Who the Heck is Frank Zaic?!?!?

LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-04 AT 11:41 AM (CDT)
 
For probably many among us the name Frank Zaic means little or nothing. Frank Zaic was a Wakefield flyer (mainly) in the 30's and published a modeling yearbook starting in 1934 I believe up into the late 50's though not every year was represented and some years were combined. He was and still is highly respected as a sort of modeling pioneer by OT FF rubber and gas flyers. He wrote on a number of different aspects of the hobby and I think even covered some RC and CL in his last published efforts.

I should add that he was a patent draftsman by trade and his plans and drawings where works of art, even the simple illustrations. He did the majority of drawings for his yearbooks.

>For probably many among us the name Frank Zaic means little
>or nothing. Frank Zaic was a Wakefield flyer (mainly) in the
>30's and published a modeling yearbook starting in 1934 I
>believe up into the late 50's though not every year was
>represented and some years were combined. He was and still
>is highly respected as a sort of modeling pioneer by OT FF
>rubber and gas flyers. He wrote on a number of different
>aspects of the hobby and I think even covered some RC and CL
>in his last published efforts.

To which I would add that he is now very old (late 80's or even 90+) and living in Guatemala with his life long love Carmen. A remarkable individual. His year books were his attempt to single-handedly chronicle the emerging technology of Model Aviation, including CL and RC. No model aircraft library is complete without them. I still find inspiration and design solutions whenever I go through one, which is a fun thing to do...

There's a really good picture of him from the late '40s in the current SAM speaks.

Andy

WEll...then...What the heck is a Wakefield?

Curt,

If you're serious, Wakefield is the FAI large rubber event also know and F1B. The cup was originally instituted by one Lord Wakefield around the late 1920's or early 30's.

>WEll...then...What the heck is a Wakefield?
>
>Curt

Last I heard Wake Field was still a barmaid at the Barf & Brew in Pampa, Tx.

>WEll...then...What the heck is a Wakefield?

You owe me a keyboard.

Randy, his book "Circular Airflow" taught me alot back in my old Free Flight days.

Bill

I believe that his "Circular Airflow" concept is quite relevant to CL stunters too, especially regarding tail moments and side-area distribution.

SK

Based on some of the questions I've seen posted about trimming and flying R/C planes, I'd say Circular Airflow is relevant to them, too.
Before you think I might be trying to put down R/C flyers, I fly them as well as FF, CL and model rockets.

Wasn't Mr. Zaic a principal of Jetco Models, as well?

George,

Actually it was its forerunner Jasco, I don't know if he had any involvement after the name change to Jetco. I build allot of his towline gliders. Thermic 72 was my favorite.

>George,
>
>Actually it was its forerunner Jasco, I don't know if he had
>any involvement after the name change to Jetco. I build
>allot of his towline gliders. Thermic 72 was my favorite.
>
>Randy Ryan
>AMA 8500
>SAM 36
>I fly 'em all and love it!

...I loved the Trooper, and all those Thermic 18s,"B's" and the
Jasco Imp.
Tony

I about wore out his "Model Glider Design" book when I was in high school and bulding gliders. There is a photo of him at one of the British Nats in, probably, an old Aeromodeller. He was fairly portly and is leaning into the wind at about a 30 degree from vertical to stay erect. His CL stuff, about which he says he knows nothing, is worthwhile reading.

>I about wore out his "Model Glider Design" book when I was
>in high school and bulding gliders. There is a photo of him
>at one of the British Nats in, probably, an old
>Aeromodeller. He was fairly portly and is leaning into the
>wind at about a 30 degree from vertical to stay erect. His
>CL stuff, about which he says he knows nothing, is
>worthwhile reading.
>

Indeed. In fact, you can usually learn something from most anyone. For instance, I met a guy today with an R/C electric plane that weighed a little over 3 lbs and supposedly develops 11 lb of thrust. And will fly two 9-minute flights on a charge. Now, I didn't measure it or time it, but it piqued my interest.

Tony,

Thought you might like to see this.

Nice Trooper! I guess I built mine when I was about 13 or 14. The Thermic B and Thermic Trio were also great kits. My son and I put a kit of the Trio together about 20 years ago. I think the tailless design may still be in the shop.

I firmly believe that "Circular Airflow" theory applies fully to PA designs, and suspect that may have influenced the Dutch and other twin-finned designs, such as Trident, Trianic, Olympic, Olympus, Impala, VUM-18, etc., moving fin area lower and out of the prop blast. Plus, the tip-plate effectively increases stab A/R and area. Or maybe they just liked the look? Steve

Steve,

I've built at least 3 of them since I was 10, probably more. I lost the first one tossing it in the back yard, it thermaled and was gone.

If you look close at this one you'll notice it has some mini RC equipment in it and over the top of the nose you can see a bump. That's a tow line release. A freind of mine and I were going to do some indoor towing with and electric rc model and I set the Trooper up so I could release on demend. Never got to try it, he had to move out of town for work.