Written & Submitted by DCL (06/1996); Transcribed by NR (11/1996); Edited by SS (2002), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Career
- 1946: Set class A Senior Rise-off-Water (R.O.W.) Record
- Model Aircraft Designer - four published designs
- Created AMA 1/2A Scale Event
- Created Engine repair and production facilities for K&B Engines
- At Kraft RC Systems, was production control manager and purchasing agent
My first models were mostly solid scale followed by the rubber powered flying models. Then came a Guillow’s Flight-Leader powered by a Mighty Atom .098 cubic inch engine. Prior to World War II, I built most of the popular Free Flight designs. I was too young for the military service so I struggled to build models during the war years. When I first joined the AMA, the annual dues were only $1.
In 1946, I set the class A Senior Rise-off-Water (R.O.W.) record with an original design powered with a Bantam .19. During the 1950s, I attended most of the Nationals and won trophies in Free Flight, R.O.W. and scale. I had four of my designs published in various model magazines. 1. Champion Aircraft Tri-Traveler 1/2 A Scale Free Flight – Model Airplane News (M.A.N), Aug. 1959
2. Art Chester “Jeep” 1/2 A scale Free Flight M.A.N., Nov. 1960. (I missed first place at the 1959 Nationals by 1/10 of a point.)
3. Ohlsson Original 42" cabin Model built by Irwin G. Ohlsson for one of his first .12 cu. in. engines in 1934. At that time, it was considered to be the world's smallest gas model – Model Builder, Oct. 1987
4. Little Dennyplane Jr. 2/3 size model of Reginald Denny's famous gas model of the 1930s – Model Builder, Jan. 1990
I was a member of the Gas Model Airplane Association of Southern California (G.M.A.A.S.C.) and Los Angeles Aero Modelers (L.A.A.M.). I participated in their contests at Rosecrans and Western Avenues. I won several trophies before WWII broke out. I have been active in all phases of model building. As president of the Inglewood Flight Masters, I helped get 1/2-A flying scale an official A.M.A. event. I was an active member in the F.A.S.T. Club and flew team racers at the Santa Anita Race Track.
In 1954, I went to work for K&B manufacturing Co. My first duties were to set up the engine assembly and repair departments when K&B and Allyn sales merged together as one company. I left them in 1969 and became Kraft Systems Purchasing Agent and production control manager. Representing Kraft, I attended most of the hobby industry trade shows during the early 1980s. During this period, I got interested in restoring several vintage Fords. I still own a 1931 Model A Deluxe Roadster, 1936 V-8 Roadster and 1936 V-8 Cabriolet. They are all national First Place Award winners.
In 1983, I was injured in an auto accident, which left me a paraplegic confined to a wheel chair. I seem to enjoy my hobbies now more than ever before. I have all types of models ranging from peanut scale to a 25lb. quarter scale bi-plane. I have an extensive model engine collection and three vintage Fords that keep me busy each and every day. (signed) Danny Lutz 6/96
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