December 23, 2009
I was recently at the field delivering some wood supplies for the next winter (and probably enough for the one after that!). It was a Wednesday and as the weather was fine, a few of the mid week flyers were there. Steve “Doc” Baldock, Peter Daniel and Robert Laing. As Kerry and a friend of ours were unloading the wood, we witnessed the maiden flight of “Doc’s” Fokker D.Vlll
This model was scratch built by “Doc” from his own design and plans and flew for the first time about 20 years ago but was found to be a little underpowered. “Doc” put the model away and it sat in his workshop since then until recently. He repowered the model with a 35cc OS (OS 108 FSR I think), repainted it and brought her out for her second “maiden”.
Piloted by Peter Daniel, the Fokker was wheeled to runway where a quick CG check took place. All was well. “Doc” looked on anxiously as Peter checked the flight controls and then advanced the throttle. The OS 1.08 FSR (BX1) 32cc powered up and the big Fokker was soon trundling down the runway, heading south. The model leapt into the air. The wind was brisk and a little variable so it was a bumpy ride to gain height. “Doc” nervously held on to Peter’s back and guided him back to the flight line. Both making sure their gaze didn’t move from the airborne Fokker. Another circuit, some trim adjustments and Peter had settled in. A few more circuits of the field and a rather nervous looking Peter commenced finals. Everything was looking good and then he slowed the Fokker in line with the runway, easing the throttle a bit more an almost perfect landing was achieved and a very relieved looking Peter breathed a sigh of relief. The model suffered slight damage to the undercarriage and didn’t fly again that day. Model specs –
- Fokker D.Vlll (full size first flew in May 1918)
- Wingspan: 84″ (quarter scale)
- Length: 72″
- Weight: 8kg’s (approx)
- Engine: OS 1.08 FSR
- Designed and scratch built by Steve “Doc” Baldock
The following week (December 23), after some minor modifications to the Fokker, another successful flight took place. In addition another two new planes were maidened, Peter’s Mitsubishi A6M Zero powered by a OS 46ax and “Doc’s” Extra 300s powered by an OS 75ax. Peter reports that the Zero looks very lifelike in the air and with the retracts it gives the added realism especially in a dive.
