Palmer 50th Commemorative, England

[Mike Scholtes]

In 1957 Bob Palmer put on a dazzling display of CLPA at Woburn Abbey, a palatial estate in the English countryside 50 miles north of London. A young Ian Russell was there to see it. In 2007 Ian and his mates in the Milton Keynes Modelers organized a 50th Anniversary contest held at the same place. Ian (of Merco Rustler fame) rebuilt Palmer's actual 1957 radial-cowl Thunderbird for the event, to be presented to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, owners of Woburn Abbey (in the family since the time of Henry VIII, 500 years). In conjunction with a fly-in ("Rally" in British English) by the DeHaviland Moth club and a gathering of classic sports cars, the event was about as British as could be imagined. The event was held on the weekend of August 17-19. Despite windy and rainy weather the stalwart Brits showed up with a good assortment of Palmer designs and modern F2B models plus classics. Two Californians participated as well, myself and Steve Sobel of the L.A. area. Saturday we were treated to a tree-top level aerobatics display by a Griffin-powered Seafire and then a Westland Lysander. England is full of aviation "museums" with a difference: they FLY their precious airplanes. As great as model flying in the lovely English countryside may be, nothing compares with the flash of an eliptical wing and the growl of a Rolls-Royce V-12. For all intents and purposes it was 1940 again for a brief time in the English Midlands.

Ian is in the green jacket holding the Palmer model. I am holding the Smoothie with "USA" numbers. Steve is in the white tee shirt at the right side of the group pictures. The Brits know how to handle wind and rain and seemingly are unfazed by atrocious conditions. Nearly all "landings" resulted in flipovers, due to the rough pasture grass. We had a great time, though some spectators wondered about all the Yanks at the event. Watch for an article in Nov-Dec Stunt News.

[Garf]

How about some info on the OS sparkie conversion?

[Mike Scholtes]

It is an LA46 with transistorized ignition. I spoke to the owner about it and he gave me the rundown on the parts used but I should contact him to get the correct info. Conversions of modern engines are (apparently) allowed in UK Vintage Stunt. Ian Russell can probably get us the info as well. I will try to get the details. Looks very interesting and is a very neat installation in the Palmer Go-Devil.

[Bill Little]

It is an LA46 with transistorized ignition. I spoke to the owner about it and he gave me the rundown on the parts used but I should contact him to get the correct info. Conversions of modern engines are (apparently) allowed in UK Vintage Stunt. Ian Russell can probably get us the info as well. I will try to get the details. Looks very interesting and is a very neat installation in the Palmer Go-Devil.

Is the Go Devil "Pipemaker Mike's"  plane?

[Mike Scholtes]

No, it's not his. Don't think he made the contest. Several of the top UK fliers were getting ready for the British Nats which are this weekend and did not make it to the unofficial contest at Woburn. Several models were wrecked in the wind as it was. By the way, there was a fine female flier, a young lass named (what could be better) Wendy who was flying the full-on pattern quite well, wind and rain be darned.

Here is another shot of the Go-Devil. Also a few other things of interest.

[Mike Scholtes]

Well, I found a link to Mike Nelson's website that has a picture of this Go-Devil with the LA46 sparker from 2005. Now I am not really sure whose it is. Contact Mike directly or go through the CLAPA or BMFA sites. I have a request for info pending with Ian Russell in London.

[rustler]

Hi everybody. Yes, that is Pipemaker Mike Nelson's Go Devil. He contributes regularly to these forums.

It was fantastic to have two flying and one spectator visitor/s from the U.S. participating in our event. The spectator was Roland Frestad(?), U.S. editor of Sam Speaks.

We have a committee meeting next Sat. when we will discuss the possibility of repeating this event next year. Woburn is willing to have us. Both Woburn and we were finding our way a little this year. I think we now have to discuss ways to get a smoother grass cut in future!

As we have said before, Woburn will be taking the Radial T'brd. for permanent exhibition, thus ensuring the preservation of this historic model. I have fabricated a nice trophy using a deHavilland Gipsy piston, highly appropriate considering Woburn's deH. connections. The trophy will be known as the Russell Trophy, (nothing to do with the fact that the Duke's family name is Russell of course!  ).

This has the potential to become a great relaxed annual event, embracing so much more than "just another stunt comp". It has the potential to be a really pleasant weekend with the full size flying, the vintage car presence, and all the Woburn Stately Home attractions. All entrants got a certificate of either placing or participation, individually signed by the Duchess!