Fly-In Fever: A Giant-Scale Epidemic
Event overview
More than 300 fliers attended the 15th annual Rally of the Giants, held June 22–25, 1995, at Danville Regional Airport in Danville, Virginia. The International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) event was hosted by the Danville AeroModelers and AMA club #1221. Despite rain each day, flying continued from dawn to dusk and the event was a success thanks to strong organization and local support. John Estlow served as event director and Bob Dean was the IMAA chapter president.
More than 4,000 IMAA members live within a one-day drive of Danville, which helped draw a large crowd of pilots, spectators, and manufacturers. More than 330 pilots registered and over 600 aircraft were present.
Fly-ins versus contests
- Fly-ins are generally better attended than contests: they attract modelers away from local fields, pass on general modeling information, and provide a relaxed atmosphere to watch, fly, and socialize.
- Fly-ins remove contest pressure—there is nothing to win except peer admiration and the pride of performing. Pilots can prepare at their own pace and fly when ready; the adrenaline and nerves common to contests are largely absent.
- Attendance is easier: pilots don't have to commit to multiple rounds over several days.
Flightlines and facilities
- There were five flight lines; each pilot station was protected by bales of hay.
- Frequency control was strictly enforced; the transmitter impound tent logged more than 400 transmitters.
- A “tent city” next to the runway allowed close-up viewing of airplanes.
- A medium circus tent housed the transmitter impound. A larger circus tent displayed manufacturers and hobby shops; additional vendors set up smaller tents and trailers.
- A show at the Piedmont Mall on Wednesday helped promote the event and attract spectators.
Notable models and pilots
The following are highlights of some of the more interesting and memorable models seen at Danville:
- Charles Spencer (Modelaire Industries): Colorful 1/5-scale F7F Tigercat in U.S. Navy dark-blue scheme; Futaba radio, 13 servos, two flight packs, powered by a G-62. Also a 1/5-scale P-82 Twin Mustang in dove-gray-and-red—both looked spectacular together.
- Jack Strickland (Marietta, Oklahoma): 30% scratch-built Tiger Moth, 105-inch wing, 26 lb, powered by a .58 Brison.
- Walter Smakulski Jr.: F8F-2 Bearcat from Ziroli plans with flaps and retracts, powered by a .31 Sachs, painted in a chevron scheme.
- Jean Chevalier: Scratch-built PA-22 Piper Colt in Daytona White and Montego Green (same scheme as his former full-scale airplane), powered by a Quadra .50.
- Milton Peacock: Two classics—a Lockheed Vega (100-inch span, built from Jim Pepino plans with working oleo struts) and an Ercoupe (needs a G-38).
- J.R. Smith: WACO with red-and-white epoxy finish and gold pinstripes; FTE resin-cast radial in a Fiberglass Master cowl.
- Dewey Soltow: 30% Fokker D.VII with three-color camouflage (painstaking masking), powered by a G-62.
- Les Perkins (Richmond, Virginia): Immaculate 1/4-scale reproduction of a 1947 Taylorcraft Model D, powered by a Sachs .20 (Pure Scale Award contender).
- Jim Meister designs (demonstrated by Ty Brown): P-47 and Bf 109, both with G-62 engines and Century Jet retracts—Ty is the “unofficial demonstrator” for Meister designs.
- Joe Grable (Winter Haven, Florida): Red-and-white push/pull Cessna Skymaster with a Saito 300 on the pull end and an O.S. Max 160 on the push end.
- Allen Wellman (Summerville, South Carolina): 1/2-scale Piper J-3 Cub (for sale at the show).
- Don Albright (Logansport, Indiana): 1/6-scale B-17 “Super Rabbit” with four Quadra 42s and hand-carved three-bladed props—taxiing out for a bomb run, the 1/8- to 1/6-scale bomber’s 80-plus pounds made for dramatic operations and occasional hard landings.
- Ron Goodrich: 1/8-scale B-24 flown in formation with the B-17—a memorable eight-engine drone when both bombers were airborne.
- Larry Alles: 40% (13 ft 2 in) Stearman PT-17, weighs ~80 lb, uses 6-inch lawn mower wheels and 1/4-scale servos on control surfaces; also a black-with-yellow-trim WACO WMF-5 enlarged from Jim Pepino plans by 50%.
- Donald Wolfe (Center Valley, Pennsylvania): Starduster with a reversed red-and-white paint scheme, powered by an O-65—one of the prettiest Starduster schemes seen.
- Robert Underwood (High Point, North Carolina): 1/4-scale P-26A constructed from Jim Pepino plans.
- R.B. Kincaid (Pelham, Alabama): 28% 1939 WACO SRE in red-and-cream, flown with a Futaba radio and a Sachs 5.2.
Manufacturers, vendors, and demonstrations
- Many manufacturers demonstrated products on the flightline and staffed tents for information and sales.
- A wide variety of model-related products were on display: airplane kits, radios, engines, T-shirts, tools, and accessories.
- The fly-in’s vendor presence and demonstrations added to the show and provided opportunities to support companies that back the hobby.
Support and logistics
- Local support played a major role: the Danville Regional Airport staff, Danville Parks and Recreation Department, Danville City Council, and Mayor F. Seward Anderson all contributed.
- The local Chamber of Commerce provided guided tours of historical sites, maps for first-time visitors, and arranged transportation from main area motels to the flying site.
- Local law enforcement provided traffic control.
- A banquet and a ’50s-themed dance were held Saturday night.
Conclusion
The Rally of the Giants offers an amazing display of giant-scale modeling—whether you fly or simply enjoy the spectacle. Attend when it comes to your area: you don’t have to be a member of the “Bigger Is Better” crowd to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship on display.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
