Bruce Malm...one of the best young kiddy builders that I have ever launched a plane for.

He was flying a pattern when he was.....ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD?

I met Bruce a very very long time ago...the slide says Jan 65

Check out his beautiful custom  scratch built "Cirrus" designed by George Lieb.

Bruce and his long time neighbor  Mike Potter, remained friends for a very very very very long time. Both young men were both old PROS MODELGRUNTS even before they went to kindergarden? 

I ended up with George's beautiful original... and ended up using that model for a plan base to build two more copies.
 Unfortunately I have only one horrifical basket case of the last Cirrus that I splattered all over Seattle's last San Point Naval airstation's tarmac by a damaged bellcrank platform and leadout...due to a very BAD BAD PULL SCALE!

Check out that generous stab and HUGE ELEVATORS...
PERSONALLY...I HAVE NEVER FLOWN ANY STUNTER LIKE THIS CIRRIUS THAT TURNS WITH SUCH EASE...AND CONSISTENCY! NOTICE THE SHORT NOSE MOMENT AND LONG TAIL MOMENT...NO BAR-BELL EFFECT, WHAT-SO-EVER.
TALK ABOUT "POWER STEERING...

With Bruces amazing flying talent, young age and blinding reflexes, stoked WITH POSILUTLY-ABSOTIVILY NOT A FEAR BONE IN HIS YOUNG SKINNY BODY...HE COULD PATTERN THAT PLANE TO PERFECTION...EACH AND EVERY FLIGHT.

It was almost SICKINININNIN' TO LISTEN TO HIS MENTOR...GEORGE LIEB RAVE AND RANT..JUST HOW HIS YOUNG STUDENT WAS GOING TO TAKE NOT ONLY THE NATS..BUT ALSO TAKE HOME WORLD CUP WILLY!!!
Then came...Vietnam!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had even George Lieb and I on our knees almost everynight during those horrific war times.
When will we ever learn?

This last photo is of extremely poor quality. I took this with Kodachrome 10 at almost dark with an old Minolta SR-2 with no meter.

Here we see Bruce launching for Ed Knudson...and his beautiful one of a kind...that was also a total loss on its first offical flight. (The bellcrank platform let go...from A VERY VERY OVER AMBITIOUS PULL TEST.
WE LOST TWO BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW MODELS AT THAT LAST DAY...DUE TO PULL TEST SCALES THAT WERE FAR AND AWAY...DEAD HAPPENS WRONG!

Smotzie,

You're to good to me. I wasn't flying a full pattern until about13 >15. I didn't have any helpers until I met George and Mike Potter and I got to be close friends. I did have my little brother Jeff flying and performing loops with a Ringmaster with a McCoy 35 on it at age 5. He had to use 2 hands and lean back. Learning the pattern was from the book. I didn't really enter any stunt contests till moving to south and flying in WAM.
I won a few trophies before heading to VN.
Mike and I were busy competing in Carrier and Rat Race when I was still there.

I really look forward to retiring (about 2 yrs. or sooner) and being able to travel North and all over the USA to see you and everybody else. I'll probably end up in Oklahoma and plan on my own paved circles , RC runway, and shooting range along with a couple of RV sites for people that want to stop by, fly, or just BS, or if they just need a place to rest.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

PS. I bet you had to throw away the Ice cube trays Mike and I bought you for Christmas as soon as you got married.

Bruce

Doc
Kinda depends where I can get the best deal on home and property. I always look to see how far away I'll be from Tulsa.

My place will be another place to fly and hopefully on enough property and in an area where NOBODY can stop me from doing the things I love to do until the day they put me in an URN.

Bruce

Smotzie,
Teena and I use to shoot on a Skeet League. I have a nice 3/4 cock bird thrower we use out in front of my shop. Teena and I have talked about putting in a regular Skeet and Trap field when we move. The electric throwers have come way down,they even have a three button remote, and I can build the low and high houses, trap pit, and shooting station pads.

Now you've given me a new idea. I wonder how many clay birds they can get out of 200+ pounds of old man.

Bruce               

I went to the Ted Goya(spelling) contest in Woodland but got there too late and I hadn't had any real practice. I did get to see Phil Granderson and I think he remembered my wife and I at Wittier Narrows. I think I will have my field at home ready this spring so I can really start flying and practicing again. and enter some contests next year.
Bruce