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   1956 - 1963;
  I started with modelflying in 1956, and that with freeflight gliders, I was 9 years old.
  I became a guestmember of the local modelclub MFC Meteoor in Velden (Existed from 1955-1961), near Venlo, in the province Limburg Netherlands.
  (MFC Jupiter Venlo did not exist yet at that time, this Club was founded in 1958).
  My uncle Miel Hermkens (my father youngest brother and only 5 years older than me) was already a member there, and from him I learned building and flying Freeflight gliders.
  Radio Control you saw seldom in those years, because it was so expensive, one could buy a good second-hand car for that money ! Myself I even could not afford a timeclock for my gliders,
  So I had to do it with a simple fusecord (in Dutch; lontje, or in German; glimmschnurr), wich burned away a cord (to hold the stabilizer on his place), so that an elastic pulled up the stabilizer.
  Sometimes the fusecord put out premature and did not burn the cord, then you were in big trouble and the model could fly away with the wind in a thermal bubble and get away !!!

                    In the early sixties we moved to Oss (50 km north of Eindhoven) in the province Noord Brabant (NB), and in 1963 I stopped modelling.

  1964-1973. No Modelling at all. Just working during day-time and studying in the evenings & weekends.

  The experience in building and flying, gained in those Freeflight gliding years, became very handy 10 years later as I started with the hobby again, but now Radio Controlled.
  (Freeflight models you cannot trim during a flight, so they must be built very accurate without any warps ! )

   July 1973;
  So, 10 years later I wanted to start again with the hobby. I drove to our old Hobby Store, Modellbau Leo Seiler, Josefstrasse 2, Straelen, Germany, 
                                                                                            (just over the border near Velden-Venlo. In Germany then, the model stuff was much, much cheaper than in the Netherlands).
  I bought there my first RC equipment, the Graupner Varioprop 12S (27 Mhz), and my first RC Model, the Graupner Taxi with an Osmax RC 0.30 (5cc) engine.
  The total difference with the Netherlands was over 600 gulden then (275 Euro,then), and that was 35% lesser! I combined it with a visit to my family in Velden, so also no extra fuelcosts!
                                                    
   August 1973 - 5 January 1976;
  I had to learn RC flying myself, because there was no Modelclub in the neighbourhood.
  That were many attemps on a moor near Tilburg, more repairing than flying, then I met a guy there wo could fly already, and he helped me sometimes.
  At the end of 1974, I heard there was a new Modelclub "The Wings", 10 km from my home. So I became a member there.

  Sept. 1975.
  I was approched by 3 other guys from Oss with no experience in RC flying, and I had.  One of them could Control Line flying, the other two had no experience at all !
  They wanted to start a Modelflying Club in Oss, our hometown, and I joined them.
  In October 1975 we organized a meeting in a local hall and there was a lot of interest, not only in flying, also in boats.

   5 January 1976;
  The Model Club was founded official on this date, and was named Modelbouwvereniging (MBC) "Delta", with 52 members. We, the four initiators, became members of the board.
  In dec. 1979, the boat division splitted off to start their own club. So on 29 April 1980 we decided to change the club in a Modelflying Club; Modelvliegvereniging (MFC) "Delta", Oss.
  Up today I am the only one left from the beginning, and who is still a "Delta" Clubmember.
  All others from the starting on 5 Januari 1976 have left the club in the passed years, and some passed away.
 

   Jan Hermkens, Oss, N.B., Netherlands.
 

1956.
Building the Seraph.
 (second from right)
Only 5 years older than me,
my uncle Miel Hermkens was then
my inspiration and Building Teacher
 

1956-1963; (Picture is from '62)
FREE-FLIGHT gliding.
Me in front with the Seraph.

From 1964 till 1973; No modelling.
Just working in day-time and
studying in the evening + weekends!

1973;

my first Rc-model;

TAXI (Graupner). Span 1,50m. Engine;Osmax 0.30 (5cc) 2-stroke

1974;

my 2nd Rc-model,
a 2,50m. span glider;

ALPHA (Multiplex).

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1975, Summer;

assembling the
Clipped Wing PIPER CUB

1975, sept;
my first low-wing Rc model;
PIK-AS (Krick). Span 1,60m.
Engine; Osmax 0.40 (6,5cc) 2-stroke.
The PIK-AS is the low wing version of
Krick's high wing Tulura.

1976;

My 5th Rc, but 2nd Scale model;
Bo-209 MONSUN (Graupner).
Span 1,60m.
Engine; Osmax 0.40 (6,5cc) 2-stroke
(sold the model in 1978)

1977;
My first Scale-model from own plan;

Fun Scale ME-109.
Span 1,70m.
Engine; Webra 0.60 (10cc) 2-stroke

1977;
My very first Aerobatic model.
The PB Models Cresent Tornado, built from plan.
Span 1,60m. Engine Osmax 10cc.

1978;
My first contest Aerobatic-model;
CURARE. Span 1,75m.
Engine; Osmax 10cc (with this model,
Club+ District Champion RC-2 (F3A-B) 1980+'81

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1980;
Twin-engined JU-88.
Span 91'' (2,30m.).
Built from a modified plan.
Engines;
2x Webra 0.40 (6,5cc) 2-stroke
 

1980;

I am holding my
first Multi-engined model;
Scale-model JU-88

1980;

For the first time
District Champion Aerobatic
RC-3 (F3A-B)

1981
My first Scale Contest; Winner !
Son Jorn holding
the Brabant Trophy.
With JU-88 also
National Champion Scale in 1985

1982;
Snowflying with my TULURA (Krick).

The Tulura is the high wing version of
Krick's  low wing PIK-AS.

1982;

With the TULURA (Krick),
I flew my first Waterflying-Contest.
The Nat. Champs. Waterflying.

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1982;
My 2nd Aerobatic-model.
With the MAGIC;
Club Champ- and Runner-Up  in
National Champion's RC-2 (F3A-B)
1982

1983;
My first
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS,
a large Scale-model, also from
own plan (scale 1/10th, 1:10).
(11 years later I have built a larger one)

I am holding my 1/10th B-17,
Span over 10 feet (3,16m.),
Engines;
4x Osmax 0.40 (6,5cc) 2-stroke

1983:

My B-17's (1/10th, 1:10)
first contest,
Brabant Scale Trophy

Me and my B-17 (1/10th, 1:10).
Winner of the
Brabant Scale Trophy.

1983;
B-17 (1;10th, 1:10)
approaching during the
National Large Scale Champion's in 1983, and became
leader in the competition

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1983-1984;

I am National Champion
Large Scale 1983.(also in '84+ '86.
In '85 Nat. Champ. Scale with JU-88)

1985;

B-17 (1;10th) on the
German Open Championship 1985,
9th place of 99 competitors.
(Runner-Up in 1986!)

1985;

B-17 (1/10th, 1:10)
climbing after Take-off
(German Open Champion's 1985)

1986;

B-17 (1/10th, 1:10)
over Germany during
German Open Champion's 1986

1986;

Runner-Up
German Open Champion's 1986
with B-17 (1/10th, 1:10)

1983-1992;
JUMBO (2,20m.).
Engine; Osmax 1.08 (18cc) 2-stroke.
My work-horse; Snowflying,
waterflying, glider towing,
sweet dropping, etc.

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1983;

Waterflying
with
JUMBO

1983;

Me during
National Champ's Waterflying.
National Champion again!

1984;

JUMBO during the National Champ's Waterflying in 1984,
National Champion again!
(continuous from '82-'90)

1985;

RC FLYING WITCHES on a
broom-stick. Me in the middle.
My witch has an
Osmax 1.08 (18cc) 2-stroke engine

My WITCH
on a broom-stick,
flying through the air

1985;

My Rc flying
WOODY WOODPECKER.

Engine; Osmax 0.60 (10cc) 2-stroke

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1986;

My CLIPPER Flying Boat
(built from own plan)

My flying Boat CLIPPER.
Span 104'' (2,60m).
Engines;
2x Osmax 0.45 (7,5cc) 2-stroke

1986;

I am preparing the CLIPPER
for flying during
National Champ's Waterflying 1986

CLIPPER Flying Boat
on the step during
his first contest;
Nat. Champ's Waterflying.

CLIPPER in a low Fly-pass
during Nat. Champ's Waterflying.
With Clipper Nat. Champ. 1986+'87+'88+'89+'90.

CLIPPER in a low Fly-pass
during Nat. Champ's Waterflying.
With Clipper Nat. Champ. 1986+'87+'88+'89+'90.

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1987;

LIBERTY SPORT,
another Scale Model of me
(built from own plan).Span 1,60m.
Engine; Osmax 0.60 (10cc) 2-stroke

Close-up of my
LIBERTY SPORT

1987;

LIBERTY SPORT
flying during
National Championship Scale 1987

1987;

I am National Champion Scale  with
LIBERTY SPORT
Also in 1988 !

1988; Confirmation for
my participation in the
World Champ's Scale 1988
(as a teacher I got none co-operation
from my school princepal. No
Time-off, even not on unpaid Basis!

My 12 year old Son Jorn
Control Line Flying.

My 12 year old Son Jorn
RC Flying 

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1988;
Runner-up in
Int. German Championships
Stand-Off  Scale 1988,
with Liberty Sport.
&
National Champion F4C 1988
with Liberty Sport

1989;

I am Dutch Open Scale Champion
with
LIBERTY SPORT
(second from right)

1989;
I am Dutch Open ScaleChampion
with LIBERTY SPORT.
I am a  Dutch Teammember for the
European Champ's F4C Scale 1989
Unfortunately 14 days before leaving,
there was a mid-air collision with a
model from ex-clubmember Leo Bes!

1990;

Slope Soaring
in France (Calais),
with Graupner NIMBUS
(span 3,50m.)

Slope Soaring
in France (Calais).
My Son Jorn