Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

Fifteen years apart, and a Continent

These two models represent opposite ends of a spectrum of full size practice. The one on the left is the Sopwith Grasshopper, built in 1919 with a view to the trainer market, a role eventually filled by the Avro 504. The company was wound up a few days later and this plane, the sole example, went though a number of hands before being written off in 1927.

The other one is the Boeing Stearman, also a trainer, first flown in 1934. More than 10,500 were built and it served in WWII and examples are still flying.

Both were wooden construction and fabric covered. Just 15 years apart, but a huge leap in aerodynamics, power, business sense and of course, opportunity.

The models were both built for NiCads and brushed motors but have since been converted—the Sopwith weighs little more than 25 oz but is fully rigged and aerobatic, after a fashion. The Stearman weighs 85 oz and is awesomely aerobatic.

Models by Mike and Trevor, together on 9 October at Strawberry Field.

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