VSC 2K4 Bats in the Belfry

What can I say that's not obvious from the photos?

Carl Shoup's contribution to this year's event was outstanding in all regards

Remarkable design, great craftsmanship and from the other reports, amazing flying.

I've included the Trident in this post because, well, you know.

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Monokote Bat Here is the basic Belfry Bound in modern dress.

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Cream Soda Bat And, amazingly, a second rendition in in Sig dope and fabric.

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Belfry from a better angle Not quite low enough to appreciate the rudder. See Elwyn's shot below.

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Trident Call for help from the forum. Whose airplane? The design is by Larry Scarinzi for a magazine contest, originally called "U Name IT", for which no true plans are said to have survived. Lenard has plans. Notes on this plane would be appreciated by the thread.

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Better Teaser This is a clearer version of the shot I used to lead of this year's coverage.

The Belfrey is really cool looking. Are plans available? From?
What is the engine? Does anyone know what year it was designed/built?
Nick Vanmatre

Here's a couple of views of Carl's first Belfry Bound on the wing. It's a Dale Kirn design from , I think, the late 40's. I've heard rumours of it being kitted eventually.

And here's Carl putting Belfry Bound #2 through it's paces

Wow.

If that's not THE definitive photograph of VSC 2K4, I can't imagine what is.

Hat's off to Elwyn for the incredible photography and a standing ovation to Carl Shoup for the single handed resurection of a truly wonderful design and the balls and skill to fly it from a wheel chair.

Carl's thread

Larry Foster's thread

You go, Carl!

THAT is keeping the flame.

Dale Kirn's web page (scroll down halfway)

>And here's Carl putting Belfry Bound #2 through it's paces

Great photo. BTW looks lkie Carl could use some more tip weight?

It just occured to me:

Serge: The Belfry Bound is flapless!

That should give you some food for thought.

Carl: If you are out there, how about a PIREP from the contest? I'm sure a lot of inquiring minds want to know how it (they) flew.

And congratulations for bringing a lost design back to life.

Watching Carl fly from a wheel chair was amazing. He told me that if the plane did 5 seconds or under, it would actually pull his chair in a circle. Other wise he just uses one foot to push it around and flollow the plane. The most laid back flyer there, bar none.

Elwyn (and everyone)

I had heard from Eric Rule that he was going to present Dale Kirn with the #1 off the production line RSM kit at VSC. I have not talked to Mr. Rule (or Dale) to see if that happened.

But, according to Eric, the Belfry Bound will be included in the RSM line up of available kits, along with at least a couple of other kits that I don't remember the names of.

Of course they will be laser cut from CAD drawings (I have seen the Belfry's printed plans) and should be available soon if not already so...

I hope to run into Eric this week to confirm this "rumor"

I had the opportunity to visit with Carl and get to know him a little bit this year. What a great guy with a great attitude about his accident and the world in general.

At the banquet Saturday night, Carl presented the Belfrey Bound #2 to Dale Kirn. It was a moving moment for all present.

BTW, Carl said he would be out of the wheel chair in a couple of weeks and good as new in a couple of months.

>I had the opportunity to visit with Carl and get to know him
>a little bit this year. What a great guy with a great
>attitude about his accident and the world in general.
>
>At the banquet Saturday night, Carl presented the Belfrey
>Bound #2 to Dale Kirn. It was a moving moment for all
>present.
>
>BTW, Carl said he would be out of the wheel chair in a
>couple of weeks and good as new in a couple of months.
>
>Later, John

That was a really wonderful thing to have done. I'm sure Dale appreciated the gesture- wish I could have been there to see it. Glad to hear Carl is on the mend- that is good news.
On the Belfry; ever since I saw this airplane, I have wondered what it would look like if you did it up in all black with just a little orange trim like George Barris did the "Batmobile" back in the mid '60s?

The builder of the Trident is Chris Padham. Here's a shot of him with Larry Scarinzi.

Take a close look at the hinge line on the elevator on the "Cream Soda Bat" incredible! and incredibly smooth...