The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Kim Wed Jul 05, 2023 8:56 am

Flying Neal's "Sportavia" during a beautiful and hot 4th of July.
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A 40 year old Cox "Sportavia", originally owned by my great friend, Neal Needham, flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Neal flew everything from sport planes to ducted-fan jets and pylon racers, but his "Relax-and-Have-Fun" plane was this Sportavia.

I consider the Sportavia to be one of the most elegant models ever offered by Cox. It's controlled by two channels, elevator and rudder, and simply flys until its Cox "Silver Bee" runs out of fuel. All landings are dead-stick, as it glides back to its field.

This one proudly wears the scars of tons of flights made on all the months of the calendar, but the ones I remember most are summer days, tracking the Sportavia's white wings and tail feathers way up high as Neal searched for a thermal to ride after his engine quit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGwnSIQF6A&t=32s

rdw777 Wed Jul 05, 2023 12:22 pm

Love that flight weary patina ….. And what a nice tribute to your friend….. Makes me think of some I knew in the past….. Excellent video as always too….Thanks for sharing….

rsv1cox Wed Jul 05, 2023 1:49 pm

Picture #2. Wow! I like it.

batjac Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:32 pm

Always wanted a Sportavia Never got one....

The Jealous Mark

getback Thu Jul 06, 2023 4:21 am

That was really Nice ! What every it is the plane/ Fobs are working on this day , very clear ... Nice memorial to a dear friend Thanks for sharing Kim !! You the man !

andrew Thu Jul 06, 2023 8:25 am

What better tribute to an old friend than to keep his planes flying -- especially one that was never a hanger queen. Great video!

GallopingGhostler Thu Jul 06, 2023 10:40 am

I love the appearance of the much repaired but not spared ARF Sportavia. Makes me want to put my Hobby Shack (made by SureFlite for HS marketing) 40" Foam ARF Cessna 180 back in the air, which has a similar patina. Flew its partner J-3 Cub with OS Max .10R/C back in the 1990's. These were unique because the rudder and stabilizer are 3/32" thick sheet balsa covered in my choice of film.

Have used multiple engines on the 180, but the mid 1960's Enya .09-III TV with Tatone .09-.19 muffler turned it from a Bee powered trainer to a decent sport plane.

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The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.

Re: The Late Neal Needham's Cox "Sportavia" Flys at the Dexter Barnstormer's 4th of July Fun-Fly.