Karasu (oz4118)

About this Plan

Karasu. Rubber model. Dating originally from 1891. Here is Chuhachi Ninomiya's Karasu, the Old Timer of the Month, from Model Builder magazine issue 12-83.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 03/06/2013: Added remaining article text, thanks to DonT.

Quote: "I was privileged to meet and become friends with a wonderful band of 'invaders' from England in 1978 at the SAM CHAMPS in New Jersey - the Coyle Field Drop Zone to be precise. This scurvy band of knaves, brigands, and pussycats from across the pond endeared themselves to one and all with their warmth and joviality.

One of the events that they seemed to enjoy most was the twin pusher mass launch, which I sponsor. The winner (last one down) receives a plaque to keep and a giant economy-sized perpetual trophy to hold for a year. Two horses rumps decorate the top of the trophy to symbolize 'twin pushers.' Get it?

Oh well, sometime in early 1979, I received a note from Dave Baker, the self-appointed, but duly-annointed leader of this Rogue's group, stating that SAME (that's SAM of England) would like my permission to stage an 'A-frame' mass launch event at their British Nats. I then called Dave on the phone (even with my voice, a phone was needed!) and told him that my permis-sion was not needed to run the event, and that I was delighted by their enthu-siasm for this most basic type of antique model airplane. I also offered to send over my Donald Burnham twin pusher to be flown by proxy.

Dave loved it! After two weeks of musing, persuing, and conjugation, I called Dave again, and he was beginning to think I owned phone company stock. I asked him what he thought of me bringing my TP over, instead of sending it? I'll never forget his answer! Mahvelous Danny just mahvelous! They've never seen anyone like you, here in England!

I left Dulles Airport in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 1979, carrying my Burnham twin pusher and a Harry Edsel single pusher stuffed into an ornate, decal-covered box with a brass handle. Large, but thin, it looked like an

attache case for John Wayne. I had also ordered a duplicate made of the perpetual trophy awarded annually at our SAM Champs and contacted Don Burnham, getting his permission to call it 'The Burnham-Sheelds Trophy'. That does sound quite British, what? Needless to say, David and his hearty band were delighted. Saturday August 25, 1979, off we drove to Barkston Heath for the opening of the British Nats. By now, you're probably wondering what all this narration has to do with an ancient Japanese model airplane, right? Well, I always start by disgressing, and then lead up to the BC - Basic Crux!

On Sunday night, inside one of the huge RAF hangers at Cranwell, while watching Mark Hinton fly his championship indoor Santos Dumont 14 bis, Dave Baker spoke of a friend he'd made. The gentlemen he referred to was a sociology professor from Japan, now teaching in London. The good doctor was a model plane builder and enthusiast, and had done vast research on aircraft design from his native land. The model, called 'Karasu' (the 'Crow'), was first flown in - ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? - 1891. Yes, a Karasu was first successfully flown a distance of 33 feet at the Marugame Parade Grounds, Japan, on April 29, 1891.

The original craft was designed, built, and flown by Chuhachi Ninomiya, who was born in 1866 and died in 1936. Dr Ono re-designed this ancient craft and flew the model pictured, at Old Warden, Bedfordshire, on July 16, 1978.

Many variations of the Karasu had been flown in Japan previous to the Old Warden Exhibition. Members of the Kyoto Free Flight Club with winning Crows included Mr. Imaru, who did 276 seconds in 1977, Mr Iwamura, who won the prestigious Ninomiya Prize in 1961 with on an OOS flight,and Mr Hakuno who did an impressive 237 seconds with his version..."

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