Each November, when much of North America has seen the first frost of the upcoming winter, there is one group of RC’ers who never worry about the snow. Members of the Desert Hawks RC Club of Lake Havasu City, Arizona are renowned for their love of seaplanes and offshore flying. With temps in the 70s and 80s, what better way to forget about the winter than to take part in this exciting and very specialized RC event at Windsor Beach State Park. The Annual London Bridge Seaplane Classic on the shores of Lake Havasu is considered by many to be the largest float fly in the country. And this year’s event did not disappoint. Unlike the 2018 Classic, which was hampered by severe winds and 6- to 15-inch breakers on the shore, this year’s attendees enjoyed perfect weather conditions for all three days of the event. Those who made their annual trek were extremely happy with the amount of flying that took place.
ON THE SHORELINE
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Model Airplane News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Model Airplane News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Old School Model Works Fifty Six
The Fifty Six takes its design cues from the original .09- to .15-size Carl Goldberg Falcon 56 of the 1960s. Reworked to incorporate modern, lasercut techniques to make kit building better than ever.
FLYING TWINS Multi-engine warbirds made easy
Let’s face it, there’s just something extra special about twin-engine RC aircraft. Most modelers stop what they’re doing when a twin fires up on the flightline.
SPIRIT OF RHINEBECK AWARD WINNER
A close up of Norman Malinowski’s 1/3-scale Albatros
CENTER OF GRAVITY BASICS
The secret to a plane that flies well
DON'T TRASH THAT CRASH!
Pro tips for light, strong aircraft repairs
TAKEOFF WITH A 1 1/2 POSITIVE SNAP ROLL
If you’re aspiring to become a better aerobatic pilot, you are, no doubt, constantly searching to add exciting maneuvers to your flight routine.
THE 'RAIDER REPAINT
Painting and weathering the Legend Hobby A-1 Skyraider
THE COMPETITION CONTINUES
Every spring, Frank Tiano’s Top Gun Scale Invitational has heralded the beginning of the flying season, offering builders an opportunity to show off their projects in Lakeland, Florida after a winter spent finishing them in their workshops.
BUILDING BENCH & WORKSHOP TIPS
I have built countless RC models, from kits, plans and even my own scratch designs.
TOP GUN FAVORITE MARK CHAPMAN'S 1/3-SCALE ALBATROS D.VA
When I told Model Airplane News executive editor Debra Cleghorn that I was attending the Top Gun Scale Invitational for the first time, she asked me if I would interview the pilot of one of my favorite planes at the event. As a WW I fan (and a Balsa USA builder), I chose Mark Chapman’s beautifully detailed 1/3-scale Balsa USA Albatros D.Va, flown by Marvin Alvarez in Team Scale.
