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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: RandySmith on May 20, 2009, 09:19:02 PM

Title: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 20, 2009, 09:19:02 PM
I got an email with pictures of Bob McDonald flying his new  USA-1  for the first time today. Tom Polk reports its a killer ship, and one of the best planes Bob has built. Werwage USA-1 with PA-40 Merlin.
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 20, 2009, 09:32:57 PM
Another pic
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: peabody on May 21, 2009, 05:23:24 AM
Bob is a true craftsman and a top level flier...
Is the USA-1 Classic eligible?
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Jim Pollock on May 21, 2009, 07:32:51 AM
Peabody,

Yup, flown at the '69 Nats by Bill.

Randy,

that beauty is going to make Big Bear jealous!

Jim Pollock,   H^^
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 21, 2009, 01:32:35 PM
The USA-1 that was flown at the 1969 Nats had a different rudder shape and paint job. Billy saw Jerry Worth's Apterix at that Nats and really liked the looks of it and so he went home from the Nats that year, stripped the finish, re-did the fuselage and fin shapes and re-painted the ship. He flew it before the winter set in, making both versions Classic legal!

Bob Hunt


Yes Bob is correct ,and this is the plane Bob speaks of, as it was at The NATs before the redo

And the USA-1  after the  restyle.
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 21, 2009, 02:09:43 PM
The USA-1 that was flown at the 1969 Nats had a different rudder shape and paint job. Billy saw Jerry Worth's Apterix at that Nats and really liked the looks of it and so he went home from the Nats that year, stripped the finish, re-did the fuselage and fin shapes and re-painted the ship. He flew it before the winter set in, making both versions Classic legal!

Bob Hunt


Bob is this the plane? I wasn't sure if the  NASA-1 and the  Apterix were the same.
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Bradley Walker on May 21, 2009, 05:14:49 PM
Bob is a true craftsman and a top level flier...
Is the USA-1 Classic eligible?

Bob McDonald does not get the respect he deserves, in my opinion....
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Matt Colan on May 21, 2009, 05:17:21 PM
Fantastic Bob!!!  The USA-1 has always been one of my favorite ships, and someday will build one, don't know when but I will.

Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Matt Colan on May 21, 2009, 06:35:34 PM
Yup! That's the one Randy. It had the name Apterix on the side of the fuselage somewhere. Beautiful plane.

Bob Hunt

I remember reading a thread on SSW about Jerry and the apterix/NASA-1.  He commented and said he rarely named his planes.

Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on May 21, 2009, 06:59:59 PM
Looks like Bob has another winner.  He has always been a great builder and finisher, this will be one of the best USA's ever built.

Wish he'd show up here on SH.  THANKS for the pix Randy.
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Chris McMillin on May 21, 2009, 07:17:52 PM

Bob is this the plane? I wasn't sure if the  NASA-1 and the  Apterix were the same.


Hi Randy,
The NASA-1 model that Jerry is holding had a little Letraset NASA 1 on the outboard wing about 1/8 inch high. Being young and having good eyesight, I thought that was it's name and captioned that photo all those years later as such (that is the PAMPA website photo, I assume). It was the Apertix, and it was flown at the '68 Nats where that pic was taken.
Chris...
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 21, 2009, 08:23:57 PM
Hi Chris

Thanks  I wondered about the names, I could never tell from the shots I had collected, that explains a lot.
 Here is a shot of the 1969 USA-1  and  Bob's  USA-1 that is an EXACT replica

Randy
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on May 21, 2009, 08:37:47 PM
Like documenting a scale model!

Randy: ya gotta try to talk Bob into joining SH so so he can take his praise in person!
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Mike Ferguson on May 22, 2009, 06:58:31 AM
I think Billy liked the name "Apterix", too.

I seem to remember a really cool "Olympic"-influenced plane of Billy's called the Apterix as well - it had a tissue finish and twin rudders. 
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 22, 2009, 03:09:58 PM
Like documenting a scale model!

Randy: ya gotta try to talk Bob into joining SH so so he can take his praise in person!

Hi Denny    Naaa  don't wanna heap too much praise on him as  it may increase  the hat size  LL~  Word is  Bob's plane is  ....lighter... Than  Billys  S?P

seriously  it  is  a  really  great effort  and  I can't wait to see it  fly!

Randy
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on May 22, 2009, 03:20:52 PM
For sure it is stronger and has more power - its lighter too?  Well I guess you gotta compromise somewhere...(huh?)  LL~  :o

BTW is there any "documentation" of the original USA-1 tail?  could probably "swag it" from pix but...
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: John Sunderland on May 22, 2009, 03:39:20 PM
  Way cool! What more can you say. Its beautiful!


John Sunderland
Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: Matt Colan on May 22, 2009, 06:56:02 PM
Look at the tab Billy had on his 1969 USA-1.  I remember Randy Powell, saying on his USA-1, he had to put a tab on the flap because it would roll on him, because there was so much assymetry in the wing.

Title: Re: USA-1 Bob's New weapon
Post by: RandySmith on May 22, 2009, 07:03:57 PM
For sure it is stronger and has more power - its lighter too?  Well I guess you gotta compromise somewhere...(huh?)  LL~  :o

BTW is there any "documentation" of the original USA-1 tail?  could probably "swag it" from pix but...

Yes  I have original drawings of the USA-1 plus  the plans

Randy