ETHY    

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 Spring - #2

 

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Otto        

Commentary by Andrew, photos by Ned Nevels, Jay Beasley and Andrew Tickle

 

 

Ethy - the most watched airplane of the 2000's
Don Bekin's "Ethy" was the most watched airplane of the 2000's. To gain this distinction a plane had to be instantly recognizable, grab your attention, and be a frequent flyer.

Ethy was a 1938 ignition (That's all Don flies!) powered design by Dick Schumacher. Don's version was Ohlsson 60 square port powered, and first appeared at the field as a pristine beauty. Always flying, always unmistakable, instantly recognizable, and intensely noisy, Ethy flew and flew until she was an oil soaked veteran. By the end of the decade she disappeared and was sorely missed.
 Ned Nevels photo.

 

Don setting up Ethy at Lakeville in the summer of 1999. Still has the pristine look.       Ned Nevels photo. Don with Ethy rising from the launch mat at Crash and Bash.    Ned Nevels photo.

 

Who will replace Ethy?
What will be the most watched 'plane of the 2010's? The most easily recognizable, eye catching frequent flyer? 
It is early to say yet. But there are already candidates...

 

 

Otto's Stearman was a showstopper. In the pits, on the runway, and in the air it just sparkled with charisma. The original was the primary trainer (PT17) for tens of thousands of U.S. Air Force pilots.

But Otto's PT17 was quite unlike any trainer. From the moment the throttle was advanced it felt heavy and very powerful. You had to fly it every inch of the way. Once airborne it took a lot of adrenaline to get it trimmed out. Then when you throttled back it was less like a rocket ship and more like a Stearman again. But still highly aerobatic.

Several flyers, including Chip Buss, Mike Clancy and Andrew Tickle helped Otto with the early test flights. It became almost a "club project". Plagued with almost every problem - batteries, radio, servos and control surfaces - the Stearman endured a number of forced landings, and sometimes damage.

 Overwhelmed with advice, Otto would take it home and get it sorted for the next TOFFF. It was only Otto's determination that kept it going

Finally the Stearman became a consistent flyer. The landings were a little hot, and left everyone in suspense until the plane was safely down. But Otto had the Stearman mastered. And then it too disappeared...
Otto enjoying the glow after a successful flight with the Stearman.            Andrew Tickle  photo.

 

 

But SAM 27 still has other candidates....

  Here's an Old Timer Collection at Crash & Bash.

Which one stands out?

Which one is instantly recognizable?

Which one is always flying?

Which one won the Commemorative?

 

  Well here's a clue. It's John Trumbull checking out his faithful Trenton Terror in spring 2011 at Lakeville.                                                                                                             Jay Beasley photo

 

Everyone loves a success story

It goes back a few years to when John and Mike Clancy went to Crash & Bash at Schmidt Ranch. John and Andrew were sitting on the grass watching the planes, and enjoying the ambiance. That's when John (new to SAM) confided that in order to keep this friendship going (with Mike) he would "have to build something soon". Andrew fervently agreed and hoped it would actually happen....

Sometime later, Andrew had a Trenton Terror plan and partial kit. He realized he had over-committed for the year. So he donated it to the SAM 27 raffle, hoping of course that it would it would be a life changing experience for one of the SAM 27 members.  It was won by John.

With a few pointers from Mike (what are friends for?) he did a great job of building and flying it, and won the Commemorative event at the following Crash & Bash. He has since become a thoroughly consistent flyer and a pleasure to watch.

 

 

Much of the realism of military scale models comes from the array of letters and numbers, from very large to very small, and often repeated in several places. You can produce your own on your computer.



By the way, note the glossy reflections on the rudder and elevator. No matt finish on the tail feathers for this Stearman owner.



Vintage owners and vintage modelers share much of the same glory. The biggest difference is the price  :))
A Stearman waits behind two J3's for departure clearance, in barely VFR weather, at the Watsonville Antique Fly-In.                     Andrew Tickle photo.

 

 

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