My hope is that “someday” that Formula “S”, will make it’s way to
the AMA Museum where is should reside. It is one of the best
surviving examples of that era of Jet design.
For those that do not know how the plane go to it's present location.
Here is the story that Jim told me.......many times!
At the Team Trails in 1968 or 1969 a man approached Jim telling him
that he worked with a children’s group. And if he had a plane
like the Formula "S", he could inspire his group to get into the
hobby. Jim being a teacher fell for the story and “gave” the
guy the plane. Jim later found out, that the man just turned around
and sold to Shaffer’s Hobby Shop.
Jim later called Shaffer’s, hoping to borrow the plane to fly at the
next NATS. He offered to leave as much money as he could scrape
together as a security deposit. Shaffer turned him down cold.
He told Jim that no one could offer him enough money to part with that plane, or for it to even leave the store.
I was in St. Louis several years ago. It was so hidden behind stacked
boxes I could only see the tail and about one half of the wing. Not a
great venue for such a historic model. Now it looks to be displayed a little better. But it has survived, that is one positive.
Guess one has to thank Shaffer for hanging it on the wall and not letting anyone have it, not even Kostecky.
Maybe someone within PAMPA with some clout could send a letter to Mr. Shaffer suggesting that if anything happens to the hobby shop it could be willed to the AMA Museum. Since it is an “original” design of the era. Which seems to be what they are looking for to be accepted into their collection. I only suggest this because I know what happens when a hobby shop owner passes or a shop closes. Many times the contents end up in a construction dumpster. Since the survivors or landlord have no emotional attachment to the contents of the shop.
There is never any guarantee that a quick buyer can be found for the contents. This is what happenned when a local hobby shop closed. All the dusty planes on the wall and ceiling got their final flight into a dumpster. Sad!
My reference to originals above is because, the AMA Museum turned down having Jim’s surviving “Cutlass” design in their collection. The one that was built for the construction article in Stunt News. Because it was not an "original" plane of the era.
Here is hoping the Formula "S" will someday make it into the AMA collection were it really belongs!
Greg Zajack
PS: I still have a pretty good looking Formula "S", it will make it's way to VSC at some point again. And I have Jim's "Talon" that was used in the Flying Models article. It was one of the few planes that we were able to rescue from his estate, before his children filled the dumpster with his "stuff" on his passing. But that is another very long sad story. Plan on restoring the "Talon" at some point in the future.
