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carey shurley · 02-14-2012, 08:20 PM

Back in 2006 I was commissioned by Miniature Aircraft to create this article for a European R/C magazine. I don't know if it was published or not but this is the complete article

The Schoonard family gave me access to a recording of Walt Schoonard himself describing how this all got originally started.

Perhaps a LITTLE off topic but given MA's history with gas helicopters I think it fits

Obviously the "future" of Miniature Aircraft changed in 2009 when it was acquired by Flyco but enjoy.

Click on the page to download the PDF

rbort · 02-16-2012, 04:08 PM

Good interesting read, and I thought of myself and where I was during all the dates of development. Unfortunately I never got to meet Walt, but his machines still fly on

-=>Raja.

ngin · 02-17-2012, 12:37 PM

Thank you Carey. Very Interesting. Myself and a friend were the first two in our area with the original X-Cell, way back in the day, when most of the locals were flying GMP's and Schluters. I flew MinAirs for many years after.

I think it would be great to have similar histories about all the other long standing companies that are still going strong today. e.g. Hirobo, JR, Vario & Century.

carey shurley · 02-19-2012, 02:54 PM

I'm not opposed to that, but with the exceptions of Century or Bergen it would probably be very hard for me to find the right person within the company who knows the history and to have a 1-2 hour conversation with them. I listened to about 4 hours of tapes of Walt to be able to put the story together.

Doug Darby · 02-21-2012, 08:29 AM

Very interesting article.

Thanks for sharing.

carey shurley · 02-10-2014, 07:54 PM

Looks like the next chapter has been written for Miniature Aircraft, they have announced that the business is closing on 2/28/2014

Their helicopters have a rich history that go back to the roots of this hobby. Hopefully there will be more history to yet to be made.

fastflyer20 · 02-11-2014, 04:03 PM

A sad time for a company that forged ahead and made history. Hope it is not the last chapter.

hirobo fan · 02-15-2014, 10:07 AM

wow I cant believe ma is going out

I wanted to get me the wip. gasser but not going to now.

a few years back I had a 60 size glow ma I got it with a scale body. at that time it was really over my head so I sold it.

sad time for ma

02-16-2012, 04:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
rbort Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2005	Nice work Carey Good interesting read, and I thought of myself and where I was during all the dates of development. Unfortunately I never got to meet Walt, but his machines still fly on -=>Raja. __________________ MA 1005, Hanson 270, 4717 flts, Spectra-g, Hanson 270, 3672 flts Whiplash-g V1-2, Hanson 300, 2235 flts, Whiplash-g V2, Hanson 300, 1552 flts Whiplash Turbine, TS 45i WSE, 296 flts Jewel on-board Generators, Miniature Aircraft Team Manager Last edited by rbort; 02-16-2012 at 07:10 PM..

02-17-2012, 12:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
ngin Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2010	Thank you Carey. Very Interesting. Myself and a friend were the first two in our area with the original X-Cell, way back in the day, when most of the locals were flying GMP's and Schluters. I flew MinAirs for many years after. I think it would be great to have similar histories about all the other long standing companies that are still going strong today. e.g. Hirobo, JR, Vario & Century. Last edited by ngin; 02-20-2012 at 12:37 PM.. Reason: Type corrections

02-19-2012, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
carey shurley Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	I'm not opposed to that, but with the exceptions of Century or Bergen it would probably be very hard for me to find the right person within the company who knows the history and to have a 1-2 hour conversation with them. I listened to about 4 hours of tapes of Walt to be able to put the story together. __________________ Carey Shurley Proprietor - Gas Powered Helicopters Last edited by carey shurley; 02-20-2012 at 08:43 PM..

02-21-2012, 08:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Doug Darby Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jan 2007	Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing. __________________ doug TRM Power - RC Racing Engines - - Blackout Mods Conversions - - VP Racing / Powermaster Fuels - - Gas-Powered-Helicopters.com

02-10-2014, 07:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
carey shurley Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Apr 2004	Looks like the next chapter has been written for Miniature Aircraft, they have announced that the business is closing on 2/28/2014 Their helicopters have a rich history that go back to the roots of this hobby. Hopefully there will be more history to yet to be made. __________________ Carey Shurley Proprietor - Gas Powered Helicopters

02-11-2014, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
fastflyer20 Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2008	A sad time for a company that forged ahead and made history. Hope it is not the last chapter. __________________ Tom TRM Power CAUTION - my posts are based on my experiences, yours may be different.

02-15-2014, 10:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
hirobo fan Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2012	wow I cant believe ma is going out I wanted to get me the wip. gasser but not going to now. a few years back I had a 60 size glow ma I got it with a scale body. at that time it was really over my head so I sold it. sad time for ma

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