Hello All,

I’d like to tell you about a new event I am working on. I don’t have the “perfect” name for it but so far it’s looking
something like, “Monster Planes South”. The concept is to have a “Fly-In” for very large RC aircraft.
When I say Very Large, I talking about a minimum of 30 pounds and NO Maximum limit!
This event will have outside Insurance so we do not require an AMA Sanction. Therefore, NO Weight Restrictions!!
There will be a stringent Safety Inspection but I don’t see any other unusual procedures.
I have already secured a safe site here in Lakeland, Florida and have reserved it for three days in the last week of October, or the first week of November, 2008.
I am looking at STRONG awards in several categories, awards that will include Cash and a prestigious trophy.
I will announce the exact dates and who the Sponsors are in about 60 days. But for now, if anyone has a large model,
wants to show it off and fly with us, keep this event in mind.
One last thing, the event will cater strongly to War Birds, Jets included, but will welcome any large civilian aircraft,
with One Exception. We are not looking for any 3D type Aerobatic models, regardless of how big they are. We prefer
real “scale” models. We are expecting a minimum of 40 vendors / manufacturers.
If there is any confusion about your model, I am happy to speak personally with anyone who feels like calling me
at 863-607-6611, or emailing me at [email protected]
Thanks,
Frank

you gotta contact the europeans......they know large....must be that metric thang. Sounds like a great idea and a great event to be apart of. I am gonna have to start weighing my warbirds just to see if I qualify.

I'm certain that some enterprising modelers will realize that their Top Gun quality,
28 pound, P-47 or P-51, flies just as good with an extra 2 pounds of ballast!

FT

This will be one of the few times I will ask ," Do these wheel pants make my tail feathers look heavy?"lol[:@] sorry , couldnt resist...

Frank:

I am really interested in participating in such a meet. Question? How much is it going to cost me? Are you going to make it free to pilots that fly, or is this a money making deal for you?

I have a really nice Stinson SR-10 that flies beautifully if that's the type of model you are looking for. 30% scale, 13.5 ft. span, 45 lbs.

Photo below;

Sounds really cool, like the Europeans do. Why not have a 200 pound F-100 as the centerpiece and call it the "Lead Sled Extravaganza"

Event motto: Go Big, or GO HOME!!!

Monsters Inc.

Leave it up to Frank to come up with another neat idea.....way to go! The only problem I see with those living over the pond is the shipping charges - maybe they should get together and 'rent' a container and ship it by boat!

All Right Frank!!!!!! You go guy....That's what we all want. Bigger, Better, and best of all, no one telling us that we can't.
Sign me up for the work detail.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

I have a friend here working on a 1/6 Super Constellation, L1049. This is just the incentive he'll need to keep the project moving!

Hi all,
First of all thanks to the few that posted positive comments. Things are already progressing with some private emails received, indicating that
several Euro-dudes are planning the trip.
As for Jim Messers question, I must tell you that YES, it is "hoped" to be a money maker!! There will be an entry fee. Spectators will pay an admission fee.
The days are long gone when "anybody" does anything for nothing! In my case, we pay a rental fee for the property, we pay the folks that work the event because nobody volunteers for anything anymore, we pay for the portable toilets, the advertsing, the parking lot attendants, the tents, the PA system, electricity, use of the camp grounds and much, much more than you might imagine. However, in return, we hope to offer a fantastic few days of flying, on a fabulous site, with no incumberences, filled with large airplanes and a great bunch of guys! I don't need to make any money as a "salary" for myself, so if anyone can find a way of doing this event on donated stuff, with no expenses, I am available, and willing, to work for them, for free, and cancel this event!
FT

I'd call it "Scale Unlimited".

Frank, thanks for stepping out and doing this. It is time for people to move along with technology and leave the rubber bands at home. You have my support ! Hope to have something big to bring. Butch

Frank: Thanks for answering my question. I am not against paying an entry fee to attend an event like this. Just wanted to know in advance what to expect. Go for it. I am sure there are many big airplanes ready to be shown. I have a nice 40% scale J-3 Cub as well as the Stinson, just waiting to be flown in such an event.

Keep on it Frank. I sure would attend as a spectator. I always enjoy Top Gun. This would be the ultimate!

Frank, how will the prizes be decided? The idea of the event sounds great but I hate politics..... Just to be clear, this is not an invitational event. Right?

Great idea Frank!

Maybe Butch Sickels will finish the B1-B. Go for it....

In reply to "Old Scale Guy", let me just say that there is NEVER any politics in any event I do, People that deserve the awards get them. People that don't deserve them, don't get them! Simple as that. I'm not sure yet what kind of birds will show up but I'm guessing that it might be easy to come up with at least 12-18 Special Awards, perhaps even more. Certainly,with the right Sponsorship, and I am hopeful to have that wrapped up within a month or so, we should be able to give a classy Award along with a few hundred in Cash or Merchadise, per award. The awards might consist of Best Military, pre 1950, Best Military Post 1950, Best Civilian, Best Multi, Best WW1, Best WW2, Best Jet, Best Scale Performance, Best Scale Flight, Critics Choice, and Runner up as well, and a few others, like Best Cockpit interior, Craftsmanship, etc. From the number of emails I've received so far, it appears that an awful lot of folks from Europe are seriously interested in attending.The next thing to figure out is whether the event should run from Thursday thru Sunday or Friday thru Sunday.
Later,
FT

Mr. Tiano: This is a brilliant idea. And about time a big bird show happened in the USA. I have seen video tapes of La Ferte and think it will be spectacular to see something similar in the good ol'.......

So, what hotels would be good and close for a couple of senior citizen spectators to book for this show?

Frank

Please explane the differance between LARGE and HEAVY !!! Why the 30 lbs ??? Jim Meister's GIANT F4u prototype @ 102', only weight 26 lbs. I wouldn't put a weight minumium on an aircraft unless #@* Oh I get It, Its a Hard on thing against the AMA !!!.
Well frank I kinda think its Like this The AMA has been visited by the FAA, and thay really did'nt wan't us to know about it !! Now Frank I hope I'am wrong about this but you see, when I was a past prez of the EAA , We had Tech. counselers who would inspect homebuilts as thay were being built by our memebers !! kinda like the AMA's Experamental catagory, over 50 lbs inspectors. and when the builder was done he would sign off and an FAA inspector would sign off and the builder/pilot would go fly it !! 25 hour restriction, whitin 25 miles of home airport, with a certificated prop, 50 hours without !!! now don't take me the wrong way I don't blame the AMA,FAA,NTSB ect ect ect You see in America I blame the TLA TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION !! If your in a plane crash in most other countries thats just the chance you take when flying, over here its another way for the Lawywers to get RICH !!! and as Paul Harvey would say !! and now you know the rest of the story !!

Dale,
First of all, please allow me to congratulate you on having the only 102 inch War Bird in the world that weighs less than 30 pounds!
Regardless of that, we all know that a 102 inch model can easily weigh 45 pounds and still perform quite admirably. My Aerotech P-47 is only 82 inches and weighs 34 pounds. With that in mind. I suggest that you add a couple of "Wing Tanks" or "Bombs" that weigh a couple pounds apiece and you'll be all set, the plane won't even know they are there! One last thing, I have NO agenda with the FAA, AMA, IMAA, ASPCA, SBA or anyone else. Simply Put, I'd like to see this type of event here in the USA before I die and since nobody else wants to do it, I thought I'd give it a shot. I DO believe that large models of this size are well thought out and are perhaps safer than some smaller models. I also KNOW that one cannot build an 80 pound airplane out of balsa wood sticks and cover it with tissue paper, mount a 100 cc shaker in the nose and expect it to stay together. The size alone dictates the materials that will be used, and therefore, should produce well constructed, safe airframes.
FT

Go for it Frank. I only hope I can make it as a spectator. Will be a memorable event.
Edwin

Frank, I hope this event good through as I am a big fan of big planes. I think they look better, fly better and are easier to work on. I too think the big ones are safer. Heck they are easier to see too.
I was in "hog" heaven when I found out the AMA lifted the weight limit for turbines in the experimental class. I hope one day the weight issue won't be an issue and we can build as big as we want. I don't mind the "special inspections" or " certifiying" a heavy in the name of saftey.

Maybe this is what we need to show offficals that large and heavy is nothing more than that!
I'll be watching the progress on your new event.
Thanks for doing this,

Billy Edwards

Frank will this qualify as big enough? Butch