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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Steve Thompson on February 29, 2024, 03:01:24 PM

Title: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Thompson on February 29, 2024, 03:01:24 PM: I have heard of Jim Walker flying three planes at once with one in each hand and one controlled from a helmet he wore.

I am reading a very interesting book, "Do You Speak Model Airplane?" by Dave Thornburg.

From the book I learned that the helmet also had a microphone for announcing during the flight. Planes had two speed ignitions and the ignition for the helmet plane was controlled by a squeeze bulb in his mouth. That he also was working on flying a fourth model attached to his belt. Book talks about a trick where a streamer was looped around the wing and transferred from one plane to another. And the Saber Dance popping a balloon with a pin mounted on the tail.

I found short footage of the Sabre Dance on You tube under: U-Control by Jim Walker (Sabre Dance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnGz2VUGTZ0&t=37s

Does anyone have a link to footage or good pictures of him flying three planes at once?
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Robert Zambelli on February 29, 2024, 04:05:46 PM: I saw Jim Walker fly the three-plane show at Willow Grove NAS nationals in 1953.

AMAZING!!!!!

Bob Z.
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Dave Harmon on March 02, 2024, 08:34:02 AM: I remember Jim Walker being at the Tulsa Glue Dobbers site but I arrived just as he was driving away in his cool convertible.
Unfortunately....he never came back....I missed out!!
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on March 09, 2024, 12:57:28 PM: There is a photo of Walker flying three at once, so it must be authentic.

Jim Walker came to our town just once, in his Chrysler "woodie" station wagon. He flew a Fireball in a vacant lot, using his U-Reely handle, and launching and recovering the plane himself, without it ever touching the ground! His Fireball was equipped with a 2-speed engine, operated by a 3rd line. but he used only 2 lines that day.
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Thompson on March 09, 2024, 02:51:07 PM: From Thornburg book, page 186:

In a Sunday show, Jim Walker flew three Fireballs at once on two-speed McCoy .29s - a performance that Model Airplane News said, "outshone the Blue Angels in modelers' eyes."
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Tom McClain on March 10, 2024, 09:03:52 AM: Here are several pictures of jimmy walker amazing the audience.
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Larry Renger on March 10, 2024, 07:18:03 PM: Bart Klapinski did that several times every day at the Cox pavillion in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. With no throttles!

👍
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Dwyer on March 11, 2024, 06:33:09 AM: Wondering what to do with my old J Walker U-Reely. I haven't seen one on Antiques Roadshow yet, not holding my breath on that one.

Steve
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Larry Renger on March 11, 2024, 04:07:32 PM: Donate to the AMA Museum?
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Thompson on March 11, 2024, 06:58:47 PM: Hook it to a plane and do the Sabre Dance!
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Thompson on March 11, 2024, 07:03:07 PM: Tom, thank you for the good pictures!

Space helmet shot shows radio for announcing his flight and the air bulb he held in his teeth for the two-speed control on the third plane.
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Dave Harmon on March 12, 2024, 09:42:38 AM: Quote from: Steve Thompson on March 11, 2024, 06:58:47 PM
Hook it to a plane and do the Sabre Dance!

I hooked mine to the garbage can decades ago!
I don't need any extra help crashing my airplanes! LL~
Title: Re: Jim Walker flies three planes at once
Post by: Steve Dwyer on March 12, 2024, 03:12:20 PM: I honestly can't part with it. I bought it when I was around 13 during a time when model building and flying was just about everyone's passion it seemed. Recalling, it was a must have back then. I bring it out once a year for the Ringmaster fly-a-thon and enjoy seeing the young RC guys taking an interest in it. It still has the same .015 braided steel lines I flew on in the late 50s. Many models came and went the hard way on the lines on this handle.

Steve