Conference vmszoo::rc

>    One day while in my local hobby shop, I started looking at some vintage
>    Biplanes. One caught my eye. the Curtess Sparrowhawk. What a great
>    plane this would be!!! Now if I can find a kit. 

Let's be sure we're talking about the same thing.
The P-6E Curtiss Hawk is a Army Air Crops between the wars Pursuit biplane.
Much like and similar to my Berliner-Joyce P16!
I have never heard it referred to as a Sparrowhawk but I haven't done
any real digging for documentation.  The Curtiss P-36 is also called
a Hawk so you may be correct on the Sparrowhawk name.

3-views and pictures of the "ONLY REMAINING CRAFT" are available from 
Scale Model Research.

It is a great looking bird and Royal makes a kit that qualifies as
giant scale.  I seen a beautiful completed version hanging up in
a hobby shop in the Phoenix area and they gave away a Royal kit
at the last 1/8 Air Force spring scale fun fly in Phoenix.

So if I'm right about the plane - please keep this note rolling and
either way please modify the title and correct the spelling of Curtiss.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

    I think he is talking about the F9C-2 Curtis Sparrowhawk. A small,
    light biplane from the mid-30s that could hook onto eith the Akron
    or the Macon (rigid airships) with a trapeze arrangement.  It had
    a 420 hp engine.

    That's the one!!! I was looking throught my RCM mags, when I came
    across an ad from a company called Cleveland Model and Supply Co. They
    make scale plans from 1/24 to 1/4. And they have the Sparrowhawk!!
    I sent in my order this morning, and I'll be getting their catalog. If
    anyone would like to see it once I get it, your more then wellcome.
    
    Can hardly wait!!!!!!!
    
    norm

    I am (have been for several years now) in the process of building
    a Laird Super Solution from Cleveland plans in 1-1/2" scale.  These
    plans will produce a plane that is a work of love and a real expression
    of the builder's art.  The NACA cowling on mine consists of 27 pieces
    of balsa all neatly and carefully shaped and sanded to resemble
    one piece.  The plans are for a rubber-powered plane and will need
    to be modified for RC use.  Be sure that you get a large enough
    scale to contain everything you want and have a light enough wing
    loading to make it easy to fly from the intended site.  My plane
    will have a 30" wingspan when completed.  The cowl is approximately
    6" in dia.  It's been a lot of fun so far.

    	As I recall one of the distinctive features of the Sparrowhawk
    was that it had "Spats" not full wheel "Pants", the entire wheel
    was visible.
    
    

    The day that I was in the hobby shop, I bought the William Brothers,
    plastic model of the Curtiss Sparrowhawk. The documintation that came
    with the model is quite good. There are two photographs of the real
    bird, two versions. There is also a three view, half top, half bottom,
    and full profile. They give you a color discreption and decals of both
    versions. For a plastic model, they give you alot of information.
    
    I think I'm going to enjoy building this one, slowly.
    
    Your right about the "Spats". I think that's real neat!
    
    

    I got the plans for the Curtiss Sparrowhawk today. It is going to be a
    BIG plane, wing span about 76".  
    
    A few questions:
    
    1. Since these plans were meant for rubber band power, were would be
    some of the places that would need beefing up to handle gas power?
    
    2. How do you decide on the size of the engine needed? I guess weight 
    would play a big part.
    
    
    
    Kay, a copy of the price list and plans are on their way to you.
    
    Well, I'm going to study these plans. There is alot of information 
    on them.
    
    
    Norm
    

    Norm,
    
    72" is a _very_ large bipe, nearly as large as the 77" Byron
    Staggerwing which flies poorly on anything less than a Quadra Q-40.  
    
    Pardon me if I've missed it but whose plans do you have?  Sounds like
    maybe Cleveland if the ship was intended for rubber.  Next, do you plan
    to R/C the bird??  All these factors will have a bearing on how much
    and where to add beef..
    
    I have a 60" B�cker Jungmeister which weighs over 12-lb.'s and uses
    every ounce of power it derives from its O.S. .61 ABC.
    
    What I'm attempting to illustrate is that, depending on intended
    useage, which will, some extent, dictate weight, anything from a .35 to
    a Zenoah G-62 _might_ be applicable.
    
    I think I'd shoot for a ready-to-fly weight of 10-11 lb.'s and .60
    power, were it me.  However, you should understand that stick-and- 
    tissue construction, intended for rubber-powered free-flight will be
    woefully inadequate for gas-powered R/C and total re-engineering may be
    called for, i.e. retain the outlines but completely redraw the innards
    using materials/techniques suitable to the intended purpose.  A look at
    how Kay's B-J's (or other typical .60 size bipes) are constructed
    should provide an idea of what'll be required for a successful R/C model.   

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    Norm
    
    I have a (non scale) Lazy Ace built from RCM plans that Chuck
    Cunningham designed about ten years ago - all spruce and balsa. The
    wingspan is 78" and my weight is about 12lb with OS FS 120. I built it
    fairly lightly, without cowl etc. It is not highly powered (no nitro),
    so you might need more power for a scale plane of the same size. The
    Lazy Ace plans should offer you some good ideas for RC conversion.
    
    Good luck
    Tony
    

================================================================================
Note 1105.8         Curtiss Sparrowhawk ... a winter project              8 of 9
PNO::CASEYA "THE DESERT RAT (I-RC-AV8)"              31 lines  26-SEP-1989 17:03
                       -< COULD BE A "BIG" PROJECT..... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>    Pardon me if I've missed it but whose plans do you have?  Sounds like
>>    maybe Cleveland if the ship was intended for rubber.  Next, do you plan
>>    to R/C the bird??  All these factors will have a bearing on how much
>>    and where to add beef..
    
	Yes, your right, it is a plan from Cleveland and yes I hope to make this
	into a R/C bird.

    
>>    What I'm attempting to illustrate is that, depending on intended
>>    useage, which will, some extent, dictate weight, anything from a .35 to
>>    a Zenoah G-62 _might_ be applicable.
    
	I hope it will be a good scale flier. Nothing fancy, just someting
	that I could entry in a few contest some time in the future.

>>    I think I'd shoot for a ready-to-fly weight of 10-11 lb.'s and .60
>>    power, were it me.  However, you should understand that stick-and- 
>>    tissue construction, intended for rubber-powered free-flight will be
>>    woefully inadequate for gas-powered R/C and total re-engineering may be
>>    called for, i.e. retain the outlines but completely redraw the innards
>>    using materials/techniques suitable to the intended purpose.  A look at
>>    how Kay's B-J's (or other typical .60 size bipes) are constructed
>>    should provide an idea of what'll be required for a successful R/C model.   


	I know what you mean. I was thinking of maybe using foam wings.
	Althought, balsa would make it look more scale. Maybe the next
	DECRCM meeting, Kay you could bring your B-J's so I could have a 
	look see?!

	Thanks for the reply Al,

Norm

Norm,

  A while ago I entered a note about the possibility of real small R/C planes.
I was thinking along the lines of indoor but this LARGE rubber model has my 
interest too. Could you forward/enter the flight specs (weight, surface area, 
etc.) for the plane as it was intended. Might be interesting to think about a
light weight 2 channel version with rubber power!

Jim - Interested in the technology too!

Free to anyone who attends the next DECRCM meeting - I have many copies
of the Cleveland Catalogues that Norm sent me.

About the BJ wing - I can't bring the plane in next meeting but we
can talk about construction if you want - it is nothing unique just
lots of ribs (2+ times the plans to be scale) and 4 spars (two
top and two bottom) with webbing.  Purchased leading and trailing edges
and cap strips.  Then for good measure I carbon fibered some of the 
spars - good thing - you've seen my landings!

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

    Will I've been looking over the plans for this bird. I don't know if it
    is because this was designed for rubber band power, but their doesn't
    seem to be alot of detail to them. Or some hints on 'how to do this'
    type of thing. 
    
    I'm glad I bought the plastic model kit of the same plane. I thing it
    help to show some details that a 2 diamentional plan can't.
    
    Some problems that will have to be worked out:
    
    1. WINGS - in a plane this size, I guess mounting the servos in the
    	       wings would be best. But how or do I make them removeabel?
    	       The 'N' sturts are no big deal, but the wire struts could be
    	       a problem.
    
    2. FUSE -  if the top wing is not removeable, how do I get access to
    	       radio,fuel tank, and such? I was thinking that I could make
    	       a section behind the cockpit removeable, but with servos 
    	       so far back, I could have a C.G. problem.
    
    These are what I think are the two major problems that have to be
    worked out. Being a that I haven't scrached built planes before, I
    could be over looking a lot of other potential problems. But I think
    this two are a good start!
    
    

    What if the firewall is removable and a tray with the radio gear
    slides out for maintenance?  
    
    One other question that comes to mind:  "How do you size the engine?"
    This one has me stumped with my 1-1/2" scale Laird Super Solution
    (also from Cleveland plans).

    RE: .-2,
    
    The more I read (and think) about this project, the more I can't help
    but feel it's ill-advised at this point in yer' R/C experience.  You
    mention you've never scratchbuilt before; this is acceptable since
    _everyone_ has to do the "first" one more-or-less flat-footed.
    
    However, most modelers have a number (and variety) of kit subjects
    under their belt before tackling their first scratchbuilt.  I don't
    know what your overall experience is but I have to say that to tackle a
    _first_ scratchbuilt that also has to be RE-engineered from a stick 'n
    tissue, rubber-powered model to a gas-powered, R/C model could well
    prove an extremely daunting task.
    
    I don't mean to dash your dream-project with cold water here but permit
    me to suggest you put together an ordered list of projects (if you indeed 
    are lacking same) designed to increase your knowledge/experience with each
    step to the point where few questions as to how to bring the Sparrowhawk 
    to reality remain.  If I'm reading between the lines correctly, it sounds
    as though you have a comparatively low experience level and this _will_
    severely hamper successful completion of your project...much better to
    work up to an ambitious project than to take on too much, get
    discouraged and drop the whole thing.
    
    Now, a few answers:
    
    1. Rubber models traditionally are nearly barren of surface details;
    the fact is that they are far too limited by power restrictions and
    [low] weight requirements to be concerned with details which, most
    often, amount to weighty gingerbread which cannot be tolerated.  You'll
    see, if you'll follow the free-flight (rubber) scale column in Model
    Aviation magazine, that it's just about a unanimous practice to omit
    such details, drawing them on with ink if anything at all.  It is also
    a fact that stick 'n tissue types are notoriously loose with scale
    accuracy; wing, stab and fin/rudder areas most often being increased to
    increase flyability and stability.  Cleveland has always been
    considered to be the most accurate of this genre but I'd bet liberties
    were taken to improve flight characteristics...it's almost a universal
    practice (and necessarily so).
    
    2. If only for ease of transport, not to mention crash-survivability,
    you're almost forced to make _both_ wings removeable.  This, of course, 
    makes a reasonably easy task of mounting servos in the wing and
    providing access hatches for servicing.
    
    3. Again, both wings should be made detachable and this provides ready
    access to the fuse-mounted radio installation through the wing-saddle
    for the bottom wing.

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

I'll agree with Al (that was easy ;^)

At last night's DECRCM meeting, Norm brought in the plans and everyone was 
impressed with the sheer size of them. The plans are 4'x8' at least and there 
are 5 or 6 sheets! A beautiful set of plans but a re-engineering project at the
very least. I agree with Al's suggestion that this should become a future
dream to be worked towards in a systematic way. Get youself a .40 size Bipe
KIT and build it with all the bells and whistles that you plan on for the Hawk
and then you have a "rough draft" experience as well as a "beater" plane to
improve your flying and construction skills. A lot of the engineering will be
copyable from a similar kit and you'll have something to compare the plans to
in order to see where the changes need to be made. As Al points out, this might
just be one step along the road to having a Sparrowhawk that will fly for many
years to come.


Nice plans!

================================================================================
Note 1105.17        Curtiss Sparrowhawk ... a winter project            17 of 18
PNO::CASEYA "THE DESERT RAT (I-RC-AV8)"              54 lines  10-OCT-1989 18:41
                   -< JUST A WELL INTENDED SUGGESTION..... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    RE: .-2,
    
    
  >  I don't mean to dash your dream-project with cold water here but permit
  >  me to suggest you put together an ordered list of projects (if you indeed 
  >  are lacking same) designed to increase your knowledge/experience with each
  >  step to the point where few questions as to how to bring the Sparrowhawk 
  >  to reality remain.  If I'm reading between the lines correctly, it sounds
  >  as though you have a comparatively low experience level and this _will_
  >  severely hamper successful completion of your project...much better to
  >  work up to an ambitious project than to take on too much, get
  >  discouraged and drop the whole thing.
   

You may be right Al, it id alot for a first-time scratchbuilder. As for a list 
kit that would help build-up my knowledge base, I looked through a TOWER 
catalog and found some that may be good for this. I stayed in the radial engine
mode, with wire and 'N' struts and large scale:

				Pica 1/5 Scale WACOS
				Royal,Sterling Stearman PT-17
				Royal Curtis Hawk P-6E
				

I have an ACE 60/90 Bipe that I will build, which could help in giving me some
stick time with a bi-plane.

If you have any other suggestion on kits that would help, please let me know.
I would hate to stat something like the SparrowHawk and not finish it cause
I got fustrated.

Thanks for the input

Norm

>				Pica 1/5 Scale WACOS
>				Royal,Sterling Stearman PT-17
>				Royal Curtis Hawk P-6E

Based only on looks the Hawk or Pica would be great.
Stearmans are all over the place - too many of them.

>I have an ACE 60/90 Bipe that I will build, which could help in giving me some
>stick time with a bi-plane.

The ACE is probably all the "Experience points" you will need.

Don't give up on the Sparrowhawk Norm,  put it on the back burner and
just purchase some scratch material as you come across parts and work
on it in the background.  For what it's worth I just placed 8.5 x 11
copies of the Berliner-Joyce construction article and plans in the mail
to you.  It is similar in that the top wing is Gull and removable.

But... - I'd like to see your ACE and WACO and HAWK and Sparrowhawk
at the next DECRCM fun fly!

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    I know I read in RCM that the Big is Beautiful editor was working
    on a Sparrowhawk. It was Quadra sized. I think his original design.
    Keep searching for more plans.
    
    
    Tom

    Norm,
    
    Either the 1/5 Pica Waco or Bucker Jungmeister would make good
    last-project(s)-before-scratching-the-Sparrowhawk.  However, understand
    up front that Pica has a reputation for very poor quality wood and
    hardware, necessitating replacement of much of same.  Hopefully, this
    has changed; I haven't looked at a Pica kit in a long while so I can't
    speculate.  Of course, this factor _would_ provide you with a lead-in
    to scratchbuilding, having to cut new parts, etc.  :B^)  I only bring
    this up as a flag for you to examine the kit carefully _before_ you
    plunk down yer' hard-earned dinero.
    
    The other caution is to be very weight concious with either of these
    planes; their large size makes them conducive to over-weight if you get
    carried away with glue, epoxy and finish...just ask me: my Jungmeister
    (the ol' Yeller' Peril) weighs around 12-lb.'s and is _ALL_ my O.S. .61
    ABC can handle.  If it looks like you can't keep the weight to 10-lb.'s
    or less, better go to a .90 2-stroke or equivalent (1.20?) 4-stroke.
    
    Other suitable kits:  Assuming you want this one to be scale, Royal has
    a nice P6E Hawk about the same size as the Waco/Bucker.  Lessee', some-
    one else (was it Goldberg?) used to have a nice .40 size P6E but I'm
    not sure it's still available.  Any of Proctor's kits are great but
    they're a bit pricey and [perhaps] too fiddly to build, employing
    scale-like construction throughout.  The problem with most scale kits
    is that they _assume_ a higher level of building (and flying) expertise
    on the builders part and a neophyte can get into real problems with
    them.  The Pica's are, at least, within the skills of a builder with a
    kit or two under his belt.

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    I think I've found, no, I know I've found another plan for the Curtiss
    SparrowHawk. I called Model Airplane News(MAN) and they have a one by a
    William Wylam. I'm sending for it today. I'm also getting their MAN
    Plans Directory. 
    
    The person I spoke to could not give any particulars about the plan,
    scale, wing spand and such. But I figure if it is at least a gas
    powered version, it would be easy to enlarge. Then I wouldn't have to
    deal with rubber band to gas power conversion.
    
    Norm
    

    The Wylam plans that I've seen contain only the full scale dimensions 
    and construction details.  If that is what you've ordered, it may
    take more than one winter  ;^)

    Norm,
    
    Wylam drawings are _NOT_ model plans.  They are extremely detailed,
    comprehensive drawings of the full-scale aircraft.  Their accuracy is
    exceptional but, again, you'll be faced with the task of engineering
    and drawing in your own model structure.  The Wylams are excellent for
    documenting a model and/or assuring accuracy but they cannot be
    directly built from inthe creation of a model.   

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    I've decided to start work on the Sparrow Hawk. I've been looking
    through some R/C mags seeing how somethings are done, such as wing
    mount, and firewalls. 
    
    I'm going to do a box configuration for the fuse, with formers and 1 to
    3/32 balsa sheeting. From behind the cockpit back, the box will be
    formed with 1/4" sq sprus. While from in front to the firewall will be
    1/8 to 1/4" thick lite ply. 
    
    I've got this hughe print hung on the wall in my apartment, and I'm
    doing all the drawing on .005-single matted drafting film. It's very
    tough stuff. Stands up to a lot of erasing.
    
    I hope to have more done by the next DECRCM meeting. I'll keep posting
    progrees here.
    
    Norm
    

    I'm looking for help in understanding something. The model of the
    Sparrowhawk, has some references information. It list some drawings
    with the following names and dates:
    					Peter Westburg, June 1987
    					Bergen Hardesty, 1982
    					I.R.Stair,Aeromoderller,April 1967
    
    Are these mags or books or what? Could someone help me?
    
    
    Norm

>    					Peter Westburg, June 1987

Well I can help with the Peter Westburg reference.
Most of his drawings (3 views and perspective cutaways)
have been published in Model Builder.  His drawing of the
Sparrowhawk is 4 sheets and cost $24.00.  The reference to
June of 1987 probably refers to the month and year that it
was published in Model Builder.  I don't think he advertises
every month in the magazine but when he does it is a full
page add.  I have used the magazine published views for the
Berliner-Joyce and I have to tell you it is the best set
of drawings you will ever come across.  I never did purchase
the $24 version however.  The Sparrowhawk drawings are
in 1/10 scale.  Who ever pointed me to the source said that
you could almost build a real plane from the drawings.  

They really are excellent.  On the down side - I don't use
any of them in my Scale Documentation for contests because
they are too good and I had already committed some things
to a different set of three views that did not match the
Westburg documentation.  If I had to do it all over again
I would base the actual construction solely on the Westburg
drawings and I would purchase the $24 version and send them
off to be scanned with CAD software and enlarged to exactly
the scale I am building.

Just to wet your appetite I just put a copy of a copy of
Peter's add in the mail to you at AKO-1/H2.

The only negative thing I could say is that they won't help
you a whole lot with color and markings documentation.  You 
will still want to find some actual photographs.  Alto they
will show you the precise placement and size for the stars
and balls, etc.

You order them thru Model Builder at
    RCMB Inc.
    898 West 16th St.
    Newport Beach, CA 92663
    Phone (714)645-8830

If you call them they will be able to tell you if the Jun-87
issue has the drawings and send you a back issue for 2-3 bucks.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    Thanks alot Kay. I just spoke with RCMB and I'm sending my order in
    today. One more thing, would you happen to have the address of one of
    these CAD out fits that I can send the drawings to, to have them
    enlarged?
    
    
    This is great!!!!!
    
    Norm

>    today. One more thing, would you happen to have the address of one of
>    these CAD out fits that I can send the drawings to, to have them
>    enlarged?

Well this will be harder.  There are several places that advertise the
service of plan enlargement but one fellow claims that he scans the old
plan into his computer then has the computer print it out in whatever size.

Since it is a CAD drawing you can fiddle with it when it is in.  For instance
sometimes top views are a combination top and bottom view split down
the middle.  You could delete the port half and mirror the starboard half
for a strictly top view.  By the same token if you had separate top and
bottom views you could delete half from each and move the remaining halves
together for a combined top/bottom view.

Anyway he had a small 1 or 2 inch add in several of the magazines
and got honorable mention in several of the magazines articles about
a year ago.  Usually in the scale columns as I recall.  But I don't
have a actual copy of any add handy - unless someone else can help your
in for a search thru the magazines - then again if you called model builder
back and asked this they would probably say - "Oh yeah - that Joe's add..."

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
################################################################################

    After the last DECRCM, I was asked to put something in about the
    matarial i was using to trace my SparrowHawk onto. A friend of mine got
    me roll, about 1000', it's called 'single matted, .005 drafting film'.
    
    He got it for me from Charretts, I think that is how it is spelled. It
    can also be gotten in different size sheets and thickness, single or
    double matted. Matted means that one or both sides have this frosted
    finish to. It's very tough stuff, standing up to many error corrections. 
    Also, because it's so transparent, when it comes time to build that other 
    half of the wing, you just flip that bad boy over and away ya go!
    
    I don't know how much it cost, but I do think that it is listed in a
    Charretts catalog.
    
    
    Norm

    The stuff sounds like drafting mylar.  They have special pencils
    for it too so the lines don't smear.  The material is dimensionally
    stable too.  Uusally quite expensive.
    
    bruce bretschneider

Last week, I finally recived my WACO-YMF from Tower Hobbies. I was almost ready
to tell them to give me back my money and I'd go else were. But it's here, and 
what a kit. The box was hugh, filled with all kinds of goodies. 

The instruction book, in comparison to some that I've worked with, has little to
be desired. Not much in the way of pictures, but alot of explanations. The plans
themself are will detailed. Nice wood. I hope to use some of the consturction
technics. 

The one thing that I didn't see on the plans and that was how the wire sturts
are done. Maybe they are in the documentation.

I don't know when I'll get a chance to builds this. I don't have a good work 
area for such a large kit.

I'm hoping to start ordering some stuff soon. I'm also thinking that I'll go 
with LITEPLY and SPRUSE. Do think this will add too much weight?


Norm

Money has been tight, so I haven't been able to go out and buy any matirial.
So what I have been doing is building the Sparrowhawk on my system using 
a CAD package called AutoCAD. Also, after spending many fustrating hous trying
to work with the Cleveland plans, I started using the Peter Westburg copy of
the original ship. Changing all the measurements to 1/4 scale. I find this to 
be working out very well. I will use the Cleveland plans to help me in 
connecting the stab. and fin. I also got alot of help and input for plans in RCM
and the plans I got from Kay(THANKS).

I hope that by the next meeting in BXO, I have something to bring, get somemore
input as to the construction.


See ya then


Norm

    Just a note of [hopefully] general interest.  Just this weekend I heard
    by word or mouth that one of our giant airships, the Macon I think,
    that crashed in the ocean back in the 30's has been located.  So,
    what's that got to do with anything?  Well, it just happens that the
    big dirigible had 5 SPARROWHAWKS aboard when it crashed...remember?,
    they were using them as parasite fighters, launched and retrieved via a
    trapeze setup.
    
    According to the story, the Sparrowhawks appear in pretty fair shape so
    efforts are being made to salvage them.  Fascinating stuff, eh??  Has
    enyone else heard this and have all the facts/details???
						 __
				|      |        / |\	   	       
      	         \|/		|______|__(o/--/  | \	   	       
      | |        00	       <|  ~~~  ____ 04 ---- | --------------------
    |_|_|        (O>o		|\)____/___|\_____|_/	   Adios amigos, Al
      |     \__(O_\_	        |	  |___/	 o	   (The Desert Rat)

    Just got back last week from a quick trip to Washington, DC.  Had a
    chance to stop into the National Air & Space Museum on the Mall.  They
    have a Sparrowhawk hanging from the ceiling in one of the display
    rooms.  I think it was on the second floor, but I may be wrong.  They
    should be able to help you out with the documentation since they
    rebuilt an original.

  Did anyone see the Nova program (PBS - ch 2 Boston) the other night on
blimps?  They gave a history of the development of air ships and had a short
segment on one ship that was built for the US Navy.  They showed it out at
see launching and recovering bi-planes.  Does anyone know if they were
Sparrowhawks?  I recorded it last night for Norm so he can look at it and
maybe get motivated to work on this project again.

  I'll bring the tape to the next DECRCM meeting if anyone is interested in
viewing it (it also has a 2 hour 3 stooges special at the beginning!!!!! 8^)


              Jim

    Re: .-1, Jim,
    
    Ratz!  I was flipping back and forth between this program and Wings (I
    think) and missed the part you refer to.  However, I'd have to think
    it's a pretty good bet the planes you saw were Sparrowhawks as,
    disregarding developmental lash ups, I think the Sparrowhawk was the
    only plane designed specifically to be launched/retrieved by airships
    that ever went operational.
						 __
				|      |        / |\	   	       
      	         \|/		|______|__(o/--/  | \	   	       
      | |        00	       <|  ~~~  ____ 04 ---- | --------------------
    |_|_|        (O>o		|\)____/___|\_____|_/	   Adios amigos, Al
      |     \__(O_\_	        |	  |___/	 o	   (The Desert Rat)

  Not to worry Al!  I bet we can get E x 2 to put some parts of this tape into
a HTA tape for ya'.  Unless of course ya' want the Stooges too 8^).  I bet we
can work something out.



                Jim - about to be the proud owner of the V.U.S.