The next meeting of The Scale Flyers of Minnesota will be Friday, February 23, 2007 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post, 6501 Portland, Richfield. East entrance, downstairs. Guests are always welcome. Come early and dine in the restaurant. Meetings will be held on the last Friday of every month thru March. ( Directions )

Bruce Anthony (1919-February 7, 2007) was a championship pattern flyer in the early 60s.  His original design pattern ship, named SheItHe because he claimed he was not sure of its gender, placed or won national contests in the heyday of Pattern. About that time, scale RC airplanes appeared and were flown just like pattern ships—full throttle, snappy and fast.  But Bruce had a better idea. He was one of the first to use the early proportional radios to develop a new flying style for scale models—maneuvers appropriate to the type, more realistic speed, the judicious use of throttle, and cross-coordination of all controls.  His ubiquitous Fly-Baby and Waco became his classroom to teach these scale flying techniques. And many of us were his pupils.  “This plane has a big honkin’ 60,” he would say.  “All that power is too much in level flight. Throttle back.”  When turning final, he would coach, “Begin the turn early and let the wind drift it into position.  It looks smoother that way.”   And “Use the throttle, not the elevator, to control glide slope.”

He started service awards and recognition trophies to reward accomplishments by his fellow flyers. The Walt Billet Award trophy now resides in the AMA museum in Muncie.  Active modeler to the very end, historian, club officer, writer, mentor, craftsman, innovator, competitor, flight instructor and good friend, we scale modelers are his beneficiaries.  

At Our Last Meeting...