Impala stunt ship

Hi guys....anyone remember a design called Impala? I built one from plans in MAN or American modeler.From what I recall it was about 1965 inverted engine..52 in span triple rudders..designed by a Jersey guynamed Eddie Elasic..friend and each built one from my plans.he flew the snot out of his..I never flew mine (still have it) too many Ringmaster crashes..did'nt want to lose to a crash..got a driver lic..drifted away from the hobby..just wondered if any one remembered it ..may just take it out one day and fly the thing or crash it and get it over with......Jack

Jack:
Andy Lee...of the Flushing bunch, built an Impala that was/is a terrific flyer and one of the very best monocoat jobs that I have ever seen.

See Ya

Ron Bishop of the Knights of the Round Circle (So. Cal.) built one several years ago. Brought it to VSC. Ron is still around but not to active. But where's Eddie E?

Jack,

Very cool classic plane. I've seen a couple of them fly and have always been impressed with their smooth presentation.

The Impala...

If memory serves me correctly, that was published in American modeler.

I was never really crazy about the shape of the triple rudders but you certainly can't argue about the general stunt goodness of the design. The Impala is very pretty in the air!

I understand that Eddie was a real precocious/talented kid, who really cleaned up on the East Coast flying his Impala.

I wonder why it hasn't been a more popular design for the classic event? Hmmm... It could be a real sleeper!

Anyone have plans?

This is where I have it listed in my data base

Impala 1963 AM Sp-Ot p24 53.00 550.00 .35 SP CST 1063 Elasick, Edward G.

Jack,
This is a very fond memory.

Ed Elasick & I practiced and competed together. He was absolutely one of the best talents ever, consistantly beating the best of the day in Open competetion. (This was before the Pampa classes)

The "Impala" was one of my favorites, and I guess you either liked or disliked the 3 rudders. We used to kid Eddie about his "Constellation"

The 1st picture is Eddie with the last "Impala" that he competed with. The picture was taken at the Feb. 1964 Garden State Circle Burners "Snow Bird Meet" and yes there was almost a foot of snow on the ground!

The 2nd photo is Ed and me with my "Clipper" at the first contest held at the Marine Park, Brooklyn, 1966.

The 3rd Picture is of Andy Lee and me at the 1993 Nats. Andy's "Impala" is beautiful. I am holding a "JD Falcon".

Tom Niebuhr

>The 3rd Picture is of Andy Lee and me at the 1993 Nats.
>Andy's "Impala" is beautiful. I am holding a "JD Falcon".
>
>Tom Niebuhr

Hi Tom

Andy's Impala has one of the best flying ships around
and to watch Andy do the pattern with his Impala is simply AWESOME

Thank You and God Bless
Walter Umland
aka / builditright
you can also e-mail me at [email protected]

Tom Dixon has some re-drawn, full-size plans for sale. I ordered a set just a couple of months ago. I agree about the Impala - always my favorite classic design not counting the I-beamers.

If I'm thinking about the same plane, there was a plan that appeared in MA for a profile Impala that uses the Banshee wing. No time to look right now, but you can do a search for Banshee Impala on the MA sight to get the year and month of the article and view the plans.

Thanks for all the quick responses..when I saw that plane I knew it was out of my league...seems like I spent all my time rebuilding the Ringmaster..but I enlarged the magazine plan on graph paper and built one.didn't come out too bad for a 15 year nerd..but was always afraid to fly it.Glad I stirred up a few good memories..I recall reading somewhere a few years ago that Eddie E. is now living somewhere in the new England area, and is no longer active in the hobby.Now that I know that Tom Dixon has full size plans available I just might order a set.For the time being my orange Impala will hang on the basement wall where it has been for the last 29 years that I have lived in this house Regards Jack

I have the actual plans available

Hi Tom I would be interested in buying a copy of the Impala plans,might make rebuilding mine a lot easier after the inevitable crash because of me or the real old Ambroid letting go.Seriously..since I started this thread I think I would like to build another..the plane is a beauty..plus the nostaliga angle of it all. Please e-mail me direct with the details. Regards Jack [email protected]

Tom,
I would like a copy of the plans also. Email me at
[email protected]

Thanks,
Nick Vanmatre