Stuka timeline

Cool Stuff Mark !!!!

I've got really fond memories of flying my Uncle Wayne's 'Tiger Tail' (my name for it) Stuka back in the late Sixty's. It was, of course, under-powered compared to our balsa planes, but this also allowed us a takeoff with it rolling, tail up, across the infield dirt, raising a dust cloud behind it. TOO COOL !!!

Several years ago I helped a friend restore a Stuka and some Stuka parts. As I recall, there were two different versions of the way the landing gear mated to the wing.

Here ya go:

I remember those! Never saw one survive its first flight! Every kid I know that had one ,didn't usually have it long! They must have been terrible flying planes.

They can be a little bit of a bear...I blame that tiny scale elevator that makes them somewhat like driving a cement truck on ice.  The plane lags behind control inputs, but is totally flyable...you just have to lead it, and it is one of the most beautifully detailed planes of the line.  

It IS NOT, however, anywhere NEAR being a trainer.  It HAS to be a second plane or maybe even a third down the line.  When my Uncle Wayne let me fly his, it was about THE biggest deal in my 14 years of existence!  And it managed to survive both myself and my Cousin Bobby...though with a little "Battle Damage"....        




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5C7ePI-ma4&t=2s



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Sc7QgN61g

Great time line of the Stuka plane production.I am the proud owner of a mint early green Stuka That Kim sent me! I had a black Stuka when I was a kid and I flew it quite a few times until I broke a control line and it hammered into the ground! I saved the engine and threw away the shattered fusilage.

David S

David S wrote:Great time line of the Stuka plane production.I am the proud owner of a mint early green Stuka That Kim sent me! I had a black Stuka when I was a kid and I flew it quite a few times until I broke a control line and it hammered into the ground! I saved the engine and threw away the shattered fusilage.

David S

It's good to know it went to an appreciative home!

My Uncle Wayne's Stuka actually survived a line break (albeit with some damage) while I was holding it's handle. He still laughs about my yelling, "I AIN'T GOT NO DOWN!!!" after the down line broke, and it rolled over the top, then plowed into the infield ball diamond dirt at a fairly shallow angle. We had a lot to learn about preflight inspections....like...DO THEM. He repaired and had it going the next Sunday though.

Wow! Would never have believed it if I hadn't just seen it! That second one sure seemed to fly a long time!....and what a landing!

The pictures of the Stuka pilots were GREAT Kim.

Thank you for the additional effort expended.

The thing that sticks in my mind about the Stuka is - how difficult it was to put back together. I have had root canals that were less painful. Taking it apart was comparatively easy.

Mine had a disrupted fuel tank and a broken horizontal stab, both sourced through ebay and a good Samaritan here. I think I sill need part of the canopy and the rear gunner, but haven't seen it for awhile so I'm not sure.




At the time I was working on these three which may have added to my confusion.