Now here's something that proves that good glue and careful building has a future. Garry's Fokker DVII, with the main picture from 1982, and others that look a little more recent. After more than 2000 flights, she's being re-covered ready to take to the air again.

Click [read more] below right for the full story

Here are some of Garry's words on the topic:

The main picture:

The 1982 Air Pageant at Paradise Gardens. 

Left - Ernst Udet (Garry Welsh) second highest WW I German ace (see below in green) ...managed dive bombers in WW II. 

Lola Zink...Ernst's girl friend and name on side of plane (Maureen .... with Angela on board, born Feb 1983). 

Helper - Doug Wooden. 

Ben - aged 3. 

Fokker DVII - 14.5 Kg, Kawasaki 55cc, 22x10, hand made failsafe and electronic Machine Gun sounds.....flew great. 

It got one of the first large model MOP permits in Australia. 

Won a 3rd in state NSW Champs, over 2000 flights...being recovered now to fly again.

I choose the Fokker DVII as it had NO rigging wires ( except u/c bracing ). 

My first scratch build, scaled up for a 1/8 scale to 1/4 scale from an RCM&E Boddington plane...impressed him that it flew so well...he was the main judge. 

Treaty of Versai??? confiscated the DVII as it was too dangerous to leave in the hands of a defeated enemy ( advanced...first cantilever wing...thick section..no wires).

Col Mitchell adds: Udet scored 62 victories in WW1. The Red Baron himself scored 80 victories. Udet was the highest scoring German ace to survive the War. He shot himself while on the phone to his girlfriend (not Lola) partly because he was blamed by Goering for Germany's losing the Battle of Britain in 1941.

Dan Reece organised the pageant, with models of aircraft from the dawn of flight through to the 1930s, period dress, around 40 entrants. Quite a few of our current club members involved.

Garry still has the original programme, Airborne mag and a bunch of photos - better than the reproduction here.

Did you notice - 2 stroke petrol motor being used 28 years ago and electronic sound effects.

Great stuff - thanks Garry.

Ed