Model jet planes in spotlight at Metropolis

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Metropolis is the home of Superman, and the Superman Jet Rally.

The annual Superman festival is held in this Southern Illinois community each June. The 13th annual Superman Jet Rally is now under way.

The jet rally, which started Monday and runs through Sunday, at the Metropolis Airport, features models both big and small that fly up to 200 miles per hour.

"This is the largest model jet plane rally in the United States," said Jeff Caudle, who helps his father, Jerry, in the annual event, which attracts model-plane pilots from more than 20 states and a number of foreign countries.

More than 200 pilots participated in the 2000 event, some with two and three planes each.

This year, the rally, in its 13th year, has been expanded to a full week.

"In past years, the event has been held over three days -- Friday, Saturday and Sunday," said Jerry Caudle, manager of the Metropolis Airport and coordinator of the event. More and more people starting showing up earlier, so more days were added to the 2001 show.

A seven-day event also minimizes the impact of a cold front, should one move in.

Last year, a cool, dry and high atmospheric pressure resulted in higher speeds at the show. The weather allowed the turbine engines to produce more thrust.

That's doesn't sound like a bad thing, but it is. Some pilots last year had to cut the throttle to avoid exceeding the "red line" speed of their jets, which is the maximum speed the manufacturer recommends, or the most the weakest glue joint or structure in the model can withstand. Go past the red line, and the model could break apart.

Most modelers will have three or four planes and as many or more motors, which makes the hobby a high-priced one.

"You can figure $2,000 to $10,000 in equipment for the modelers," said Jeff Caudle.

rowen@semissourian.com

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