![](../../HotShots/t-hsf80s.gif)
![](../../HotShots/bandit_arf/back.gif)
I love the looks and flight
characteristics of this jet. It is simply amazing. She
was built about 20 years ago and just recently I added
radio and turbine. Thank you BVM.
Powered by KingTech 85.
Michael Lederer |
![](../../HotShots/F-80/SimonTo.jpg)
From:
Simon To
Sent:
8/17/2017 9:08 AM
To:
Patty Generali
Subject:
Jet World Master 2017 in Finland
Dear Patty:
We entered the F-80 Minuteman in this event. It
is flown by Andy Zheng from China. The other plane is from Frank
Wegner from the German Team (EDF).
This F-80 was originally Terry Nitsch 's plane,
which won Top Gun back in 1998. We also entered this plane in the
Jet World Master in 2001 in Thailand and won third place.
Best regards,
Simon To
![](../../HotShots/F-80/M_Emmendorfer.jpg)
From: Marshal Emmendorfer
Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2015 10:06 PM
To: Patty
Subject: Monroe Michigan jet meet
New oldies but goodies. The new P 80 is mine
and the new T 33 is Ron Vargo's. We flew both of them today. They are
BVM kits from the 80s. Not bad for 30 year old kits.
Marshal
![](../../HotShots/F-80/RogerKo1.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/F-80/RogerKo2.jpg)
From: ROGER KO
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 9:16 AM
To: BVMJets
Subject: F-80 Saggin' Dragon Maiden
Hi Bob,
I finally got my beautiful F-80
Saggin' Dragon, built by Jess Hogan, maidened this past weekend at
the Sepulveda Basin here in Southern California. We got 2 flights in
before we got rained out (believe it or not!). Anthony Dimaio
(Steve's brother) was at the sticks and the jet flies absolutely
great.
Cheers,
Roger
![](../../HotShots/F-80/F_Wegner-sm.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/F-80/F_Wegner2-sm.jpg)
Frank Wegner from Hamburg,
Germany has had great success with the BVM F-80 and early BVM F-16
on EDF power. Multiple awards were won at German Jet Masters
![](../../HotShots/T33/R-Esposito-sm.jpg)
From:
Captain Ralph
To: Patty Generali
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 11:25 AM
Subject: picture
Hi Patty:
Here is a
picture of both of my BVM Shooting Stars. The silver one is the BVM
F-80 and the other a BVM T-33. They will both be entered in the Top
Gun 2013 event. Hope to see you guys there.
Ralph
Esposito
![](../../HotShots/F-80/R-Esposito-02-sm.jpg)
From: Captain Ralph
To: Patty Generali
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 11:52 AM
Subject: BVM F-80
Hi Bob and Patty
Here are a few pictures of my
new BVM F-80. The jet flies "GREAT" as if on rails. The jet is a lot
more stable with the drop tanks on. I have now around 30 flights on
it and look forward for another 30 flights. My regards to the BVM
TEAM!
Captain Ralph Esposito
Miami, FL
Sao Paulo, Brazil
![](../../HotShots/F-80/BV-sm.jpg)
BV with the All Electric F-80
This F-80 is our first
example of the All Electric Shooting Star kits coming along soon.
The propulsion is by the 19.5# thrust EVF ~3~ 12s with 65C 7700 mAh
ThunderPower LiPo batteries. A 2700 mAh 2 cell ThunderPower
pack powers the E-Purple Retracts, the BVM E-Brake V2, full landing
gear and wheel well doors, speed brakes, flaps, and tank drop.
A JR 12X radio controls it all. The orange wing tips are
stick-on vinyl's that aid visibility after the Tip Tanks are
jettisoned. These computer cut panels are available for F-80
customers .
![](../../HotShots/R_Esposito1-sm.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/R_Esposito3-sm.jpg)
From:
Captain Ralph
To:
Patty
Sent:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 3:28 PM
Subject:
F-80 Kansas Tornado
Hi Patty...Recognize the jet? I hope so.
It flies like a dream. Now that I have the BVM Kevlar tanks in it I
am able to get flight times up to 14 minutes.
Please let Bob know that I am taking very good care of his bird as
you can see.
Regards to the BVM team,
Captain Ralph Esposito
Alfs Hobbies,
Miami, Florida
Col. Bob Thacker (USAF Retired) from San Clemente,
California modified a BVM F-80 Shooting Star to emulate the original YP80A that
he and Chuck Yeager flew. The enclosed photos and letter tell one of their aviation
stories.
![](../../HotShots/p80_col_thacker.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/col_thacker_ltr.gif)
Thanks Colonel for sharing this with
us.
![](../../HotShots/tg-99/tg99-10.jpg)
Terry's winning "Minute Man" turbine
F-80 claimed 1st place at both Top Gun and the AMA Nationals.
![](../../HotShots/joh99/joh99-8.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/fj02/06.jpg) David Payne of Chattanooga, TN flies this BVM
F-80. It's finished in Presto Coverite film and looks great in the air because
of the highly reflective finish. Note the shark's eyes and mouth on the Misawa
tanks. F-80 owners really like the way this Korean War fighter
flies.
![](../../HotShots/tg-99/tg99-4.jpg) This
ducted fan F-80 built by Dave Valdez placed 5th in a field of tough
competitors. The F-80 flies well off grass or pavement and the landing gear has
been put through the test over the years.
![](../../HotShots/tg-99/tg99-5.jpg)
![](../../HotShots/tg01/tg-7.jpg) Frankie Mirandez flew this F-80 in Top Gun
'01 and '02 and finishing in the top half of the contest each
time.
![](../../HotShots/skeet_f80.jpg)
Skeet Hunt of Reno, Nevada sent us
this shot of his F-80 turbine coming in for a landing at the Tucson jet rally.
Skeet says, "I am having the time of my life learning this hobby and the
confidence your products bring to the learning curve is greatly appreciated."
![](../../HotShots/f80-fiala.jpg) |
Ken Fiala from St. George, Utah has completed
the test flights on his brand new turbine powered F-80. Ken is using a Jet Cat
P80 for power.
Here is an excerpt from an email we recently received
from Ken commenting about his BVM F-80, "I think the F80 is pretty
well dialed in now, today I put two more flights on it and the performance is
awesome. I just wanted to say I'm very pleased with the turbine F-80 and would
recommend it to anyone that's interested in a turbine performer. Thanks and
regards, Ken Fiala." |
![](../../HotShots/WJM-99/wjm-05.jpg) |
Ralf Ploenes flew this F-80 in
the 3rd World Jet Masters held in Austria. These photo's clearly show the drop
tanks being released and then setup for a perfect landing. |
![](../../HotShots/WJM-99/wjm-06.jpg) |
![](../../HotShots/f-80-simon.jpg) |
Simon To is the proud owner of the Lockheed TV-1
(F-80) built by Jerry Caudle. This same aircraft did compete in Top Gun in West
Palm Beach, FL and is now flying off the smooth runways of Hong
Kong. |
![Rene Alvarez holding F-80](../../HotShots/hsf80-11.jpg) |
Rene Alvarez did a great
job with Coverite Presto on his AcroJets F-80. Rene uses a RAM 750 turbine to
power this model. Several articles have been published in RCJI and MAN and a
video tape with Jerry Caudle is available on how to do it. It does take some
serious practice though. |
Rene engineered his own
technique for a sliding canopy. Three styles of tip tanks are available from
BVM to accomplish different F-80 variants. ProMark Graphics has scale transfer
markings for the F-80 and all of BVM kits. This photo is properly staged with
the old Tamiami hangar in the background. All F-80 pilots like Rene love the
way it flies. D.F. and turbine versions are available. |
![Side view of Rene's F-80](../../HotShots/hsf80-12.jpg) |
![Rich Fong's F-80B](../../HotShots/hsf80-13.jpg) |
Rich Fong makes a perfect
roll out at the Jet World Masters qualifier in Metropolis, IL. Rich and his
Hat-in-the-Ring F-80B was the first alternate for the 2nd Jet Masters that was
held in Wroughton, England in August '97. |
This is an early F-80 kit
that was built by Tom Robertson and flown to second place Team Scale at Top Gun
'94 by Patty Generali. The model still resides at
BVM. The markings for this and all of the other F-80's shown here are by
ProMark. |
![F-80 TURBINE](../../HotShots/hsf80-ss.jpg) |
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