Flights & Fancy: What Would You Send to Orbit?
Mementoes in an astronaut's luggage.
- By Terry Dunn
- Air & Space magazine, November 2011
A Babe Bee that powered countless aircraft models hitched a ride to space.
Courtesy Terry Dunn
(Page 2 of 2)
After I had chosen my personal space shuttle payload (NASA called it “ballast”), I realized that I no longer owned any .049s. I had given away the whole stash when I converted my fleet of radio-controlled models to electric power. I e-mailed my flying buddies, explaining that I needed a Babe Bee, stat, and was immediately offered multiple engines. The engine I gave to Bob was not one I had ever used, but that was of no concern to me for this purely symbolic gesture.
When Endeavour launched in the early morning of February 8, 2010, I watched on a TV monitor with other support engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. We all cheered the liftoff, the astronauts, and our good fortune for being part of such an accomplishment. I added a silent Hooray for the Babe Bee, nestled somewhere among the people, parts, and provisions being propelled atop columns of flame to the International Space Station.
Comments (7)
Was the the Cox .049 cu.in. engine returned to you and where is it now?
And, you are probably correct: I was over at Bob's Hobby Shop yesterday and made inquiry about who had owned & flown that dinky lil engine. Every single guy there [and all the married ones, also] and a couple of the wives standing around -- every one one of 'em fessed-up to having owned at least several of the engines! The name of the ol' red-headed McCoy engines came up also.
Posted by Willy Humper on September 20,2011 | 01:05 AM
Wonderful choice! I cannot think of any other single item that influenced model aviation more in the last 60 years.
Alan Peterson
Posted by Alan Petersonds on September 26,2011 | 04:03 PM
THE AUTHOR REPLIES: Yes, the engine was returned to me along with the certificate. The photo is of my actual motor...taken post flight. It now sits on my shelf of space memorabilia. I really should make a proper stand for it.
Posted by Terry Dunn on September 27,2011 | 11:54 PM
I am so pleased that Bob flew the Baby Bee for you. Owning something that means so much and having it circle the earth on a Shuttle is indeed a great honor. I am very happy for you and our friendship over the years. Having the article published by Smithsonian is also a great honor that you indeed deserve. Congratulations & happy flying!!
Posted by Ron Buckley on October 14,2011 | 03:28 PM
You couldn't have chosen a more perfect representation of Terry Dunn. Well done, sir. What an honor.
Posted by Tom Sheene on November 15,2011 | 11:28 AM
The Leroy Cox designed series of glow engines launched more aviation careers than can be counted easily - mine included. How fitting that a 0.049 cu in glow engine took the big ride! Please make a plaque or case and frame the article and engine together. Later it woul be fitting to donate it to the academy of model aeronautics museum in Muncie Indiana where it will join similarly significant artifacts and serve as further inspiration to future aviators. Please go to: Www.modelaircraft.org Dave Fogarty AMA 9818 CD/Leader Member & US Commercial Pilot & Flight Instructor 2792897 CFI-IA.
Posted by Dave Fogarty on December 24,2011 | 09:54 AM
The power of the Babe Bee is just as awesome as the power used to lift the shuttle into orbit. Both are created by a power of imagination and dreams.
Posted by Mike Anderson on June 4,2012 | 04:00 PM