Mario’s Artistry

Friday, May 8th, 2009

Mario Alanis holds his handcrafted pusher jet.

Mario Alanis holds his handcrafted pusher jet.


Mario Alanis has built a big foam jet-like plane which flies like a dream.

His planes look like folk art, I thought the other day, admiring Mario’s fleet.

They’re colorful, imaginative, cheerful and bold. They look hand-crafted.

With its bulbous nose, this one slightly resembles a Predator, but it has a different wing shape with more fins and vanes going on. Contrasting with a bright red nose, the camouflage paint job is its own work of art.

When I asked Mario what this plane is modeled after, he shrugged. Its closest reference point is a blue-core foam plane Mario built last year, but he modified the wings and ailerons for his latest design.

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Tackling the Volcano

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Flanked by her team, Emily pilots the helicopter toward the volcano.

Flanked by her team, Emily pilots the helicopter toward the volcano.


Remember the team of young women who intended to learn to fly a radio-controlled helicopter in one month?

Saturday was their day of reckoning, when they had to guide a payload of six ping pong balls to a target inside a model volcano 20 feet away.

It was Tech Challenge 2009, sponsored by the Tech Museum.

More than 1,000 students in grades 5 through 12 competed, 250 teams from around the Bay Area and as far away as San Diego and even New York.
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The Green Machine

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Dennis says this remote controlled vehicle can hit 30 mph.

Dennis says this remote controlled vehicle can hit 30 mph.


Ever the inventor, Dennis Castleman is working on a speedy launching vehicle for one of his big gliders.

Conventional launching solutions include bungie cords, airplanes with cradles for gliders, launching ramps, towing planes and high cliffs.

Dennis’ solution is based on a remote-control toy he spotted at Fry’s, a model off-road vehicle that claims a top speed of 30 mph.

He chopped the top off and added right-angle brackets with padding to cradle his giant airplane.

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Fresh Wings for Sale

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Mike Bowns waits for customers.

Mike Bowns waits for customers.


Mike Bowns has entered mass production with his Wild WIng replacement, the Battle Wing.

The other day I asked him how many Battle Wings he was working on.

“Forty eight,” he said, deadpan, and I believed him.

He shows up at Baylands two or three times during the week, often with a small stack of his basic wing kits. I think he sells them on weekends, too.

His hard work is keeping the combat tradition alive, a much-needed development since Wild Wings disappeared from the market.

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Snow Melts Back East

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Norman’s helicopters pose on a checkered tablecloth.

Norman’s helicopters pose on a checkered tablecloth.


It’s raining today so I’m cowering indoors, but Norman McKinstry, our East Coast Correspondent, checked in recently to remind me that we’re sissies when we complain about California weather.

Regular readers will remember Norman, an inveterate flyer who who recently celebrated his 85th birthday in Amherst, New Hampshire.

Here’s his breezy email:

Hello friend. Today is first time this year: NO SNOW ON GROUND around here. Been a rough, long, cold, snowy one! I bought 3 indoor helicopters as outdoor flying was impossible.

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