One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Just though you guys would like to see one of the best pattern plane from back in the day of the screaming Rossi and Webra motors. This plane belong to Mr. Bill Bennet of Circus Circus. I was fortunate to acquire it from his estate thru Steve Strickler. I believe this plane was built by Don Weiz also a know pattern guy back in the day. I tell you, this plane is so straight and expertly built, it needs to be on a mantal or in a store window. The plane came with the original kraft servos which I replace with futabas. The engine is a speed Webra with the dynamax carb. The compression is unbelieveable and it weighs 8lbs 10 ozs. The fillets on the vertical stab to fuse is as smooth as a baby's butt. The fitting of the wing to fuse wing sattle area - you couldn't squeez a piece a paper anywhere in that area. This is one beautiful airplane - I'm almost afraid to fly it, but I will. I've included some pictures for those who may have forgotten what the Bootlegger looked like. enjoy

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Can't beat those old 60 size pattern ships. Love those wing fillets.

tommy s

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Now that's the kind of Pattern Plane I Like!!!!!:D

lamyap
 

Its a beauty!!!!:D

can one get plans for it (or a kit)?

RE: lamyap
 

This is just one more reason to create/bring back pattern competitions for these great and relatively inexpensive type 61 powered pattern aircraft of the past and as I'm now finding re-eqipt one of these sleek pattern ships with high end Digital servos and your really in the grove. [8D]

RE: lamyap
 

A----MEN!!!!!

RE: lamyap
 

I remember those days very well...very easy to get into pattern back then...I wonder when and why it all changed??

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

If anyone knows where the molds are for the Bootlegger, I would be interested in purchasing them and the rights to produce them. I produce kits of the classic pattern ships and this would certainly be a nice addition to my line.

Thanks

Dan Hines
Carolina Custom Aircraft

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Sleek ! Unusual to see the exhaust behind the canopy

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Nice to see guys appreciate the era gone bye. I haven't flown this yet because of the history behind it. Previously own by Mr. Bill Bennet and built by Don Weiz, its hard to put this bird in the air because I know or at least, I think, their isn't another out their with this rich history. But you know, what - its gonna fly. I'm heading up to Vegas in a few weeks to my other home and will fly her at Bill Bennet field. But before I do, bearings need replacing. Speaking of bearings, I remember somewhere in this forum, one guy said there is no way you can tell if a bearing is bad either by feel (rotating the crank over) or sound - hogwash. If you rotate the crank and hear the hard bottom end like two rock rubbing together, you can bet your bottom dollar that if you pull that engine apart, not only will you see rust, you might even see flat spots on the balls. Anyhow, she will fly and when I do, I'll try to post some pictures. - Steve

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Hey Dan,
Do you have a website? If so what's the webaddress.
Thanks,
Will B.

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Stunningly beautiful!!! Retro-pattern never dies...

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Will,

Web site and Pictures coming !!!... ever built 5 pattern planes at the same time?.. That's what I'm doing now. I want to put up new pictures of the planes as most of the ones I have really don't looks as good as I would like. My avitar is a T2A and that's the first one that will be finished first. It's a Tom Atkins design and really flies well. I'm going to fly one in the Senior Pattern circuit this year. The one that I think will REALLY bring back memories is the T2A MK II... That one is set up for a rear exhaust w/ the pipe tunnel at the top a/la Bootlegger. The Brushfire is the same way.... It's a real challenge but I hope to have everything together soon. If you would like further info.. just email me at [email protected]......

Dan

Carolina Custom Aircraft

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Sorry guys, what does "retro-pattern" means ?

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

I hear so many people wishing for a class for the retro pattern ships I
wonder why we don't make it happen. I guess The Senior Pattern
Association is already here but it is only in a small section of the country.
Maybe they named it wrong. I've heard a lot of people think it's for old
guys over a certain age. It's actually for older design planes but I don't
think everybody knows that. It seemed to be so much more fun back
in the old days of AMA and turnaround pattern., and a heck of a lot
cheaper.

tommy s

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Rajul,

Retro pattern is basically what pattern was from the 60's and 70's right up thru the introduction of the present day "turnaround" pattern. The "OLD" pattern was basically one manouver on each pass. One upwind and one downwind... and you could turn around anyway you felt like and then do the next manouver. This means you are covering a MUCH larger flight line than the present day airplanes. Speed was king at that time and nobody cared (and most people really loved) the sound of the piped .60's turning 14K Plus. I believe turnaround came into being mainly due to the massive noise problems that were rearing their heads in Europe. Turnaround pattern has a smaller noise footprint, plus the planes must fly much slower to complete all the aerobatics within the "BOX". For comparison, check out the Senior Pattern Association web sight
http://www.seniorpattern.com/ and then compare that to the NSRCA website www.nsrca.org/. It will give you an insight into two very different styles of flying and aircraft. While both are concerned w/precision aerobatics, they accomplish this in very different ways. I fly planes in both and enjoyed it a LOT !! Hope this info helps...

Dan Hines
Carolina Custom Aircraft

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Dan, that was very helpful.

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

I'm not sure, but wasn't this plane designed by Steve Helms, who works for Futaba now? If so, you may try Radio South, which I think Steve used to own. Tony Stillman may know where those molds are. I remember flying at the field Steve used to fly at in Pensacola, Fl. back in the late 70s. He flew the Bootlegger than and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen.

RE: One of the best - Bootlegger 60
 

Joebob,

Thanks for the info.. I'll give Tony a yell.....The molds have to be somewhere....


Dan

I have the molds if you are still looking for them...

Sent you a PM.

Dan.... I still have the bootlegger molds....

Hey BillyFlys,
Dan is out of kit production and has sold all the molds he had (he was involved in a serious auto accident a few years ago, unfortunately). He sold his stuff to Leo at [email protected] . You can check out his website: http://klasskotemo.com/patternplane.html
Don Carlson at RCAIIR also produces classic pattern kits. He can be contacted here: [email protected]
I think somebody would like to have them!

I have the Bootlegger kits and have been producing them for the last 10 years.

Are the kits available now? What's included? Glass fusalage? Could you provide a photo?

Thanks - beautiful aircraft .