The Making of a Record
At the risk of compounding William G. Carson's bewilderment (ref his letter to the Editor, May '78 MA), let me say that I didn't even win the Mulvihill event that glorious day at the SHOC annual of May 1969 when I set the record at 68m 54s, and Lee Polansky was pushing the A gas record over 94 min. Bob White won because he had more time at 2 o'clock when the contest officially ended. Then he talked me into continuing flying for the record even though it was his record we were shooting for. Not only that, he chased all those extra flights, Red Johnson and Andy Faykun timed them, and CD John Tischler supervised the whole affair, all staying 3 hours past the close of the contest. And that's how it's done—with a lot of help, and a little shoving.
George Batiuk, Sr. Huntsville, AL The powerplant was a modified 1.6 cu. in. Home‑Lite chain‑saw engine purchased at a Washington‑area drug store (some of them stock strange things!). Our source says the Home‑Lite is surprisingly powerful. Quadra — don't want to nitpick. A lot of people regard the magazine as the modeler's bible; don't blame them. It seems strange the article dealing with scale (Feb. 1978, page 80) failed to recognize the difference between the Roper Quadra engine, especially performance-wise — the airplane definitely improved. Quadra used the enclosed set with full‑sized drawings; Quadra identification will be easier.
I'm also darned near 100% sure the engine Mr. Mulligan mentions (page 26, February issue) was also a Quadra.
Ron Shettler Vernon, B.C., Canada
Ron Shettler refers to the article (Feb. '78, p. 80) that said Andy Sheber was using a Roper engine in the large one‑third‑size Pitts. My information source was the official entry list for the scale models in Las Vegas, which specified the engine. The cowled engine was easily visible — it is entirely possible Andy switched to a Quadra; I didn't investigate the plane to check the accuracy of my information.
A second reference to the Roper engine was a copy given to MA by the DCRC club at the Bealeton Scale meet. I used a portion of that column information as it came; I did see the plane.
Bob Wischer
Letters to the Editor: The Making of a Record
In reply to William G. Carson's bewilderment (Letters, May '78 MA), let me say I didn't win the Mulvihill event. On that glorious day — SHOC annual, May 1969 — we set a record: 68 m. 54 s., Lee Polansky pushing a gas record over 94 mm. Bob White won because at 2 o'clock the contest officially ended.
We talked about continuing to fly for the record, though record shooting chased extra flights. Red Johnson and Andy Faykun timed. CD John Tischler supervised the whole affair, staying three hours past close of the contest. That's it — done with, with a lot of help, little shoving.
George Batiuk Sr. Huntsville, AL
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
