Piper Vagabond (oz17022)

About this Plan

Piper Vagabond. Free flight scale model for rubber power. Wingspan 16 in.

Note this plan was published in Model Builder, May 1990, along with an announcement of Walt Mooney's passing.

Quote: "We have neither the desire nor the capability of adding anything to the words so well written here by Bill Hannan in the memory of Walt Mooney. We only wish to express our own personal sadness over the loss of a good friend, one who allowed us to be the outlet for his teachings in the fine art of building and flying small scale model aircraft. No one has or will replace him.

It is ironic, but perhaps most fitting, that the last unpublished design by Walt Mooney to appear in Model Builder, in this issue, has been sitting in our file for almost a year. As you will see, it is a 16-inch span model of his own Piper Vagabond, and there is absolutely no explainable reason why it has not been published until now. That is not to say that the decision had already been made to publish the model in this issue before word came of his passing, but the question does come to mind, Why had we been saving it? Walt even suggested in his note with the article, If you want to shrink it to Peanut size, go ahead, but you'll have to 'doctor' the text in a few places. Some months later, probably as a gentle reminder, he sent along the color slide, probably taken at Torrey Pines, as he made a pass along this well known slope soaring site.

We will repeat some of Walt's Peanuts from time to time, particularly those published in issues which are no longer available. Bill Hannan was correct - as long as there are balsa sticks and covering tissue, Walt Mooney will never be forgotten."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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