George Aldrich Special

My "good" plane is a George Aldrich Special (essentially a profile, foam winged Nobler). Has anyone else built or flown this plane?

Also, can someone share any info on George himself and his history.

I'm just curious.

The kit came from Lone Star long ago and it was a high quality kit. I doubt I did it proper justice, but it's a good flyer.

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/i/15928345989_0.jpg?ext=.jpg&outquality=90

LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-04 AT 03:15 PM (CDT)
 
The last aerobatic model that George flew with any frequency was just such a plane as yours. I thought that his was from Custom in Dallas, but maybe not. He had one of his "McGas 40" engines on it, and the tank was inset all the way through the fuselage to center it on the thrust line of the engine. It was an atmospherically vented "Nobler" tank he soldered together himself, with a pinch in the rear corner only.

George was an entertaining, friendly, and interesting man. I met him when I was about 19 or 20, and he was about 27 or 28 (and looked my age or not more than a couple of years older than I was at the time). He was heavily into CL speed when I met him, and I was doing a lot of combat; he reworked several of my engines for me over the 40-plus years that I knew him.

Somehow, I was never on any flying site at any time that he had one of his own Noblers to fly, until the most recent years, when he had the foamie profile like yours. His last plane was all clear, no trim color, perhaps even no numbers on it. I did pit for him when he was testing two or three of the four or five 45's and one 46 that he tried out on the larger of his AG-1 stunt models, in the early to mid 1960's, at Lackland AFB's PT pad/ CL flying park.
.

Kiwi

Based on your response, it sounds that he has passed. I'm sorry to hear of it.

It was indeed produced by "Custom Models". (I just checked the box in my attic).

The tank on mine does not go straight through, but it is recessed all the way to the doubler.

Actually, now that I remember, the plans called for an inboard mounted plastic clunk tank I think. I chose to go the uniflow metal tank mounted outboard.

I'd love to hear more about him from anyway that may know.

Thanks.

LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-04 AT 06:55 PM (CDT)
 
I never met George, but traded some emails about an engine I sent him to rework. It turned out he was (also) a bass fisherman, and fished for redfish, sea trout, etc. Had an old, small Skeeter bass boat that he restored or was restoring. George made bamboo flyrods, and I would assume that he did fly fishing also, probably for redfish and sea trout. He had some shotguns and hunted doves, at least. He didn't like the new thick winged stunt designs...they took too much power to penetrate the wind, always liked the 4-2-4 type run, against uniflow tanks, etc. Opinionated? Yes. George was diabetic, and a Patriot. He died of cancer on July 4, 2001. I still have the email from his family/friends, announcing his passing, in my inbox...can't seem to get myself to remove it. Steve

PS: HEALTH ALERT George wrote me that he was having "electolyte imbalance" problems, and felt terrible; the Doctor's couldn't figure it out. I immediately wrote back to get himself to an Oncologist, that one very serious type of cancer does that. It has now claimed two of my friends. In both cases, the Doctors were scratching their BUTTS, wondering what was causing this! They are NOT all that smart, sometimes. Don't trust 'em! HEALTH ALERT

Bob Lipscomb has George's profile Nobler mentioned above. He has rebuilt it for counterclockwise flying, changed tank and engine, and is very pleased with it.

Whilst railing aginst uniflow tanks to me, the true believer in them, George several times mentioned the very good runs that Bob Palmer got out of his tanks. I did not realize at the time, and I don't think George ever did, that Bob Palmer's tanks are uniflow tanks.

George was an icon of the hobby, and we still do not fully comprehend the magnitude of our loss.

>Based on your response, it sounds that he has passed. I'm
>sorry to hear of it.
>
>It was indeed produced by "Custom Models". (I just checked
>the box in my attic).
>
>The tank on mine does not go straight through, but it is
>recessed all the way to the doubler.
>
>Actually, now that I remember, the plans called for an
>inboard mounted plastic clunk tank I think. I chose to go
>the uniflow metal tank mounted outboard.
>
>I'd love to hear more about him from anyway that may know.
>
>Thanks.

Tom,

There is an excellent video put out by Bob Hunt (Robin's View Productions) titled, "George Aldrich, The Father Of Modern Stunt". This video was made before George passed on and has a lot of discussions with George, plus George provides a tour of his engine reworking shop. Highly recommended video.

>My "good" plane is a George Aldrich Special (essentially a
>profile, foam winged Nobler). Has anyone else built or
>flown this plane?
>
>
I built one of the first Profile Nobler kits produced by Custom Models. (it's one of the two noblers pictured on the box top) I used a variety of engines in it, and ended up with a Big Art OS .40fp. It was a good flying airplane, and I won several contests with it. I gave it away to a friend.

To anyone: What is the difference between a George Aldrich Special and a No-Blurr kit? I have the latter.

Could not get the picture to open.

>To anyone: What is the difference between a George Aldrich
>Special and a No-Blurr kit? I have the latter.
-------------------------------------------------------

The George Aldrich Special was kitted by Custom Models in Arlington, Texas. It is essentially a profile Nobler, and has a foam wing. It is now being kitted by John Lowry.

The No-Blurr kit was kitted by the famous Doc Passen. It was a profile, had a foam wing and did not have flaps.

I currently have an OS .35 MAX FP strapped on. Do you think this will be enough motor for the plane?

I have it about half way trimmed, but that was from nearly seven years ago, so I am basically starting over.

With the .40, what prop did you swing?

Tom,

An FP-35 should be plenty of power for a profile Nobler as you describe. You could probably get away with an 11x5 Zinger. A 10x5 or 10x6 APC would work, too. I used FP-35s and 40s on a variety of Brodak Warbird profiles, which are only a bit smaller than the job you currently have. I do presume you are using the OS "stunt" muffler, or other lightweight unit and not the heavy OS R/C muffler

I have a "Big Art" Toungue muffler on it and have been swinging your basic 10x6 prop.

I also run muffler pressure to the uniflow tank.

I don't know if this is unusual, but even with the pressure, I get a mild and predictable break. Maybe not a tradition break, but a power surge.

As I have mentioned, it has been a while since I have flown, so I'll be taking it REAL EASY for a while until my sea legs get back.

In fact my first "victim" will be my old, battered Ringmaster. It's an overweight pig, but I'd rather get over the dizzys with this one first!

Yep- likely so, unless it weighs 10 lbs or so.

Jake

Great info guys! I will look for that video.

I was about 3 years into the hobby before a back surgery set me on the shelf. I got to the point of *sometimes* completing the beginner pattern, but no further.

This plane was my second/third "competitive" ship. The first/second died horrible, but honerable deaths, in competition.

In both cases I was too low to complete the last loop in the horizontal eights but tried anyway.

Phil Green flew his GMA Special with a Barker FP 40, 11-5 prop, 4-2 break. Great flying profile!
FP 35 will be plenty, might even try an 11-5 on it! 6 pitch might be a bit much.
Bill <><

Bill, can you elaborate on a "bit too much"? Again, it has been a loooong time since I've flown.

(BTW-I do have some 11x5 props handy as well)

Thanks!

It appears that a little lower pitch helps to prevent speeding up in maneuvers. The FP's like to run at a higher rpm, and we have had a lot of luck in the (+ -) 4 1/2 to 5 pitch.
Bill <><

Does anyone have a picture of this airplane that they could post?
I could not open the link above.

Dang, I was afraid of that.

I can e-mail a pic (a low rez one) if someone can host/post it....

Thanks for the info, De. Currell