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Model Airplanes
After the war Mac became interested in model airplanes. He built them and flew them. He also involved his
children and grandchildren in his hobby. One of his grandsons Derek became a pilot. Mac also flew models
with good friends. Gary Bullock was one of Mac's flying buddies. All of the pictures after the one of Mac and
Gary are Gary's pictures. Gary is also involved in the ""Checkertails: The Legend of the 325th Fighter
Group" project. If you have time be sure and visit Gary's website.
Some Information from Gary Bullock
Just a few words about model planes: RC did not become widely available till the late fifties. Mac and I both
got acquainted flying “free flight” models, which simply put, fly by themselves, without any controls.
They are trimmed to fly in circles, spiralling up till they run out of fuel, then gliding back down.
This necessarily involves a BIG field, and some chasing, especially on a windy day. We usually flew in the
fields on Bemberg Road , which now of course are completely built up, with the shopping centers and the
Elizabethton High School .
Those photos of Mac with Sue and the boys show free flight (FF) models, maybe rubber powered, I can’t tell.
By the time I was about 16, we were trying rudimentary RC planes, and having a great time with them, even
though they had only one control (rudder).
| Not Long after the war. Mac and his children, his daughter Sue and his son Macky on the right, Michael the little one in the middle. |
| Mac's daughter Sue and little brother Macky |
| Mac adjusting a plane |
| Daughter, Sue, Son, Macky |
| daughter, Sue, son, Macky and new addition son, Michael |
| Mac many years later. His grandsons Derek and Timmy |
| Mac with Derek, our son. Mac's grandson. Mac teaching Derek how to fly an R/C plane. |
| Mac and Derek. Derek now has his Pilots License |
| Mac and Gary Bullock. Mac flew model airplanes with Gary when Gary was a young man. He says he still is. |
| Gary with RC F5D Skylancer, designed and built by Gary, based on the plane which was supposed to be the successor to the Skyray, but only 4 were built. Gary says: "flies beautifully, if I do say so myself". |
| Model Mary Mac #40 that Gary made |
| Close up of Mary Mac model Gary made. Notice Mac's picture in the cockpit |
| Mary Mac model in Gary's office |
| Mil Nicholson (Gary's better half) holding Mary Mac Model |
[+] click any image for a larger view
[+] click any image for a larger view
[+] click any image for a larger view
| Jan 29, 2011, Derek teaching his son, Mac's great grandson, Max (almost two years old) about model planes. |
| 2011, Zoe, Mac's great grand daughter, (almost five years old) launching an R/C plane for her Dad, Derek. She is an excellent chaser and launcher. Zoe is our grand daughter. |
[+] click any image for a larger view
[+] click any image for a larger view
| 1949, Sue, Mac's daughter and Zoe's grand mother, (almost five years old when photo was made) launching a model plane for her Dad, She was an excellent chaser and launcher.. |
