AKA, Airplane Nut. 67 this month. Clear back to 1968 was the year my father started taking flying lessons. He was able to purchase a 1946 Aerocoupe. 1969, at the age of 11, I got my first ride. My Dad was a very busy guy running a welding company and hauling precast concrete. As the years passed, my passion for aviation grew along with my curiosity of how airplanes flew. My Dad continued to work hard and so his passion for bigger, faster airplanes grew.
Plastic models satisfied me up until the time Skaggs drug store opened a hardware section ran by an RC pilot. I'll bet he got tired of me hanging around. My Dad had many other full-size airplanes, including a Piper Trypacer, Cessna 182, this was an old straight tail. Then Cherokee 180 around the time I was in my Junior year of high school. He also went into a partnership with a flying buddy on a Cherokee Aerrow. From that point on, my parents separated and finally divorced. Through all of that, I kept myself busy building rubber band models then my first RC was a wonderer glider Cox motor on a pod rubber band to the top wing. I flew the heck out of it until one day under power got behind a hill and stuck it in the dirt with the motor still running.
Fast forward, all young men get interested in girls, so modeling took the back, back seat. Working hard, I was able to build models in a detached shed next to our Mobile home. Searching around the area, I found some RC modelers flying planes at a close by high school (South Davis Modelers). The wife always supported my model building, even today I have a monster Bipe sitting on the dining room table. Boy, I love this lady.
I love building scale models from WWII and Korea. Not to boast, but I have had 3 centerfolds of models I've built published by Flying Scale models. All articles written by Simmon Delaney of the UK. The subject of the articles were a Cessna L-19, BUSA Boing pt-17 Stearman, and Nick Zeroli Beech Staggering. I still build, currently trying to get back to a Grumman F3F1. Retired now, so the wife and I travel a bit more. This year, we made it to Joe Nall where I sold my radial-powered Stearman.
There's lots more to talk about. Even my 87 hours in the left seat of a Cherokee 140. That's another story in itself. It's been a fun-filled learning experience. Keep m flying boys!
Scott Davis
