My Buddy Al and His Fantastic Electrics...Stuka Fever

My long-time friend, Al Painton, is one of the best-kept secrets in Southeast Missouri, and he likes it that way.  Other than an occasional photo and note sent to Flying Models or a couple of Electric Power Magazines, he keeps his formidable creativity, and the resulting Mini-Air Force mostly to himself and his circle of admirers.  

He spent the 1950's, and a good chunk of the 60's, flying in the Coast Guard, before returning to his hometown, which was named for his grandfather.  He's built a bunch of full-scale experimental planes, and assisted in untold others.  I bought my Pietenpol from him in 1985.

He and his brothers, when not working for the railroads, farming, or some other endeavor, have run a glider school from the old duster strip on the edge of town, allowed instructors to use it with their students, and a few dozen other activities I'd need him to list.

Like most of "The Old School", he's also always been an active model builder, and when he turned his attentions to Electric R/C more than 20 years ago...a BUNCH of new magic took over the Painton Strip.  Electric power really allowed Al the chance to turn loose his imagination with no worries about fuel proofing (allowing his prodigious use of matte railroad paints), or the number of engines used by the full-scale planes he wanted to model.  The Painton Airstrip suddenly witnessed Lancasters, Stirlings, Wellingtons, early-version Stukas, Cant's, and some I didn't have a clue about, but was SURE had existed in large form at some time in history.

He draws his own plans...on big sheets of paper, spread across one of his waist-high work tables.  Some REALLY obscure aircraft come to life here...often from some vague three-view he'd find in an old magazine.  I always joked that he wasn't happy unless he could model some prototype, of which only one was built, but he does make the occasional foray into areas where I have some hope of recognizing a creation or two.

I'm currently tracking down my collection of photos and VHS tapes in an attempt to document at least a bit of his airforce, along with the ones I have yet to capture.

This is his C-123 Provider...just finished...and which I was supposed to test-fly last night.  Al sprung this on me as I arrived (running late as usual) with my Lazy Bee and B.O.T., thinking I was gonna video his planes as he flew.  I truly dislike flying other guys' gear, but this was an honor, and so, I tried to suppress the butterflies that quickly took over my stomach.  This is one big horse by my standards, and it ain't no sailplane, wing-to-weight-wise either.

The initial attempt proved that plane didn't have nearly enough elevator throw to rotate on takeoff, so I shut down the big dog and let it roll into the grass past the pavement.  Al's radio was fighting him, and we were losing our light, so we decided to retire and allow him to make some physical adjustments inside the plane for another run later in the week.

Al preps his monster...with his homebuilt Rans S-7 peeking from behind the hangar in the background...







Some other of his creations...I'll be adding more as I get them scanned:

Al and his Brewster Buffalo







Yeah...Spitfires could have skis



Ain't got a clue...but I'm sure it's correct!