Michael Danielson’s 1/8th Scale F-35 (DAREJET)

Mike Danielson is an active jet pilot (RC & full size) and a member of Grassfield RC and Afterburners RC and has been a frequent participant at SMMAC events in Owatonna.  Mike and Larry Sorenson have been developing a distributorship for DAREJET and they call it Fly Safe Jets.  Mike brought in one of the F-35’s that has been built on spec and is available to any interested party.

According to the website, FSJ is committed to bringing quality model jet aircraft kits, ARF's and custom build ready-to-fly options to you.  They can help you put together the right kit and equipment package or we can provide a turn-key solution that will have you ready for take-off now!

Also, their team provides real-time customer support and a library of educational how-to videos and articles on everything jets.

Check out their recent demo flight pictures of these 1:8 scale F-35A aircraft flying together piloted by Academy of Model Aeronautics contest directors Michael and Larry at MN Jets hosted by Southern Minnesota Model Aircraft Club!  Painted with the 100th Anniversary scheme and Joint Strike scheme.

1/8th Scale F-35 (DAREJET)

• Powered by a KingTech KT120G4+ turbine
• Guided by Jeti Duplex DS16 radio system
• Stabilization with CortexPRO 3-axis gyro system
• 9:00 minute flights
• 180+ mph high-speed pass

Each Combo Kit includes a cockpit, landing gear set, fuel tank, UAT x 1, tailpipe, air cylinders, and parts accessories.

Contact:  Email: Michael@FlySafeJets.com, Facebook: FSJets Owners: Facebook Group

Cal Branton’s 1/3rd Scale, SE-5a Project

Cal brought in another great-looking project. The airplane is a 1/3rd scale Glenn Torrance SE 5a.  The projected weight will be around 50 pounds.  Glenn was originally going to make around 12 kits but he’s not sure how many Glenn actually made.

Roy Maynard has one as well. Each kit has over 4000 parts. The kit is very well-engineered and all the parts fit perfectly.

Cal bought a set of flat flying wires for it from Switzerland. He expects it will take another year or two for him to finish it.  The will be powered by a DA 85.  While the following photo don't show the level of quality build of this project, I couldn't help but to over share!

Tom Tchida’s Stolp SA-300 Starduster Too Project

Tom is an aviation enthusiast and RC pilot, but he’s new to giant-scale model construction and finishing techniques.  Tom came to the Scale Flyers of Minnesota to learn how he can finish his project and fly it.

Tom’s Starduster Too project has a long history involving his family and friends.  His long interest in the Stolp Starduster Too started when he watched his dad build and fly a full-size airframe.

Tom’s model airframe was originally started by Scott Anderson back in the mid-'80s.  Chris O’Connor continued the project (you can see it in an early Scale Flyers of Minnesota Newsletter archive) mounting the landing gear and streamlining the cabanes.  Tom picked up the project last year after telling his interest due to his Dad’s full-size Starduster Too aircraft.

We look forward to helping Tom complete his project and get it into the air! Welcome, Tom!

Just follow the link to learn more about Tom's experience with the Starduster Too in addition to the awards his father received at the  Oshkosh EAA AirVenture.  He he was kind enough to put together an overview for us!  "Star Duster Too Project Details"

TEAM Composite’s Me-163 Komet - Project Update

Scott Russell brought in the 3D-printed landing skid for the new 45% scale Komet.  This will be the only operational skid developed for the Komet model.

The TEAM started by replicating the basic geometry of the full-scale retractable skid but is using pneumatic cylinders as the source of extension and retraction. Mr Jan Larsen will develop the control system to operate the large air cylinder needed to provide both retraction and shock-absorbing functions to the skid during landing.

Currently, Ahmed has taken the 45% Komet 3D printed design, and created plugs and molds for production parts.  The wings will be started in the next few weeks and molding will commence April-May, with an aggressive goal to have a flying model ready by mid-June.

Ahmed has recently celebrated his birthday by completing the 1st half of the prototype fuselage and he expects to have more to show at the March 31st SFM meeting!

Joe Niedermier’s Multiplex Tucano

Joe Niedermier brought in his latest foam ARF kit-bash he has done. The Tucano foam model comes from Multiplex/Germany, but they are discontinued.  The Tucano has a 53” wingspan, run by 3528-1000kv motor with a 60 amp ESC and 12x6 propellers.  Joe tells us the model flies very well.  This is Joe's 2nd copy.

Joe’s original white Multiplex model uses Taiwan-made EPF/HOBBY DSR retractable landing gear.  They use a voltage of a 4-cell battery (2700) and the model’s weight is 4.5 lbs. The model Joe shared with us, he repainted and detailed with the Brazilian Embraer Air Force pattern and used the sprung retractable landing gear from the Motion Freewing T-33.

To paint it, Joe obtained 8oz BEHR home color samples at Home Depot, thinned it with windshield washer fluid to make it easy to use with a China brush.  Joe then created a selection of Portuguese language decals and Callie Graphics produced them for him to apply.

This airplane caught Joe’s interest as it comes from Brazil and was created as a low-cost replacement for some of the jets. This turboprop is 20 percent more efficient, can carry one ton of weapons, has tandem seats with ejection seats, and a single lever power control with can change the propeller pitch and push the airplane backward.

Brazil / Embraer sold to 16 other countries plus license the UK Short Brothers operations. The leading creative force of this airplane is Joseph Kovacs, - a man that grew up in Hungary during WW2, - learning his aviation.

We look forward to seeing it fly once the snow melts!

Roy Maynard’s 1/5th Scale F-16 Cockpit

Roy brought in his cockpit that had been built for his wonderful Israeli F-16i project.  He tells us that the model is produced by Scale-Jets in Holland.

Reproduced in a 1/5 scale as an F16i Sufa.  The latter is a special order 2-seat version of the F-16 built for the Israeli Air Force.  The cockpits are built from all custom molded parts by the kit manufacturer with fiberglass seats and tubs.

Surprisingly there are no 3D parts.  Each knob is carefully glued in place with tweezers.  The ejection seats and side panels are all held in place with magnets.  The cockpits took about 7 weeks of work to complete.

The model building is going well and will start painting as soon as the weather warms up a bit and hopefully will be flying the F-16 this summer.

Andersen Designs, SFM Members Highlighted March AMA

Although most of our USA members know that David P Andersen, SFM Members and MNBigBirds.com were highlighted in this month's AMA magazine, our International Guests are probably unaware.

In the USA, almost all flying fields require that their flyers be registered and members of the AMA.  Each month the AMA Organization puts out a magazine with various articles covering legislative issues, major events happenings etc.

This month we were honored to have our humble Member Designer, Club Members, and our website highlighted in the "R/C Scale" section of the publication!

To see the entire article Just Follow This Link, AMA Article!