Dale Kirn - Mr Monoline!

[Robert Zambelli]

Shortly after finishing my Brodak Stinger around 2005, I received a letter from Dale Kirn (photo #1).
Besides the letter, he sent me some photos of his different V-Tailed models, as seen in the next four attachments.
Although never having met in person, we had quite a few phone conversations and he impressed me as one heck of a nice and talented guy. Besides being quite accomplished with monoline, he stated that his best flying Stinger was a 2-line version, as seen in attachment 4.
My Stinger (last photo) turned out to be one of the best flying OTS models I've ever built, having accrued well over 1,200 flights. It brought home many first place trophies.
Although I substituted  a lot of lighter wood from that of the kit, I maintained all the original numbers and with a weight of just under 30 ounces, it flew perfectly with a stock Fox 35. No "burp" EVER!
It has a very strange dihedral and never needed any trimming.
Yes, I still fly it regularly but it's time for a bit of "oil cleanup" around the nose area.
If your interested in a really fine flying OTS plane, give the Stinger a try - you won't be disappointed. I'm pretty sure Brodak offers both the plans and the kit.

bob Z.

[Paul Taylor]

I remember seeing your model at Brodak’s.

Very kewl.

[john e. holliday]

I built the Stinger from set of plans I got at VSC the year he brought the plans there.   I got three flights before I crashed it pushing it too hrad before getting all the flight trimming done.  Still have plans and was hoping to build another one.   Yes Dale is a very fine gentleman and easy to talk to.

[Robert Zambelli]

John - what engine do you plan to use?

[Jim Kraft]

    Since Dale grew up on a farm about 10 miles from where I live in Abilene Ks, about 15 years ago he had a display of many of his planes in the Salina Ks, museum. He had a really neat B-25 with 2 Atwood 49's in it. I cannot remember the year he won control line scale at the NAT'S with it, but He said that was the only time he ever flew it. I had a bunch of pictures from that display in my computer but lost them all.

    Dale came back here sometimes and He came to visit me. We spent hours talking about planes and engines and the people he knew. Some of my greatest memories. He loved every part of this hobby, and was a super nice and humble man.

[Warren Walker]

I'm so grateful I was able to call Dale a friend. He was the kindest man I ever met a true gentleman.
I really miss him.
W.W.

[Larry Wong]

What kind of Doctor was he? I saw him on the National Geographic program long time ago in Budapest flying a model airplane.