conversation with him and he told me. I was just a kid flying the planes.

I flew the LA-1 and LA-2 and also had an SL-1. These were very good models.

The SL-1 was also the basis of the Summit 120 by Ivan Kristensen.

The LA-2 was designed after the SL-1 I believe and it was designed around the plug in wing. It was larger than the original LA-1 and the LA-2 was actually one of the larger 60 size ships. The LA-2 was pretty much in the last generation of the 60's before everybody went to the YS 120's. The LA-2 was done to take what was found with the SL-1 and apply it back to the 60 size planes as many were still flying the 60's and 61's like the Hanno and YS 61 Long Stroke.

I had 2 of the La-2 and loved the plane. I wish I still had one. They flew really well for the time. HP was at a premium on the LA-2 as it was bigger than most of the era running the 2 strokes.


I am getting older but my memory is still semi intact. Below is a photo of one of my LA-2's this one was built by Chuck Smith in Casper Wyoming. Being a poor college student I was lucky enough to get it from him. Then I built one of my own later on. The Yellow model is the LA- 2 and then the other is one of Geoff's SL-1's.

Troy Newman

Yep, that sounds about right Troy according to what I remember.

I believe the SL1a had a different sized wing versus the SL1, both had plug-in wings ,but used the same fuselage.

Gene

LA-1 is named for Geoff's wife, Laural Ann. SL-1 is his daughter Stephie L.

Hi Mike McConville,

Not to hi-jack this thread, but I built one of your Desire 60 sized planes. Loved it and I am still loving it, cause I still have it.

Thank you for your contribution to the pattern world.

Gene

Ditto!!! Although mine is not built yet...

Great Information on the LA Aircraft fellows!!!

Thank you Very Much!!!

Chuck

Did Geoff Combs ever do a construction article on
the LA-1 in one of the mag.?

Love that Desire too.

Thanks Mike....

I was about 1/2 right on the name.

I remembered talking to Geoff many times on the phone in the early 90's. I even got some help from your old buddy Mike Klein. He helped me with some trimming of my LA-2 at the Lubbock NATS in 94'.

I really wish I had that model today. I was in college and looking at a USAF career with not too much flying so I sold the plane pretty cheap. Then that guy busted it up on the very first flight. He Didn't charge the RX battery. It was a really nice model.

I might just have to get a kit from the guy thats makign them now.

Troy

This is my LA-2 of many years ago. I really liked this airplane.

Ed

Anyone know where the LA-2 molds are??

Yo Chuck,

Precision Aero Composites bought the R/C City molds/business from Jim Graham years ago. Geoff Combs had R/C City kit his planes, but I don't know if PAC got the LA2 molds or not because Geoff was marketing the LA2 under his own company AeroSport Products.

I believe PAC sold some of the molds such as the LA1 to the Aztec Air guy, but I'm not certain. Check with PAC, but they changed their company name and I can't remember it (playin' the grey hair card again}, maybe someone can jump in with the new name. That's where I would look first unless someone knows for sure.

Gene

P.S. I haven't forgotten those exploded Hanno views, I'll send em soon.

I dont think Goeff ever did a construction article on the LA-1. The original LA-1 was very different and a lot less attractive than the later ones. I think Dave Scully worked with Geoff a little on the next version, (Dave was master of airplane styling and glass work) which was still wood but had a glass top. It looked a lot like the final all glass version. I had one wood/glass top one that Geoff build for me and I think 4 glass after that ones. I sold 3 of them and wonder if they are around anywhere. Two went to Mexico and I cant remember who bought the third.
I borrowed the wood fuse/glass top construction method from the first LA-1 I had and used the method on the Desire 60.

Mike:

I found this picture in my file of an LA-1 that was yours. Was this one of the original ones.

Ed Kirtley

Wow...How Kewl!! Pretty Airplane...

Hello everyone. This is Geoff and you all have great memories. I still have the molds for the SL-1 and the Sl-1a. I tried to get La-1 and La-2 but lost them when RC city
went under. The La-2 was the same as the La-1 in shape of the fuse but was stretched and as stated removable canopy. The wing airfoil and plan form was changed to the
shape of the SL-1. Straight trailing edge on the wing and stab. The Sl-1a was very close to a 2 meter airplane as stated. The Sl-1a wing was stretched and a thinner airfoil from the Sl-1. I believe the wing area went from 970 sq in to around 1100. I beleive I still have plans for La-2 SL-1 and 1A. I was cleaning the work shop out about 4 months
ago getting ready to start my full scale RV-10 and found 4 sets of La-2 wing and stab cores. I think I sent them to the land fill.

Hello Geoff!! Thanks for chiming in!! Thanks for the Kewl Designs too!! Although I've never flown any of them...I remember seeing and admiring them "Back in the Day"...

Not too sure how much you visit the Classic Pattern forums?? But it seems allot of us are kinda into getting some of these puppies back in the air...

Great on the RV-10!!

Please don't toss any more stuff though...

OK...Fine...I'll be blunt...Would you be interested or willing to copy the LA-2 drawings?? Realize this may open a can of worms... ...I think you've probably noticed a couple of your buddies mention how they would love to have another Aircraft...That list will probably grow...

Thank You...

Chuck