All-metal Sonex on takeoff
Carlos Rangel designed and built this 1/3-scale Sonex, which is contructed of all aluminum riveted construction. This 94-inch-span model is powered by a ZDZ 50cc engine.
Switchblade takes flight!
Check out this FB-111A, a team scale entry built by Mike Selby and flown by Ray Johns. This gorgeous jet has functional swing wings and tailerons and will definitely be a Top Gun contender when it flies for the judges on Saturday.
Flightline Sights at Top Gun
Here are a few highlights of planes and people on the flightline today at the Paradise Field.
Top Gun Wildcat
Built by Frank Harris and flown by Kyle Goodwine, this 93 inch span Navy fighter is powered by a Moki 150cc radial engine turning a Solo 3-blade propeller. Kyle placed 3rd in the Unlimited Class at Top Gun. It also has a scale pilot figure of Pappy Boyington in the cockpit. The pilot is from […]
Friends and buddies at Top Gun
Much more than all the great looking scale planes, the fun and heart of this event is the people! Team MAN, Debra Cleghorn and me on the Top Gun Flightline! Debra and Scale Master Graeme Mears!
Hawker Sea Hurricane at Top Gun
A great looking warbird on the Flightline was this amazing looking well detailed and weathered Hawker Hurricane Details are amazing! Scale functional exhaust stacks, functional foot step panel and stirrup, rib stitching and panel lines with rivets and screwheads. Who built and flew it? Come back and see when we add more to this […]
P-51D Mustang Detailed inside and out!
Starting out as a Composite-ARF Mustang kit, Jean-Francois Bobo went the extra mile and made a detailed V-12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine to help boost his craftsmanship score at Top Gun. Not only does it cover up the DLE 55 engine, it also adds weight to the nose (needed for balance,) it increases outline scale fidelity […]
Team DiGiorgio
Dean’s supportive signifigant other holds his Me-109 while he sets it up. There are more “flight” couples at Top Gun than you might think!
P-51 Mustang- Super Detailed
A spectator checks out a P-51 Mustang that’s even detailed “under the hood.” The builder created an entire dummy V-12 engine under the cowl.
Scoring points at Top Gun
Craftsmanship judge Rich Uravitch gets up close and personal with an L-19 Bird Dog. This model arrived in a special crate all the way from Italy, and we’re told that shipping alone (custom crate and travel) cost $10,000 U.S.! I can’t wait to see this plane in the air and have a chance to get […]
Top Gun 2011 Thursday
So after a long day flying to Miami and then to Orlando then a short drive to Lakeland we made it to Paradise Field the new home of Top Gun. Here are a few pix of the day.
Ziroli Skyraider makes first casualty
The remains of a beautiful Skyraider built from Ziroli plans.
