Special for The Republic
Oct. 9, 2008 06:03 PM
PRESCOTT - Some things were meant to be together. Peanut butter and jelly. Chips and salsa. The John W. Kalusa Miniature Aircraft Collection and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Especially that last pair.
The collection consists of 5,829 miniature flying machines, each painstakingly carved over a half-century by Kalusa, who lived in Mesa. Using only balsa wood and a razor blade, he crafted every model to an exact scale of 1/18th inch to 1 foot. The consistent use of the scale gives every model an accurate size relationship with all the others.
After Kalusa's death in 2003, his family donated the collection to the university. It is on display on the first and second floors of the school's new, $2 million library.
Each model is painted with the detailed markings characteristic of the real aircraft. This required a steady hand because many of the planes have wingspans of less than 2 inches. After Kalusa retired from his job as a purchasing agent with Rocketdyne, he carved and painted an average of two models a week.
His hobby began in 1936 when, at age 14, he started making World War I models for a battle game. He put his skills on hold during World War II, when he entered the service as an aerial photographer and mechanic. He went back to making models after the war and continued carving until his death.
Most of his creations are airplanes, ranging from biplanes to bombers to delta-winged jets. But there also are hot-air balloons, rockets, experimental flying devices and helicopters.
In 2003, his work was recognized by Guinness World Records as the "largest collection of handmade aeroplanes in the world." A certificate attesting to the honor stands next to a display case.
Kalusa also drew detailed specification sheets for each model, giving the full-size dimensions of each aircraft. All 5,829 records are contained in the library and may be viewed upon request.
Especially that last pair.
The collection consists of 5,829 miniature flying machines, each painstakingly carved over a half-century by Kalusa, who lived in Mesa. Using only balsa wood and a razor blade, he crafted every model to an exact scale of 1/18th inch to 1 foot. The consistent use of the scale gives every model an accurate size relationship with all the others.
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After Kalusa's death in 2003, his family donated the collection to the university. It is on display on the first and second floors of the school's new, $2 million library.
Each model is painted with the detailed markings characteristic of the real aircraft. This required a steady hand because many of the planes have wingspans of less than 2 inches. After Kalusa retired from his job as a purchasing agent with Rocketdyne, he carved and painted an average of two models a week.
His hobby began in 1936 when, at age 14, he started making World War I models for a battle game. He put his skills on hold during World War II, when he entered the service as an aerial photographer and mechanic. He went back to making models after the war and continued carving until his death.
Most of his creations are airplanes, ranging from biplanes to bombers to delta-winged jets. But there also are hot-air balloons, rockets, experimental flying devices and helicopters.
In 2003, his work was recognized by Guinness World Records as the "largest collection of handmade aeroplanes in the world." A certificate attesting to the honor stands next to a display case.
Kalusa also drew detailed specification sheets for each model, giving the full-size dimensions of each aircraft. All 5,829 records are contained in the library and may be viewed upon request.
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