And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I was just going to say that! These planes were so much fun, and the ones that had rubber-band powered propellers were similarly inexpensive but even more fun to fly!
Yours might have. I wasn't so talented. They would either immediately plunge to the ground, or get caught by a gust of wind and fly for hundreds of feet, with me chasing after...
If I remember correctly they were made somewhere near Portland, I knew the daughter who inherited the business.... before she had to close the business.
We had them over here in the UK too. A hobby shop in town sold sheets of balsa with with tissue patterns in various styles of aircraft. My favourite plane was a Frog, it was wound up in the box using a built-in handle. It was quite sturdy being made of aluminium. Flew for bloody miles! Wore me out it did.
60s.
ReplyDeleteI was just going to say that! These planes were so much fun, and the ones that had rubber-band powered propellers were similarly inexpensive but even more fun to fly!
ReplyDeleteDitto
DeleteIt’s all fun and games until the cats grab one out of the air and break it to bits.
ReplyDeletei can stil remember the smell of the balsa wood.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of my class in aerodynamics...so cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd then we got a little older and discovered Estes rockets.
ReplyDeleteWe would use electrical tape to attach the motors to Revell model kit cars and shoot them down the street.
DeleteI got a little older and discovered girls.
Deletewhy aren't they still easily attainable ? Buehler,Buehler ?
ReplyDeleteCORRECTION: In the 1950's...
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteThat is still available for about $2.25. As to the hours, one 4 second flight, 3 hours to get it off the garage roof.
ReplyDeleteSpin
Oh boy... when the older brother suggested launching them semi-horizontally instead of vertical, it opened a whole new world in guided missles.
ReplyDeleteRemoving the parachute, add some wadding, grandpap's unused black powder, and a makeshift fuse, and it was a dandy firework...
Yours might have. I wasn't so talented. They would either immediately plunge to the ground, or get caught by a gust of wind and fly for hundreds of feet, with me chasing after...
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly they were made somewhere near Portland, I knew the daughter who inherited the business.... before she had to close the business.
ReplyDeleteSo many great memories represented here.
ReplyDelete50s. Cost two bright pennies.
ReplyDeleteHours and hours. Found some inventive ways to incorporate fire in a few styles, look cool at night.
ReplyDeleteIf you slid the wings a bit to one side it would circle.
ReplyDeleteSlide the broken wing over till it could no longer fly.
ReplyDeleteWe had them over here in the UK too. A hobby shop in town sold sheets of balsa with with tissue patterns in various styles of aircraft. My favourite plane was a Frog, it was wound up in the box using a built-in handle. It was quite sturdy being made of aluminium. Flew for bloody miles! Wore me out it did.
ReplyDelete