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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Dennis Leonhardi on January 17, 2008, 02:38:57 PM

Title: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Dennis Leonhardi on January 17, 2008, 02:38:57 PM

I have acquired a set of plans and foam cores for a Snow Bird 51 by Donald Gerber.  Does anyone here have photos and/or more info?

Thanks!

Dennis

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Will Davis on January 17, 2008, 03:00:21 PM

Try getting in touch with Roy Tranthum or Tommy Luper

Will

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: peabody on January 17, 2008, 03:50:45 PM

Don was a great guy, and built presentable airplanes pretty quickly....
He also used what were at the time "unconventional" methods......foam filled profile fuselages, i.e.
When he moved to Florida, a friend bought the Snowbird powered by a ST 51, and another bought the built up version....
I flew m both and they preformed well.....no pics though....sorry

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: john e. holliday on January 17, 2008, 06:15:21 PM

I always thought Don and his dad flew nothing but carrier planes.  The last time I seen either one of them was at the 1968 Olathe NATS  in Kansas.  DOC Holliday

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Bill Little on January 18, 2008, 09:50:22 AM

Hi Dennis,

I am 99% positive I saw Jim Dammerel flying the Snow Bird 51 several years ago.  It flew very well!

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Ward Van Duzer on January 18, 2008, 02:36:47 PM

Bill,

You are correct! Jimmy did have one. Seems to me it was a foamie with sheeted Leading and trailing edges, with cap strips...


W

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: peabody on January 18, 2008, 04:04:46 PM

Don usd the Dixon "kept foam" and used SIG Coverite as well....

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Ward Van Duzer on January 18, 2008, 07:29:18 PM

My guess is it would be the other way around...

Title: Re: Donald Gerber - Snow Bird
Post by: Phil Spillman on January 18, 2008, 08:10:58 PM

In 1991 I moved out to Western Pennsylvania to accept a new position. In time I began to pick up my stunt flying as a lonesome individual living the bachelor life as a middle aged guy separated from my family! I met up with Don once again at an eastern Stunt meet and he invited me to drive out on a Saturday and to stay with him and his wife and then young daughter. Don had developed a "new" interest in Stunt as opposed to Carrier. I had known Don from when my family and I had lived in Reading, PA. Don and I went flying up on "The Hill" in Reading and he left me fly his then "New" bird the "Snow Bird". The  name derives from the name given to northerners who invade the South in the Winter! The plane then featured an ST .60 which ran like a top! I was then an Intermediate and found the plane a delight to fly! It pulled like a banshee..really hard! But then flying on Mount Penn in Reading was never easy for anything save a Combat Wing or a Goodyear Racer! If you have plans for the plane go ahead an build it it will be a fine entry for Profile Stunt, as well as Intermediate or Advanced PA. I do not remember it being well suited for Expert work but who knows? It might be just fine!  Phil Spillman