THE ROAD TO TOP GUN

A sneak peek at some of 2020’s impressive competitors

- GERRY YARRISH

The 2020 Top Gun Scale Invitational is just around the corner, and so we are again highlighting some of the newest contestants planning to compete at Paradise Field in Lakeland, Florida. Hosted by Frank Tiano, this year’s competition takes place April 29 through May 3. As always, our annual “Road to Top Gun” feature and Model Airplane News online posts help to heat things up by highlighting several of the pilots and their amazing aircraft. All of the contestants are hoping to earn the ultimate title of “Mr. Top Gun” for this, the 32nd anniversary of the world’s greatest RC scale competition.

P-47 THUNDERBOLT

AaRahn Stewart from Beaumont, Texas will be competing in the Pro/Am Pro-Prop Class at Top Gun 2020. His aircraft is a Nick Ziroli P-47 and it has a 92-inch wingspan. It’s powered by a 3W 75cc gas engine and is controlled with a Futaba 14SG transmitter. The Thunderbolt has Robart retracts and it weighs in at 35 pounds. The finish is Alsa Corp Chrome with a mixture of Tamiya and KlassKote paints. The scale markings are from Callie Graphics. The plane took about two years to build with the help of a fellow club member. AaRahn has been flying for 22 years and has been in scale competition for about seven years. His model aircraft is a replica of Passionate Patsy, flown by Lt. Ralph Barnes of the USAF 310th Fighter Squadron and 58th Fighter Group.

TUCANO EMBRAER T-27