VSC 2K4 Fallen Star

LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-04 AT 12:54 PM (CDT)
 
Bar none (IMHO) the coolest airplane on the field at last year's VSC was Charlie Bruce's Flying Star, an ignition powered rendition of a Don Yearout design that might simply be the quintissential late '40's/early 50's radical concept.

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Elwyn Aud photo

(That said, the second coolest was without doubt the Firecat Toss Glider which was a very close second. Flying Star got coolest airplane, Firecat got coolest concept---but I digress)

Thus I was pleased when I found that Charlie Bruce had shown up for VSC 2K4 and was still around when I finally got to the field early Friday afternoon.

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Hanging around watching some fellow vintage enthusiasts debate the merits of various engines and props Charlie had for sale at the back of his SUV, I was first pleased to spy what seemed to be TWO Flying Stars nestled in the interior---

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Steve Holt photo

--- then shocked when I realized one of them had obviously had a close encounter of the planetary kind.

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Both fins were scraped off, the prop consisted of two shattered stubs and the covering taped back in place. Oh, No! Inexpplicably, a canopy was on the top of the airframe, unscratched.

Charlie confirmed the crash with a c'est-la-hobby shrug of his shoulders. He'd done what we all have done one time or another--or will eventually, taken off with an engine running 'not quite right' with the hope that it would keep going through the pattern. In the case of the new Flying Star, the less than good engine run carried the ship through the pattern up to the climbing part of an outside loop, at which point there was not much to do but minimize the impending damage.

Oh, well.

The airframe looks basically intact and no doubt Charlie will be back next year.

The best news is that he has plans for the Flying Star available for $20.00--which should insure that the design will be flown for some time to come, as it's just to unique and unusual not to be replicated once in a while, like the Belfrey Bound.

Oh, yeah. For those of you who want really authentic power for that early Nobler or other early '50's stunt ship, Charlie has just the motor for you:

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Cy

He'll be back. Not too shabby for a guy who only has half his heart left. CB is a MASTER craftsman and a great gentleman, I had the great good fortune to know him and his family back some 30 odd years ago when he was local- he has only gotten better with age.

Jake

Where can I get plans?

Scott(just gota have one)Riese

PAMPA website membership list says:

Charles Bruce
Kerrville, Texas, United States

[email protected]

Plans were listed at $20.00 rolled with free shipping if you ordered at VSC.

I'd shoot Charlie an email and ask about shipping and availability.

Cy