THE FLIGHT OF THE LIBERTY BELL
Larry Bolich AMA PR Director
Not Just a Dream ... a Reality!
Bob and Doris Rich watched with pride as their Radio Controlled model aircraft, Liberty Bell, winged gracefully out over the Pacific Ocean like a beautiful gull under blue California skies and brilliant sunshine, and then turned inland to continue some few miles away for the historic landing of the first trans-continental flight of a Radio Controlled model aircraft. The official landing took place at a shopping mall in Oceanside, Calif., on October 29 at 4:16 p.m. (P.S.T.).
The historic flight of the Liberty Bell began October 1 at 10:02 a.m. (E.S.T.) with a take-off within sight of the Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawk, N.C., where another historic flight was made just about 72 years ago.
Bob and Doris Rich were talking about this "dream" flight back at the ’75 Nats in Lake Charles. They had hoped and seemed to share their enthusiasm for this project, but could hardly believe that such a flight could successfully be made with so little time to prepare. Their target date, October 1, was to tie in with National Hobby Month and also to be one of the first model aviation Bicentennial events.
With the support and approval of Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg of Carl Goldberg Models, with whom the Riches have been associated for the past four years, plans were set in motion, and the project was on its way. Although Bob and Doris originally planned to do their thing on their own, they found many people asking how they could become a part of the project to help assure its success.
In the weeks of planning and putting the Liberty Bell Project together, the enthusiasm grew and so did the list of sponsors. Some 31 sponsors contributed financial support, and six sponsors contributed generously in the form of supplies and services. This list included model industry firms, hobby magazines, private individuals, H.I.A.M., the A.M.A., and others.
By mid-September, the pickup truck with camper bed owned by the Riches was converted to the Liberty Bell control center. A special platform was built inside the camper, and a swivel-chair was mounted on this platform. A fold-back hatch was installed in the roof of the camper, and a specially designed Plexiglas window was installed in front of the hatch which served as the window of the flight HQ.
The Goldbergs' staff modelman from Carl Goldberg Models, from Chicago, was recruited by the Riches to make the trip as chief pilot. His experience in R/C made him an asset in coordinating movements of the Liberty Bell on its cross-country flight. Bob Sutalski, who has been with Carl Goldberg Models for three years on a part-time basis while finishing his college education, became a full-time employee four days before leaving for Kitty Hawk.
Another of the team, Lee Taylor of Roseville, Calif., was recruited as trip coordinator and as official. Ed Sweeney of RC Sportsman magazine, from Reno, Nev., offered his personal services because of his enthusiasm for the occasion and his long-time interest in modeling. We could not have been more pleased. When team recruiting was complete the Liberty Bell team consisted of Bob Sutalski, headed for Kitty Hawk, N.C.; Lee Taylor and Sweeney headed for Kitty Hawk in their lead support vehicle—leaving from California and traveling over the planned flight route in reverse. Along the way they checked out the various interstate and freeway road systems and made contact both with various AMA members and law enforcement people to assure assistance en route.
AMA HQ arranged to have the Liberty Bell caravan supplied with stopwatches, walkie-talkies and portable CB communication units. Bob Thompson of CB ALERT HQ in Washington, through his AMA affiliation, contacted CB ALERT units along the flight path as an aid in coordinating movement of the caravan through congested areas and keeping key people posted as to arrivals at the various locations.
Many others did their part as well. Henry Bolich of the Hobby Industry Association contacted the Bicentennial Commission of North Carolina, and through the cooperation of Richard Ellis, administrator of the N.C. Bicentennial Commission, the Liberty Bell flight was approved as an official North Carolina Bicentennial event. AMA, also, was instrumental in securing the support of the National Bicentennial Commission for tying in the Liberty Bell flight in some 15 major Bicentennial cities in the 10 states over which the flight took place. And the AMA PR office assisted with innumerable press releases to national and local media and to Bicentennial Commissions along the flight path. Press clippings were still coming in as this was written, plus word of many TV news spots depicting the event. This, to be sure, is good publicity but more important, it tells people that model flying exists and is thriving.
At the start—October 1 at 10:02 a.m.—the Liberty Bell takeoff was made by pilots Bob and Doris Rich under rainy N.C. skies as the plane, a modified Sr. Falcon, headed for its first official stop in Raleigh, N.C. As the Liberty Bell coasted majestically out over the Atlantic Ocean before turning westward, the planned flight route was underway.
STATISTICS
Oct. 1, 10:02 a.m.: Takeoff from Wright Memorial, Kitty Hawk, N.C. (Atlantic Ocean)
Time Arrived At Oct. 2 11:00 a.m., Raleigh, N.C. Oct. 3 3:00 p.m., Columbia, S.C. Oct. 5 11:00 a.m., Montgomery, Ala. Oct. 6 3:30 p.m., Selma, Ala. Oct. 9 3:30 p.m., Meridian, Miss. Oct. 11 1:00 p.m., Jackson, Miss. Oct. 12 3:30 p.m., Vicksburg, Miss. Oct. 13 3:00 p.m., Monroe, La. Oct. 14 3:00 p.m., Bossier City, La. Oct. 15 11:00 a.m., Shreveport, La. Oct. 16 11:00 a.m., Dallas, Tex. Oct. 20 11:00 a.m., Abilene, Tex. Oct. 23 11:00 a.m., El Paso, Tex. Oct. 24 11:00 a.m., Las Cruces, N. Mex. Oct. 24 3:00 p.m., Tucson, Ariz. Oct. 27 2:00 p.m., Phoenix, Ariz. Oct. 28 2:00 p.m., Oceanside, Calif. (Pacific Ocean, official landing) Oct. 29 2:30 p.m., Los Angeles, Calif. (final ceremonial flight)
Total days in flight: 23 Average flight time per day: 3 hours Total in-flight time: 68 hrs., 48 min. Total miles flown: 3,026.7 Average speed: 51 m.p.h. Total takeoffs & landings: 118 Total fuel consumed: 16.5 gallons Airplane: Goldberg Sr. Falcon with 32-oz. fuel tank Engine: K & B .40 through Ft. Worth; K & B Veco .61 onward (because of increasing headwinds) Radio: Kraft Covering: Monokote Fuel: Duke's (Fox)
The Flight of the Liberty Bell: Not Just a Dream...a Reality!
Doris Rich was noted as saying with great pride, "She's got an Angel on her wing... she's gonna make it!" The first official stop was Raleigh, N.C., at 11:40 a.m., October 2 where signed Bicentennial Proclamation Scrolls were presented to the Liberty Bell team so that additional signatures from the various Bicentennial groups could be obtained along the way.
AMA HQ was in daily contact with the Liberty Bell team by phone. This teamwork paid off by allowing coordination with AMA Chartered Clubs along the way so that they, in turn, could work with local newspapers, TV and radio to secure the most "mileage." They also performed the valuable functions of coordinating with Bicentennial Commissions and police of the area for escort purposes. But after the first two days, the caravan was able to maintain its planned schedule almost to the minute—a part of which was not to arrive at any major city on the weekend. This is because it is best for dignitaries and also publicity on weak days, and thus most weekends were spent in checking out the airplane and its equipment, preparing as needed, and planning for the next stops.
AMA HQ arranged to have the Liberty Bell caravan equipped with stopwatches, walkie-talkies and portable CB communication units. Bob Thompson of CB ALERT HQ in Washington, through his AMA affiliation, contacted CB Alert in Washington, enlisting their aid as an informational movement contact with CB units along the flight path to keep the pilots informed of conditions and weather at the various locations.
Many others did their part as well—Henry Bolich of the Hobby Industry Association contacted the Bicentennial Commission and the local Bicentennial committees were extremely cooperative.
Most stops, by the way, were at interstate rest areas, football fields, civic center parking areas, and shopping malls.
The caravan's stop in Dallas, Tex. (approximately half way), was highlighted by AMA President Johnny Clemens' meeting the group just outside of Dallas, at Mesquite, and escorting them into Red Bird Shopping Mall where a big group awaited them. Johnny felt the sponsor of this venture would like to have his impressions, and so he filed a press release which we, in part, would like to share: "This far on the flight everything looks just great. After spending the weekend in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, Liberty Bell and company took off for Abilene and points west, with my profound admiration for what they have done thus far, and my prayers and best wishes go with them for their further progress. My sincere thanks to everyone for supporting this exciting project."
On October 29, after a two-hour parking lot celebration with model magazine representatives, model manufacturer reps, CB ALERT groups, news people and friends who came out to see the official landing, the Liberty Bell caravan then moved on to Garden Grove in preparation for the final activities scheduled in Los Angeles the next day.
It never rains in California but in fact it was rain that prevented the Liberty Bell from being flown from Oceana (the official terminus) to the California State Museum of Science and Industry where final ceremonies were scheduled in connection with accepting the Liberty Bell for display.
The rain came down, and the ceremonies were moved three blocks away to the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Fortunately no one seemed to mind, and Bob and Doris Rich piloted the Liberty Bell on its last flight—taking off and landing on the arena’s vacant parking lot.
Shivering from rain and upper 50-degree temperatures, everyone watched in awe and total admiration. The final signatures were affixed on the Bicentennial Scrolls by General Jim Doolittle and Vee Tinnin, executive director of the Los Angeles committee. Timms presented the Riches with a large Bicentennial flag to commemorate the occasion, and General Doolittle only congratulated the group by saying, “The flight of the Liberty Bell is an historic event for model aviation—comparing it to another flight that also originated from Kitty Hawk!”
There is not enough space at this writing to individually mention the hundreds of people who gave their support for the successful flight of the Liberty Bell. In talking with Bob and Doris afterwards (incidentally, Doris built the airplane) they agreed that, beginning with the model industry manufacturers, model publishers, H.I.A.A., AMA, CB ALERT teams, and club members, local and state law enforcement agencies, Bicentennial groups, local citizens all along the way, and modern veterans in general—all of whom worked together in a “team” effort—Dr. Doris describes the effort as “out of love” and the major contributing factor for the flight’s success.
An ambitious undertaking, all problems were conquered through dedication and determination. Our hats are off to pilots Bob and Doris Rich, and supporting team is Bob Sutalski, Ed Sweeney and Lee Taylor, for flying the Liberty Bell into the pages of aeromodeling history.
Photos by Larry Bolich, Johnny Clemens, Gene Patty and Susan Steele.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
