Southern Utah Scale Squadron

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Warbirds Over St. George

Remote Possibilities

"Warbirds Over St. George"

October 2013

Pictures taken by : Jack McLellan "Cougar Jack"

Saturday, October 26, 2013

My name is Craig Haslebacher. I got into modeling in 1960. My first model was a Cox U Control AT6 airplane. I built and flew these until 1972. Then, I built my first radio which was a Heathkit 5 channel and my airplane was a VK Cherokee Babe. After that it was war planes. You name it, I have built it. In 1976, I started fly-in competitions. I won the 1977 West Coast Scale Meet. What a thrill! I also did fly demos for Northwest Model Technologies. I flew Corsairs at air shows and fly-ins for them.

In 1972, I started a new club at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The club is still active today. In 1995, I joined the Ram club in Auburn, Washington and became club President. In 2000, I moved to Salem, Oregon and built my own runway on the family farm. I put on a fly-in every year for five years. I joined the IMAA in 2000 and became District XI Assistant Director working along side Pete Melin. I also started flying Scale Masters in 2000 and competed for five years. In 2013, I became IMAA District X Director for Utah.

Here I am fifty-two years later, still flying and building scale airplanes. Last year, I was invited to fly at Top Gun. Quite an honor! Flying scale has so many challenges but the satisfaction is out of this world. You actually become the pilot in the cockpit and relive those glory days! Once you fly and build scale airplanes, you are hooked for life.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Arnold Vitarbo "Fujisawa"

I began making models in 1943 when a model kit cost 10 cents and came with a bottle of glue which cost 5 cents.

I usually build only scale models and have built dozens of models My first R/C model was a Goldberg Cessna Skylane with an .049 Cox Engine and was controlled by an Escapement. The control was a transmitter which used a button. One push for right and two pushes for left. My first " Proportional Radio" was made in Texas by EK Logictrol and cost about $350.00, over half of my Air Force months pay.

I built my first "Giant" scale model, a Bud Nosen 1/4 scale Citabria with a Fox .78 engine which barely flew it, which I built in 1979.

There were no aftermarket parts or accessories so we had to make all of our own parts.

During the past 20 years I have built a 1/4 scale PT-19, another 1/4 scale Citabria, a 1/4 scale Zero, two 1/5 Scale Spitfires, and two 1/5 scale Zeros, a 1/4 Scale Mr. Mulligan, and a 1/3 scale Flybaby. Most of my planes are scratch built either from my own plans or commercial plans

I have a private pilots license and have flown, Cessna 150s, 172s a Cessna Cardinal, Piper Comanche, Piper Cherokee 140, Piper Cherokee Arrow, Piper Cherokee 6, a Grumman Yankee and have a little time in a C-47 while I was in the Air Force.

Children

Donald (Retired US Air Force)

Laura

Arnold Vitarbo (TSGT US Air Force Retired)