A HISTORY OF
THE FORT WORTH THUNDERBIRDS
RADIO CONTROL CLUB
In Indian lore the Thunderbird was a great and invincible power, half hawk, half eagle, that ruled the skies. Thunder rolled from its wings and lightning
flashed from its eyes to ward off danger.
In 2002 the Thunderbirds celebrated the 40th anniversary of their founding. It is remarkable that this one group could remain together through so long a cycle in the
development of a hobby. That they could accomplish what they have done individually and collectively is even more remarkable. Its founders have matured and are
passing their torches to younger blood. Memories fade with maturity. Some of those memories are captured here.
IN THE BEGINNING. Organized model airplane flight in Fort Worth began in the mid-thirties with the formation of the Fort Worth Gas Model Association (FWGMA). They flew at
Z Boaz Park on Highway 80. Some members also flew at Cobb Park in Polytechnic. All flying was “free flight”, in which power was applied, the model was launched, and nature
took its course. In competition, the model that stayed up longest won. Fiske Hanley, one of the FWGMA founders, entered an original design in the 1937 AMA Nationals in
Detroit. He set a world record of 50 minutes, 29 seconds, which stands to this day. This was also an international flight since the model landed in Canada!
About 1940, control line flight came into being. The first of these was the Victor Stanzel “G-Line” system. A single line was attached to the airplane at one end and to a short pole
at the other. The pilot could maneuver the model by moving the pole up and down as the model flew around him. This concept was refined into “U Control” which employed two
control lines and a handle with which the pilot could move the plane’s elevators. The result was more precise up and down maneuvering. Control line models could be flown in
readily accessible parks and schoolyards. It thus opened up powered flight to those who did not have transportation to the open country required for free flight. This became even
more of a factor during the war years.
Many of the FWGMA members were lost during WW II or simply did not return to modeling. As the FWGMA faded, some of the control line modelers, led by Bobby Lutker,
formed the Sahibs Club. They flew at Sycamore Park in Poly and at Forest Park, where 3 circular pads were built. Again war struck, this time in Korea and the Sahibs disbanded.
About 1958, Chuck Cunningham, Bob Lutker, Helmer Johnson and Edd Alexander started flying Radio Control (RC). Their first airplanes were essentially free flight models with
crude directional (rudder only) control. The transmitter was the size of a footlocker and was controlled by the pilot with an on-off button connected to it by an umbilical cord. The
receiver in the airplane relayed signals to an escapement, a rubber band-powered “clockwork” that moved the rudder right, then left, then neutral with each succeeding on-off
input. Transmitters and receivers used vacuum tubes and were powered by batteries----BIG batteries, usually a 67.5-volt and a 12-volt. The radios were hand made by the model
builder, at first from plans and later from kits. Batteries were expensive and could not be recharged. An amateur (HAM band) radio license from the FCC was required. Through
electro-mechanical gimcrackery, elevator, then throttle controls were added. The few times all this worked were cause for celebration. Next came the reed systems and the
transistor. Reeds created several channels semi-electronically and allowed the use of electric motors to drive the control surfaces. Transistors reduced the size and weight of the
electronics closer to today’s sizes and eliminated the need for high voltage batteries. Simultaneous actuation of all control surfaces was possible. Reliability was increased by an
order of magnitude. Proportional control was still a few years away, but some pilots were doing some very smooth flying by “blipping” their reed switches.
RC flying took place on US Army Corps of Engineers land north of Benbrook Lake. Mowing the high grass provided a crude runway. As the city of Benbrook housing crept closer
to the lake, the fliers were less than welcome due to the noise generated by their engines. They moved west, then south, but so did the City of Benbrook. Finally the fliers found a
friend in a Mr. Morris from the Corps. He suggested that they move to the West side of the lake. Cunningham and Johnson made a trek through the wilderness on the west shore
and spotted the location that is the home of today’s Fort Worth Thunderbirds.
THE CLUB IS FORMED. With the group having grown from the original three, most of them being members of the AMA, and a long-term field available, it was decided in
September 1962 that an AMA sanctioned club should be formed. The club was named after the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team which had been formed at
Luke AFB near Phoenix just 5 years earlier. Like the USAF Thunderbirds, the Fort Worth Thunderbirds adopted the Indian Thunderbird symbol. Early members were Edd
Alexander, Larry Vest, Bob Campbell, Dan Carey, Chuck Cunningham, Helmer Johnson, Roy Klett, Bob Lutker, Clay Price, Ed Rankin, Bill Slater, and Oscar Slaughter. They met
at Chuck Cunningham’s house where they drew up the first constitution and by-laws, elected officers, made plans for a field, and applied for AMA sanction. The application was
approved and they were assigned AMA Charter Number 1217.
MEETING PLACES. An expanding membership soon outgrew Chuck’s house, and his office at Thornton Steel became the next meeting place. This was followed by the
Southwest Bank, Ware Funeral Home, Lone Star Gas, The Botanic Garden Center, Osteopathic Hospital, and now the West Side Cafe on Camp Bowie West.
THE FLYING FIELD. Benbrook Lake has always been the home of the Thunderbirds. The dam was completed in 1950 as part of a Fort Worth flood control project. The lake and
its surrounding land is owned and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. As mentioned earlier the initial site was too close to the expanding city of Benbrook and
subsequent moves only met with other conflicts with that city’s planning. Cooperation with the Corps resulted in the club being able to lease and maintain its present site for
nearly 40 years. This was not without problems. The Corps’ charter stipulated that permanent construction could be used for water-related sports only. This regulation stood in
the way of the club’s need for a paved runway. Mr. Morris of the Corps he advised them regarding the preparation of a proposal to the Corps’ Real Estate Department in Fort
Worth. This was approved locally but resisted in Washington. The local Corps, knowing the club’s “draw” of visitors to the lake, supported the application and permission was
granted on a trial basis. This partnership paved the way for other clubs around the country
to fly from government land. The Thunderbirds have never forgotten the Corps of Engineers’ support in those early years and continue to respect and solicit their counsel with
each new field project. As a result, the field has been improved with time and is now one of the premier flying sites in the country.
The first runway, an asphalt diamond, was constructed by club members in 1965. They erected a crude fence to control spectators. The Corps replaced the fence later with a
more substantial one, built a parking lot and donated some surplus materials for shelter construction. Again, club members provided the labor. A concrete runway was added in
1992. It was extended in 1998. The Club has raised money seven times to improve the field. Today Thunderbird field is a facility with unlimited flying to the North, East and
South, a 480 X 40 foot concrete runway, a paved and sheltered pit area 100 (soon to be 160) feet long, runway quality grass all around and paved parking for more than 100
cars. A small group of dedicated members led by Chuck McLeroy grooms the field weekly. They plant, fertilize, mow, edge and water. The club has also developed a close
relationship with the City of Benbrook.
Since being chartered, the club and its members have achieved notoriety in the RC world. Some of those, as recalled by some of the members, follow.
CLUB ACHEIVEMENTS.
First to work with the Corps of Engineers to get a flying field.
First National Fun Fly championships (required 2 fields).
First Jumbo Fun Fly (rules used by IMAA today).
Started Quarter Midget pylon races, wrote the rules.
First Lone Star Aerobatic Convention (Drew 10000 spectators).
Non-stop cross-country flights (to Oklahoma City in the ‘60s, to Waco in the 70s).
INDIVIDUALS OF NOTE.
Chuck Cunningham helped Don Dewey start RC Modeler magazine. He was a regular contributing editor until his health caused him to slow down a couple of years ago. A
standout among Chuck’s designs is the Lazy Ace family of biplanes, many of which have been built from plans and kits. (At one time, three Thunderbirds were writing RCM
columns.)
Ed Rankin was a designer of airplanes at General Dynamics. He used his skills at home to design many RC airplanes from quarter midget racers in the sixties to unlimited
racers such as the winning Shoestrings and Caudrons of the nineties.
Johnny Casburn manufactured kits in Fort Worth. He started with U Control models in the ‘40s, but will be remembered most for his excellent Lucky Fly RC kits.
Charlie Powell designed a biplane that his son Jeff flew to second place in Expert Pattern at the ’91 AMA Nationals. This may have been only biplane ever to place in this
event. Charlie also won the Formula I 6.0 pylon racing championship in ’97. (Three generations of RC flying Powells (Charlie, Jeff and Spencer) were featured on the August
2001 cover of Model Aviation.
Roger Cirelli was the Thompson Trophy champion in ’97 and ’98.
Jerry Bradley was Thompson Trophy champion in ’99 and 2000.
Ernie Harwood designs and builds highly detailed scale models of World War One Fighters. He always places high at the AMA Nationals and has participated in Top Gun.
Lee Rice is another scale modeler who has placed high in Top Gun, a national invitation-only event.
Roy Klett is a master toolmaker and a major supplier of RC hobby accessories.
Keith Sparks has had several of his designs published in national magazines.
SCHEDULED EVENTS. Formal events are held as determined by member vote. Some have become yearly traditions and include the New Year’s Black-eyed Pea Fly-in,
Groundhog Chili Fly-in, Scale Masters Qualifier, Helmer’s Old Farts Fly-in, Bill Slater Memorial Warbird Fly-in, Fourth of July Picnic Fly-in, Heli Heat Wave, Chuck Cunningham’s
Big Bird Fly-in, Toys for Tots Fly-in, and the Christmas Party.
OUR HOBBY TODAY. Or is it a sport? With the skills involved, and with the purses offered at the big events, some will argue that point. But that is not our purpose.
Building has certainly changed. Silk and dope covering has been replaced with plastic film and composites. Although balsa wood is still the king of construction materials, it is
augmented (and sometimes replaced) by fiberglass, carbon fiber, vacuum formed plastics, expanded foam, etc. Adhesives that once took hours to dry now “kick” in seconds.
Building boards and jigs, fixtures, clamps and other specialized tools are readily available. And flying is not limited to those who are building-impaired. High quality Almost-Ready-
to-Fly models are available at a cost below that of some kits.
The radios are magnificent. Even the most rudimentary model will have four digital proportional channels with trim and reversing switches. And with rechargeable batteries and
charger, they cost only $23.70 -- in 1958 dollars! Up from these beginner’s models, the technology is unlimited with computer controlled 12 channel radios available. And they are
so dependable that very few modelers can blame their crash on the radio.
Engines have come a long way. Like the radios, they are extremely reliable. Throttles are very good and the mufflers are effective. Power output is higher. There are choices
between 2 and 4 stroke, single and multi-cylinder, and costs have been driven down by the proliferation of engine makers.
Battery technology has made electric power possible. Though very expensive, performance approaching that of combustion engined airplanes is possible.
The first model helicopter was considered more of a miracle than its full size counterpart. Today, thanks to high quality kits, specially configured radios and subminiature gyros,
anyone with the perseverance to learn can fly a helicopter.
Scale jets, some powered by real gas turbines with functional flaps, steering, brakes and retractable landing gear are common.
Giant scale models, half the size of their man-carrying counterparts, fly maneuvers the full-scale versions can only dream of.
Slow fliers, park fliers and indoor RC models have been made possible by new battery and motor technology and electronics miniaturization.
At the start of RC, a successful launch, a few controlled turns, and landing near the point of launch was considered an “event”. The AMA Nationals was the ultimate event.
Today’s events include Fun Fly, Pylon Race, Pattern, Scale, Large Scale, Top Gun, Turkey Shoot, Warbird, Floatfly, Jet Fly-In, and on and on. There is something for every
modeler.
Isn’t this a wonderful sport? Or is it a hobby?
The Fort worth Thunderbirds maintain a Website at www.fwthunderbirds.org/
