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My story

From being a small child I, like many others of my age have been interested in model aircraft, unlike many in my hometown of Jarrow on Tyne. Most I remember were interested in boats and ships, probably born of the town being a shipbuilding town. It all started I think because my two older brothers were in the Royal Airforce when I was a child and one of them used to have a couple of control line models which was enough I think to fire up my interest.

A friend and I used to build the usual rubber powered "Spitfires, Me 109's, Hawker Hurricanes, FW 190's etc and even ventured into the realms of Jetex motors with planes of the day like the Hawker Hunter. However it was some years before I bought an Allbon Dart engine and built a Piper Cub that flew well on it in free flight. Next came a Cox .049 engine & an Allbon Spitfire engine, I flew many planes on these engines and ended up with them all lost in the clouds somewhere. The last plane I built for free flight was a Mercury Magna a great plane and one I would recommend to anyone who is interested in free flight. The magna would stay up for ever after the fuel had run out which made for a lot of fun. However that very quality was to herald the end of my free flight interest.

One day in 1978 I took my 7 children up to the Town moor in Newcastle and it being a lovely almost windless day launched the Magna. It climbed steadily flying in the usual circle and after about thirty seconds or so the engine cut as it was supposed to. The plane then started its return to earth in the opposite spiral but it was soon evident that about fifty feet up the wind was much stronger and as she tried to turn into wind for about the third time it was too much for her. She turned very quickly and followed the wind.

We all chased after her but she was gone in no time, and the last we saw of her she was flying too well north up the Great north road. I decided there and then that I had lost too many models and I needed a change.

On the top of the town moor near to Grandstand road there was a group of guys who flew Radio control and after flying my free flights I used to go up there and sit and watch. I soon got the bug and decided to build something that I would have control over. I got hold of a David Boddington designed

Trainer called Tyro Too, which was a very good model to start on and was for .15-. 20 engines. The model had a flat bottom wing and had Rudder, Elevator & throttle controls. I put an OS25 in it and of I went to the town moor. I had hoped to get one of the experienced lads up there to take it up, trim it out and maybe give me a lesson. However when I got there, there was no one there.

What made things worse was it started to rain. This meant of coarse that it was unlikely that anyone would turn up. Myself, and a couple of my children sat in the twelve seat Transit I had at the time and drank tea for a while and after a short time it stopped raining. We got back on the strip and hoped that someone would turn up soon. Not long after I heard the gate clash at Grandstand road and sure enough

There was one flyer on his way over.

We introduced ourselves and he asked me all about my new model, telling me that he was to be flying in competition in a few days, (I think for the first time). The plane he was to fly was a 40 powered Pitts Special, and he had it there with him as he wanted to trim it out, it being new. Ted Allison was an excellent flyer and soon had his plane trimmed and ready to go. He asked me if I would like him to do the same for me, and I said yes. He found one or two little radio installation faults but in general the plane was good and true. Ted explained some fine points on radio installation, put the faults right and took the Tyro Too off. She flew like a dream, and looked great. Back on the ground, it was my turn, and I was a little nervous. However I did have a lot of free flight experience, which stood me in good stead and Ted was a very good and patient teacher. I learned very quickly and in a few weeks was ready to move on to a trainer with ailerons. I bought a Pilot QB20S, shoulder wing, which flew great and for a while Ted stayed by my side always ready to give advice. I owe a lot to Ted Allison, who at the time was just getting into competition and could just as easily turned his back to concentrate on his own flying.

Ted even went to the trouble of teaching my son too, and I will always be grateful that he stepped into the breach. My son Martin thought Ted was the bees knees with his big Hawker Hurricane and red arrows Hawk, and later his ducted fan Hawk. Our family have now moved to The New Forest area on the south coast and I am now flying at Beaulieu airfield and quite often get up to Middle Wollop too. I still keep an eye on the Newcastle Club site http://www.geocities.com/newcastlemodelflyingassociation/

However I can only see from the photo's one person I remember and that is Ray Smithson. I still have an OS35 engine I bought second hand off Ray 20 years ago and it still runs!!!!! Happy Days!!!!!

Rapide

For a more detailed write up on the above aircraft.

Click here

Ted's Texan

For me it is really great to see Ted still at it and forever pushing the boundries back, and though I have not seen or spoken to Ted for over 20 years, I enjoy keeping an eye on what he is up to. Good luck Ted!!!

Since writing this I have met up with Ted after 26 Years at Cosford 2008

catching up behind the Texan

Ted Really getting down to it

Click here to see

Ted Flying the Texan at Cosford 2008

There is much more information on the above models and many others at

the large model association link below

The Shadows Backing Tracks

O'Connor Family Page Family History Genealogy About Us Specs Appeal Shadows Backing Tracks Family Matters Family At Sea	O'Connor Family Page \| Enter Page. O'Connor Family Page \| About Us \| Family History \| Genealogy \| Model Aircraft \| Title 42 \| Piano Wire Gauge Conversions \| Photo's at Beaulieu \| My Models \| Hints & Tips \| Canopy \| Beaulieu Maps \| Model Design Etc \| Engine Size conversion \| Links \| Displays & Events \| Rules \| Specs Appeal \| Shadows Backing Tracks \| Family Matters \| Family At Sea
	Model Aircraft Flying & Safety Rules Public Displays & Events Visited 35 mhz radio frequencies for model aircraft Beaulieu site map Model Design Etc Beaulieu Airfield Weather Various Tips & Hints My Models Photo's at Beaulieu in the New Forest Engine Size Conversion & Prop Sizes Links Piano wire gauge conversions Home My story From being a small child I, like many others of my age have been interested in model aircraft, unlike many in my hometown of Jarrow on Tyne. Most I remember were interested in boats and ships, probably born of the town being a shipbuilding town. It all started I think because my two older brothers were in the Royal Airforce when I was a child and one of them used to have a couple of control line models which was enough I think to fire up my interest. A friend and I used to build the usual rubber powered "Spitfires, Me 109's, Hawker Hurricanes, FW 190's etc and even ventured into the realms of Jetex motors with planes of the day like the Hawker Hunter. However it was some years before I bought an Allbon Dart engine and built a Piper Cub that flew well on it in free flight. Next came a Cox .049 engine & an Allbon Spitfire engine, I flew many planes on these engines and ended up with them all lost in the clouds somewhere. The last plane I built for free flight was a Mercury Magna a great plane and one I would recommend to anyone who is interested in free flight. The magna would stay up for ever after the fuel had run out which made for a lot of fun. However that very quality was to herald the end of my free flight interest. One day in 1978 I took my 7 children up to the Town moor in Newcastle and it being a lovely almost windless day launched the Magna. It climbed steadily flying in the usual circle and after about thirty seconds or so the engine cut as it was supposed to. The plane then started its return to earth in the opposite spiral but it was soon evident that about fifty feet up the wind was much stronger and as she tried to turn into wind for about the third time it was too much for her. She turned very quickly and followed the wind. We all chased after her but she was gone in no time, and the last we saw of her she was flying too well north up the Great north road. I decided there and then that I had lost too many models and I needed a change. On the top of the town moor near to Grandstand road there was a group of guys who flew Radio control and after flying my free flights I used to go up there and sit and watch. I soon got the bug and decided to build something that I would have control over. I got hold of a David Boddington designed Trainer called Tyro Too, which was a very good model to start on and was for .15-. 20 engines. The model had a flat bottom wing and had Rudder, Elevator & throttle controls. I put an OS25 in it and of I went to the town moor. I had hoped to get one of the experienced lads up there to take it up, trim it out and maybe give me a lesson. However when I got there, there was no one there. What made things worse was it started to rain. This meant of coarse that it was unlikely that anyone would turn up. Myself, and a couple of my children sat in the twelve seat Transit I had at the time and drank tea for a while and after a short time it stopped raining. We got back on the strip and hoped that someone would turn up soon. Not long after I heard the gate clash at Grandstand road and sure enough There was one flyer on his way over. We introduced ourselves and he asked me all about my new model, telling me that he was to be flying in competition in a few days, (I think for the first time). The plane he was to fly was a 40 powered Pitts Special, and he had it there with him as he wanted to trim it out, it being new. Ted Allison was an excellent flyer and soon had his plane trimmed and ready to go. He asked me if I would like him to do the same for me, and I said yes. He found one or two little radio installation faults but in general the plane was good and true. Ted explained some fine points on radio installation, put the faults right and took the Tyro Too off. She flew like a dream, and looked great. Back on the ground, it was my turn, and I was a little nervous. However I did have a lot of free flight experience, which stood me in good stead and Ted was a very good and patient teacher. I learned very quickly and in a few weeks was ready to move on to a trainer with ailerons. I bought a Pilot QB20S, shoulder wing, which flew great and for a while Ted stayed by my side always ready to give advice. I owe a lot to Ted Allison, who at the time was just getting into competition and could just as easily turned his back to concentrate on his own flying. Ted even went to the trouble of teaching my son too, and I will always be grateful that he stepped into the breach. My son Martin thought Ted was the bees knees with his big Hawker Hurricane and red arrows Hawk, and later his ducted fan Hawk. Our family have now moved to The New Forest area on the south coast and I am now flying at Beaulieu airfield and quite often get up to Middle Wollop too. I still keep an eye on the Newcastle Club site http://www.geocities.com/newcastlemodelflyingassociation/ However I can only see from the photo's one person I remember and that is Ray Smithson. I still have an OS35 engine I bought second hand off Ray 20 years ago and it still runs!!!!! Happy Days!!!!! Rapide For a more detailed write up on the above aircraft. Click here Ted's Texan For me it is really great to see Ted still at it and forever pushing the boundries back, and though I have not seen or spoken to Ted for over 20 years, I enjoy keeping an eye on what he is up to. Good luck Ted!!! Since writing this I have met up with Ted after 26 Years at Cosford 2008 catching up behind the Texan Ted Really getting down to it Click here to see Ted Flying the Texan at Cosford 2008 There is much more information on the above models and many others at the large model association link below The Shadows Backing Tracks