lifestyles
Local pilots fly radio-controlled airplanes for hobby, for sport and even for class projects. But mostly it's...
Just Plane Fun
Story by Craig Lang
coming in for a landing, the single engine plane heads straight for the runway. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows Jessie Longoria's plane off course.
Longoria tries to steer the plane back onto the runway, but it's too late.
The plane nosesides into a field close to the landing strip.
Longoria survives without a scratch, but the Piper Cub's landing gear falls off.
Jayhawk
Model Masters
Wheat: A club of about 80 area residents who fly radio-controlled airplanes
Where: Clinton International Model Airport, Clinton Lake
When: Weekends with flying-friendly weather
"I just have to put new screws in and we're ready to fly again," Longoria said.
Longoria has been flying his 14 radio-controlled airplanes at the Clinton International Model Airport at Clinton Lake for five years.
He is president of Jayhawk Model Masters, an organization of about 80 area residents who meet regularly at the 340-foot landing strip by the
lake. Many members will fly their model airplanes Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Longoria, who sells insurance, has never flown a full-scale plane and said that he was not interested in being a real pilot. He's happy flying radio-controlled planes.
"This way, I can live to tell about the crashes," he said.
At least 50 percent of model airplanes that crash are repairable, Longoria said. However, not all planes are as lucky as his Piper Cub.
Longoria said that one man was flying his plane recently when he noticed that it was flying too low. He steered the plane to go up quickly, but he did not realize that the plane was flying upside down. His plane was destroyed.
Nate Ericson, Lawrence resident and a member of the organization, said that some people had a harder time flying radio-controlled airplanes than fullscale planes because model airplane pilots steer from outside the plane.
"The viewpoint is completey current," he said.
Ericson has been flying model planes for 61 years, beginning with rubber models and gliders that he had to throw to
make them fly. Ericson said that he had been anxious to buy the radio-controlled models, which were first marketed in the 1950s.
"I got into them because I didn't want to run after them," he said.
For some people, flying radio-controlled airplanes comes naturally, Ericson said. It took Ericson several weeks to get used to the controls, but his son got the hang of flying the model plane the minute he was handed the controls, Ericson said.
"A week later, he flew better than I did," he said. "He's a natural."
The organization has worked to make the community more aware of the excitement of radio-controlled airplanes. On Oct. 7, the organization held their annual Fly-In, which gave spectators a chance to fly model airplanes.
The Fly-In also held contests for experienced flyers, such as the limbo competition in which the plane must be steered under a stick that is set up only a few feet above the ground.
"We see how low they can go without touching the ground." Lengorita said.
Model kits and model parts were given
as prizes.
Darrel Cordle, safety officer for the organization, said that the organization had more combined experience than most clubs in the country.
In the spring of 1994, the organization helped the University of Kansas aerospace engineering students with their entries in a contest sponsored by the Society of Automobile Engineers.
The contest required contestants to design a radio-controlled plane that would carry a payload of six pounds. The organization helped install the radio-control equipment and helped students flying the planes, Cordle said.
"The success is based on piloting ability," Cordle said.
Cordle said that two of the four teams from KU had placed in the top half of the competition in which 80 schools participated.
Ericson said that he was happy to see students interested in radio-controlled airplanes, and he hoped to see more KU students interested in flying model planes.
"We do encourage them and like them to come out here," he said.
James W. Grau / KAMSAM
Jesse Longoria, Lawrence resident, right, and Floyd Greenwood, Overbrook resident, left, repair Longoria's Piper Club radio-controlled airplane. Longoria, president of Jawhay Model Masters, has been flying radio-controlled planes for five years and owns 13 other planes.
'Shorty' stands tall
'Get Shorty' is long on entertainment
Gene Hackman Fast-dealing fast talker
By BOB THOMAS Associated Press Writer
"What's the use of living in L.A. if you ain't in the movie business?" reasons one of the characters in "Get Short." Indeed, the glittering lure of Hollywood motivates the crooks and creeps who inhabit this remarkable gangster comedy.
The story comes from one of Elmore Leonard's novels, and one imagines much of the sizzling dialogue originated there, too. But credit also goes to scriptwriter Scott Frank, who added his own zingers and fashioned a fairly coherent storyline from a complex plot. The conversation is as witty as anything since Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "All About Eve."
Director Barry Sonnenfeld ("The Addams Family" films) keeps the action on target and gives an extraordinary collection of actors free rein to develop their characters.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The headstrong Chili antagonizes a rival gangster, "Ray the Bones" Carbon (Dennis Farina), by busting his nose and creasing his forehead with a bullet. When Chill's New York protector dies, Chilli decides it's time to skip town.
The story begins in Miami where Chili Palmer (John Travolta) plies his trade as a collector for a New York mob boss. Chilli is a take-charge guy who mesmerizes his targets by repeated commands of "Look at me." If reason doesn't prevail, he has other methods.
After a brief stop in Las Vegas, Chili lands in Hollywood with the task of collecting $150,000 from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a fast-dealing producer of creep shows. Chili, a film freak who can recite the dialogue of "Touch of Evil," succumbs to the allure of making movies and decides to become a producer.
Chili enlists the support of Zimm's one-time leading lady and part-time lover (Renee Russo) and a self-enchanted star, Martin Weir (Danny DeVito). Complications arise when a rival gangster (Delroy Lindo) decides he wants to be a producer, too.
The plot twists and turns in hilarious and sometimes violent ways, the surprises extending to the fade-out.
Rarely have so many satisfying performances combined in one movie. Travoita has captured the swagger and the menace of a second-tier gangster. Russo is on target as a Hollywood survivor. Hackman conveys all the deviousness of the fringe producer.
For sheer entertainment, "Get Shorty" is the delight of 1906.
The MGM release was produced by DeVito and Michael Shamberg. It is rated R for language and violence.
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OCTOBER 25,1995
Cultural Calendar
EXHIBITIONS AND LECTURES
Exhibition—“Los Dias de Los Muertos (The Days of the Dead)” Friday through Nov. 12, at the Museum of Anthropology in Spooner Hall.
Exhibition—"Halloween in Historic Northeast," to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.
Exhibition—"Odyssey of Wonders," through Jan. 7, at the Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.
Lecture—"Relationships: He Said ... She Said," 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Malott室 in the Kansas Union.
Lecture—"Deborah, Golda and Me; Being Female and Jewish in America," by Letty Cottin Pogrebin, 8 p.m. Saturday at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
PERFORMANCES
Department of Music and Dance presents a Fall Music and Dance Undergraduate Honor Recital, 7:30 tonight at Swarthout Recital Hall. Free.
Department of Music and Dance presents a Fall Concert, featuring KU Jazz Singers and Jazz Fusion Combo, 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lied Center. Tickets $4 and $6.
Department of Music and Dance presents a Fall Concert, featuring KU Concert Choir, 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St. Free.
Department of Music and Dance presents a Faculty Recital, featuring Kansas Brass Quintet, 7:30 p.m. Monday at Swarthout Recital Hall, Free.
Department of Music and Dance presents a Fall Concert, featuring KU Trombone Choir, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Swarthout Recital Hall. Free.
Department of Music and Dance presents AMAN folk ensemble, 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lied Center. Tickets $30, $29, $25, $24, $15 and $12.50.
KANU Radio presents Goodtime Radio Revue, 8 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St.
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Gorilla Theatre Productions will sponsor a performance workshop of Edgar Allen Poe, 8 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Tuesday at Border Star Elementary School, 6321 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo.
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