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Flashback to Fun

If you were born in the '50s and '60s, you probably dreamed about getting a Cox control-line airplane for Christmas.

Didn't matter where you looked — Cox models were everywhere. On the shelves at local hobby shops. Whizzing around at flying fields and tether car circles. At the Flying Circle in Disneyland®, in color catalogs and in posters, magazine ads and more.

But no matter where you saw them or which product you saw, one thing was guaranteed: everybody was having fun!

Most kids only got to dream about it. But for a lucky few, dreams actually did come true. They were the ones who got a Thimble Drone Champion for a birthday present or a TD-1 as a special reward.

Were you one of them?

If you were, please let us know — and let everyone know why. You can share the story of your Cox model in as much...or as little detail...as you want to provide. Good memories are meant to be shared. And Cox makes good memories happen.

"I was born in 1960. As a teenager I started collecting Cox cars and planes. We only ran the Shriek and the red dragster. What a blast. I still have several cars and one plane that have never been used."     - Dave Wiessner

"Cox planes and engines set me on a path in Aviation, that today I still feel in awe. Born in 1945, I started building and flying Cox planes. Today I am retired but in possession of the coveted Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Having more than 40,000 hrs. of the best time of my life, I can honestly say, I never felt as if I worked a day in my life. Many thanks and memories belong to Cox."     - Capt. Ron M. Loggins

"In 1975 my uncles bought me an Me-109 Super Stunter. Being control line experts they put it through its paces as I watched on. As it was a gift I looked after it. It is still in 1 piece hanging on my wall with the original cellotape holding the wings on. What a great model."     - Michael O'Brien [Australia]

"I was a kid in then Rhodesia in the 60's and 70's. Flew a PT 19 and the a Super chipmunk control line with 0.49 engines. Still have 8mm film of me flying them."     - Nick C

"I was a young 11-12 year old boy in the early 80's w/business in my head. I had two paper routes and started a childcare service on my own. I remember seeing all the other kids who were older than me flying control line plane's. I wanted one, so I saved up some cash and bought myself the "SPITFIRE". It was very cool. I also loved to build dioramas of the model planes I put together. I took the lines off more than a few times and threw it around. LOL....what great memories. THANKS, Cox."     - Thomas Kerns

"Naci en 1967 y en 1980 mis padres me compraron mi primer cox era un Stuka U control a gasolina. Una maravilla, Cox es parte de mi infancia, que buenos tiempos."     - Edgardo Vera (English translation: I was born in 1967 and in 1980 my parents bought me my first Cox airplane; it was a Stuka U-control gas. A marvel. Cox is part of my childhood memories. Good times.)

"On my tenth birthday I got a Cox P-51. Then a few days later my Uncle helped me put it the air. Later I saved some money and bought a P-40. Later I bought a Thompson Trophy Corsair, PT-19 and an L-4 Grasshopper. One of my friends had a Cox gas powered chopper with a three-speed transmission. I also owned a Cox (forgive the spelling) La Cucuraca slot car and a friend had a Chaparral 2-E slot car. These cars ran really well at the local tracks. I wish, just like everyone else, that you would bring back your line of control line airplanes, simply because control line is becoming popular once again."     - Mark Straub

"I was born in 1963 in Mexico City and my first plane was the Sopwith Camel. The P-51D Mustang was my favorite plane. And I have preserved my panes until today. "     - Juan Carlos Martin

"I was born in 1965 and my Cox plane was a P-51 Mustang. Me and my friends had summers of fun with that plane. After finally killing the plane, we put that glow engine on a car built with an Erector set. We ran that thing up and down the street. Could not kill that engine. Finally gave the car to my buddy's kid brother and he kept running it. Probably still running somewhere. Thanks for the awesome memories."     - Mark Treco

"I was born in 1958. When I was 10, my uncle bought me a Cox control line Formula 1 car. It was shaped like a yellow Lola Climax and was fitted with a Cox .049 glow engine. That was the start. Then, at the age of 11, while being a control line modeler, I used to get dizzy teaching my friends how to fly Cox warbirds like the little olive green P-51's, the larger scale Spitfire and the all black Stuka (extremely eye catching). If it just were not enough, Cox started to produce rockets. All so detailed that I could spend hours looking at them in the model shop. Cox had no mercy of us. Whilst, after one year saving the money, you could afford to buy the entry level red and white checkered Honest John rocket with its yellow launch platform called the Launch System (that I own till today as a childhood treasure). Cox designers launched into the market with Apollo program rocket replicas. I still remember the working 3 stage Saturn V. The impressive pinnacle of the series. Just to show you how Cox impressed that little child on me, 13 years ago, being a licensed pilot and owning my own Cessna 172, just walking down the street I discovered that Cox was still producing those highly detailed warbirds that I used to love and I simply went crazy. Surely in an unconscious attempt to recover the past, I started to purchase all of them: Skyraider, Texan, Me 109, Corsair, etc. Thank you, Cox, for those great times!"     - Jorge Camps

"Born 1958. Saved up for a .049 powered P-40. Got it home and then realized that I had nowhere to fly it. (This was Hong Kong- it has very little open space) Eventually found a space exactly the size of the circle. Any drift and I'd hit a tree or concrete. Simply the most exciting toy ever. Kids nowadays don't get the chance to experience the noise and engine starting. Also made a wonderful control line model with the same engine from American Aircraft Modeler magazine plans using new milk carton cardboard from a dairy company, spruce sticks, staples, and an old bell crank. Probably the first glow powered paper airplane!"     - Ed Hui

"I am now a licensed pilot and have my own Cessna 172. In about 1970 I had 5 Cox P-51s. I bartered and traded with anyone that was foolish enough to let theirs go (to me they were treasures). They were my own Cox P-51 squadron and I remember thinking how all 5 of them were working and flying models on our farm porch (I thought of the porch as an aircraft carrier) and of all my memories that one is one of the best of my childhood. I wish they would start reproducing all of these models. I am 50 now and have a great collection. I just love the nostalgia of these models. I'm so glad some grown up kid created a company and called it Cox Models, he really had an understanding of what a young boy wanted to dream about. I would like to see reasonably priced reproduction parts so we can keep these old birds pristine! There still a great joy to own and admire, although the flying I do now is a little more realistic, the dreams were so grand! : )"     - Steve Bickham

"I was born in '64 and my first Cox model was the yellow Vega funny car. Boy, did that car take off like a rocket!! The most cherished memories are my dad along with my childhood friends having fun, way past dinner time. I can still remember the sounds and smell of, what I call my Golden Years. Thank You Cox for years of fun and memories!!"     - Alex Sarimazi

"The Cox control-line planes were the greatest gift ever! I have so many memories of flying with my dad in the late 60's and 70's which are even more precious now that he has passed! Why do you not make these anymore? I have bought two old ones off of eBay but for keepsakes. I would love to give my young son one now!! Please begin manufacturing once more."     - Tony King

"I was born in 1961 and started flying Cox model airplanes around 1969. I stated out with a green JU-87 Stuka that my father had owned and gave to me. Then I collected every model of airplane I could get my hands on until 1980. I remember very well visiting the Cox HQ near my home in Fountain Valley / Costa Mesa, CA. Then after Cox left the area due to economics of the time I still flew and kept up as much as possible. I'm glad that Cox is still in business and striving to better and adapt to the markets for future generations to enjoy all their wonderful products."     - Derek Pickering

"I was born in 1956. As a young teenager I had several of the control line planes, from the Stuka to the P-51. I would like to know if you still make them? I had hours of fun with these wonderful toys!"     - Mike Mills

"I was born in 1958. My first Cox model was the Stuka. I also had a Cox Dune Buggy, and a dragster. The dragster was FAST! I also received a Cox Can Am slot car set for Christmas in the early 70's which my kids and I still enjoy today! Talk about built to last. Thanks Cox for years of fun."     - Carl Scimeca

"Hi. My son and I had a Cox helicopter we enjoyed for years. It went straight up in the air, and after it ran out of gas, it would drop 10 ft. a second safely to the ground. Would love to have another one for the grand kids. Cox models were awesome. THANKS."     - Kerry Reilly

"I was born in 1959 and had numerous Cox U-control planes along with the Dune Buggy and Baja Bug cars. I wish Cox would reissue these planes and cars. I would buy the planes that I had owned. I fly very large and complex R/C models, but I miss the control line planes that started my love of models and full scale aviation. I still have a Cox PT-19 unused and in its box."     - Lenie Lawrence

"When I was a kid I loved those Cox glow engine powered planes. I was born in 1960 and we lived across the street from a school parking lot. So, when I finally did get my first Cox control-line model airplane, I went right across the street and fired up the engine. My brother let the plane go and it went straight up, and straight down. Busted in a million pieces, I don't remember how many planes I cracked up until I finally learned how to control them. If you remember in the earlier days they where made of all hard plastic. One crash and that was it. I wish I could find one of those planes today. Do they still make the glow engine ones? I bought my childhood home so my living room chair looks out over the same parking lot where I played as a kid. You would not believe how many little kids I have seen there flying Cox planes with there parents. Did they even make a glow powered dune buggy at one time? I think I had one of those too."     - Dan Ovadenko

"I was born in 1965 and my first Cox plane was a P-51 Mustang that I got as a prize for selling Christmas cards door to door. From then on I fell in love with Cox glow engines and must have bought at least a half dozen different planes and at least one car. My favorite was the 3-winged Fokker airplane. Of course, as the industrious kids we were, my friends and I would find ways to attach the engines to all sorts of other model planes and cars. Oh, to be 10 years old again!"     - Jim Gronski

"I was born in 1958. I had the Red Baron. I also, in the mid-60's, along with my brother, had a Chaparral control line car. Later, with money from my first job, a paper route, I bought a propeller-driven control line car called the Shrike. Looked like a Bonneville Salt Flats racer. I had hours of fun with it. Never got tired of it. Later, I had the Baja Bug, which, I believe, would go about anywhere. They were all fun! And well-made!"     - Ed Stephens

"I was born in 1961 and in 1971 had my own paper-route. One of the premiums up for grabs for the most new subscriptions was a Cox P-51 Mustang. I remember working into the night to get new sales to win the P-51 and did so. I still have the Plane today!"     - Brook Martens

"I was born in 1956 and got my first Cox model in the early 1960's. It was the Cox P-40 Warhawk, then later came the Cox PT-19, Corsair, P-51 Mustang, JU-87 Stuka, L-4 Grasshopper, Fokker D-7, and the Sopwith Camel. There were probably some more in there that I have forgotten about. They all flew good except the Stuka which I think it was either the weight and/or the design that didn't go well with the engine. I still have some of them to this day and still in very good shape. They were retired long ago and are now hanging from the ceiling in my model airplane building room. I remember I used to work after school and through the summer and saved my money sometimes for almost a whole year so I could go downtown and buy a $15.00 Cox airplane. Those of us that had a Cox airplane were the envy of the schoolyard, everyone would come to watch us fly. It is a shame that today's kids will never know the excitement and freedom we had when we were kids. I so wish Cox would start manufacturing these same models again for today's kids. These models were what taught us older generations into what many of us have done for a living and giving us the encouragement to finish our educations. Society keeps harping on mentoring kids, well, what's the hold up Cox? Start up the production lines...America needs jobs, not China. Cox was there for us back then, maybe Cox can be there for America again. Lets get back to one of the basic things that made America great! Thank You for the memories Cox!!!"     - Bill Koch

"I was helping my sister move out of her house today and ran across my father's old Cox Shrike. The memories of that little green car screaming around on that hot asphalt came rushing back! As he passed away in '78 it's been boxed. I think I'll get her running, then show my kids how Grandpa and I had fun. Thanks for all the great times Cox!"     - Eric Russo

"I was born in UK in 1946. In the early 60's my mates and I used to have great fun flying control line models in a local field. The best engine I had was a Cox TD .15. I still own this and also a Cox Pee Wee .020."     - John Newstead

"Born in '64. I had several COX planes, a helicopter, and a Cox dune buggy of which I still have and it still runs. I'm 48 now but I got that buggy when I was 11 years old. It still has the original .049 motor in it. If I could find new rear tires for it I could run it around the neighborhood again. It was great fun as a kid."     - Joe

"I was born 1960. I got my first plane in 1970. It was a PT-19. My brother and I flew that thing almost every day until the fuel ate through the plastic gas tank. I bought a steel tank at the local hobby shop, installed it and kept flying. We crashed it so many times but it seemed to last forever. I also had a dune buggy and a funny car all with .049 engines. When the plane was broken beyond repair I mounted the engine on a plastic number plate from a dirt bike started it and let it go. It was like a Shrike with no wheels..good times. I would like to find a PT-19 and show my two sons what its all about."     - Fred Flores

"Born in '63. My first plane was the Red Baron, but my favorite one was the Cox Sky Copter. I would fire that thing up and watch it go up till you could barely see it any more then run after it as it descended. I usually had to hike over a few hills to retrieve it, but what a blast. I wish they still made them so I could share with my kids."     - Chuck Sanders

"My story is similar to most here. Born in '61, My first Cox airplane was the P-51 training model; with the detachable wings, It survived many rough landings (never a forced landing thanks to the .049) and worse. Next came the Bushmaster, with the 3 different landing gear styles. I flew that the most, including on snow and even water when the 1976 floods came to Colorado. I also still have the Eliminator dragster which I ran multiple times after receiving it for Christmas one year. Great products - so simple to use."     - Andy Engeman

"I was born in 1955. My brother owned a Stuka with the Cox .049 in the Sixties. His friend owned a Grasshopper with the same engine. They turned together and that was very hot! One in the low level, the second in high level! You can guess how the story ends! The Stuka was a bit too heavy. It must run nearly 1 round before taking off and the bomb never reached the strike! The grasshopper was fantastic because it was very little and flew like a butterfly! I still own both of them, but they don't fly any more... What great memories and enjoyment I had with your engines during those years! Thanks a lot, Cox!"     - Alain Lechevalier

"I was born in 1947. My happiest childhood moments were because of Cox products. It saddens me that my grand-kids don't have the same offerings. How wonderful was the PT-19, Prop Rod, Little Stinker (Pitts), Flying Circus and my most favorite, the .15 powered Comanche. My birthday is the day after Christmas, so my parents would often give me a combo birthday/Christmas present. The Comanche was one of those. Made my living flying. Thank you for many happy times."     - Paul Eckenroth

"I was born in 1963. Got my first Cox airplane, the Red Baron, when I was about 8 or 9. Loved flying it. Wish I still had it. Then I bought the Cox Chopper three-wheeler. I have never seen one since then. Where do these things go? I remember it had a cable starter which would start to fray, poke my finger with the cable and then it would break. I would be so bummed out. It had such a little red handle so I drew a picture of a tee-handle style that I thought would work better and sent it to Cox Manufacturing. I thought it was a better design. They sent me back a package with some handles exactly how I described them. I never broke them again. They worked great. I was probably 10 at the time they sent a letter thanking me for my idea. Sure wish I had my old Cox toys today - lol."     - Shawn

"Born in 53. My dad belonged to a local flying club. He got me the Warhawk for my 9th birthday. U control, .049 with the spring loaded starter ( didn't use it much, just flipped the prop, got wacked a few times). He could really fly it. I got to where I could handle it fairly well. It was pretty fast. but I stacked it into a big cotton wood tree one day and broke the right wing. Tried to patch it with glue and tape but it never flew the same. Still had a lot of fun with it. Not sure what ever happened to it, wish I had it today!!!"     - (no name provided)

"I was born in 1959. The older kids in my neighborhood all had gas powered model airplanes, Cox was the best. A few years later I was finally old enough to safely operate one and I spent the whole spring and half the summer mowing lawns to buy a brand new P51 in 1970. Man was it cool and I was so proud of it. Bought a PT-19 Trainer, several Baby Bee 049's for balsa projects and even had an 020 powered Red Barron Pitts Special. Later joined the Navy as an aircraft mechanic and was so pleased to see most of my shipmates were also control line models fans. Sure wish Cox would bring them back."     - Bryan

"Temgo un (Cox) P40 War Hawk, fue mi primer avion de control de linea y aun lo conservo recuerdo el savor dulce del combustible el cual contenia nitrobenceno y la pila Everredy redonda garnde para iniciarlo. Quisiera conseguir los repuestos originales para su reconstruccion"     - Gustavo Duque Pavajeau (English translation: I still have a Cox P40 War Hawk. It was my first control line airplane. I even remember the sweet smell of the nitro fuel and the round EverReady 1.2v battery needed to start the engine. I want to find the original parts to rebuild the airplane.)

"I was born in 1946. I bought little toy planes at the dime store. At that time they had rubber band models called AJ Hornets. I'm sure there's a few props still hanging in the trees of my old neighborhood. When I was eight my dad bought me a Cox TD-3 for Christmas. I finally flew it after a couple of tries and was hooked. After three more Cox models, including a Stuka, I went to balsa models and then into R/C. I recently found a Cox DR-7 someone had thrown away and am restoring it to hang in the rec room. Thanks Cox for getting me started in a life-long hobby."     - John Henzler

"Born in 1946, I flew U-Control later graduating into RC's. I liked the little .049 and .051 engines. I still have a Tee Dee .010, and a Tee Dee .051 engine. I used the Tee Dee .051 on my RC Gliders, and love them. Recently I been getting back into the sport of RC and was sad when I realized I can't rely on my .051 as I have no extra glow heads. I remember my first U-control airplane to this day, the P-40 Flying Tiger, I such a hard time learning on that one, it was touchy, but so neat to watch fly."     - (no name provided)

"I was born in 1958. The first plane I remember was chrome plated and had a long nose. After a little research I have deduced that it was a Wen Mac P-39. It never left the ground. I remember not having fuel for it so a friend suggested using gasoline, after all gas is gas. It melted. Next was a Cox P-26. I thought it looked cartunish and still do. Don't remember how it died. Then a sweet Corsair Thompson Trophy Winner was under the tree. Now we were talking. Spring time came and the Thompson bit the dust. I just could not seem to keep from nose diving into the ground right from launch. I had to fly from grass so ROG take off was impossible. Next I had a nice Marine Corsair. Failed a couple of flight attempts but no major damage and then it happened. As the plane left my buddies hand and started its inevitable nose over I held back the panic and lifted my arm just a bit, the Corsair raised its nose and leveled off and I was flying. What exhilaration I felt. After that it just came to me and it was clear sailing until I would do some thing stupid. From that time until probably the mid 70s I enjoyed many planes. The P-40 was a favorite, the Ryan 02 Grasshopper, the Cub Grasshopper, the Sopwith Camel. Any body else get planes with S&H green stamps? It was like a free plane. Wish I could go back, wait I can, we now have e-Bay. "     - Mike Buchman

"I was born in 1958 behind the Iron Curtain in Budapest, Hungary where and when toys and hobby items made in the US were not frequently, or rather, never seen. I had my first encounter with a Cox Stuka plane in 1974 when a highschool buddy got it from a relative living in Germany. I immediately fell in love with the Stuka but in particular with the Cox .049 engine. In 1975 I managed to get hold of a Super Sport Trainer from an acquaintance living in the USA and flew it for many hours. My obsession with the Cox engine was so deep that it finally detoured me from becoming a doctor to go towards engineering. I graduated as a M. Sc. mechanical engineer in 1982. I kept the fragments of the Super Sport trainer and a few quite good Cox .049's that I managed to collect in the 1970's. In 2010 I bumped into the Cox website of Bernie and Xena in Canada, and purchased truckloads of Cox engines and parts from them and from eBay. I built my first RC plane last year at my age of 52 for the amazingly and rare Tee Dee .050 RC engine (of which I have collected 3 brand new pieces on eBay). Today I fly it along with .049's in self-built planes and the smallest-ever RC the Page Boy (purchased from Select Hobbies), powered with a Tee Dee .010. Boy, my youth is back again and I do not want to have a better hobby than flying Cox engines in RC planes as long as I can build and fly, and see them. Nobody in the field, flying electrical birds will ever understand why I am in love the high-pitch noise of Cox engines with castor oil smeared over my hands and face, but who gives a damn when you fly COX engines??????????"     - András Balogh

"I had the Cox Jeep for 3 years. It ran good and I loved playing with it. It was one sweet Jeep and if you made a new one, I wood buy it. Keep up the good work."     - Ernest Forward

"My dad got me started because I had seen other older kids that had sophisticated planes they had built themselves. It really got to me. The hobby shop man suggested a Jim Walker, Fire-baby to start with. They were easy to assemble and fly and replacement parts were cheap. Dad bought me a .049 Cox Thimbledrome engine. The year was 1963 and I was 9 years old. Over the years through grammar school, I built more planes and a simple teathered air buggy. There were other engines like OK and Wen Mac but the Cox seemed to work easiest and the prices were not too bad. By the way I think that the list price of that .049 Baby Bee was only around $6.00 which could be much lower at discount chain stores."     - Ken deGruchy Jr

"I was born in 1961 and had two planes, a flat balsa wing and a covered wing "bat" powered by a Baby Bee and Golden Bee respectively. I still have both engines although the planes are lost to ages. Great memories though."     - gsmith

"I was born in 1960. In the early- to -mid 1970s, I flew the Cox PT-19, the P-51 Mustang, the Stuka, and the Super Sport trainer. A friend of mine had a Cox helicopter. What great fun they all were! Today, I have a new PT-19, purchased four years ago and is still in the box. I may just hold on to it as it may become a collectible. I've since gone on to earn my private pilots license, and fly a full-scale Cessna Skyhawk."     - George Kopcial

"My last plane was a Cox Corsair in the mid 90's. Before that, it was a Testors P-40 Warhawk. They were flown until they couldn't be flown anymore. They were some of the best toys I ever had. I miss the good old days, and thanks for the memories Cox."     - Duyane Turner

"I was born in 1959 and I was 16 years old when I bought the PT-19 model in Mexico City. I flew it for many hours beside the two other models I bought, like the German Stuka Ju87d. I have it yet. They were sold in Mexico by Lodela Plastics. The models gave me many fun hours and now my son is fascinated with it, but our activities don't let us fly."     - Miguel Angel Cruz Moreno

"My interest in Cox model engines began when my son was young. I was a dedicated C/L pilot of .35-.40 powered aircraft. When he turned 10 years old we needed something smaller and simpler to operate. Enter my first Black Widow. Together we built a Goldberg Lil' Toot bipe and I taught him to fly. In time he went to college, graduated and married while I ventured into R/C. My initial fascination with Cox engines continued to flourish, however. As I aged and retired we moved into smaller accommodations where space was at a premium; deja vu Cox engines and smaller aircraft. Over the years I accumulated a myriad of Cox engines just because they interested me. As my interest became known I was given some by those who had left the hobby: several Golden Bees, Sure-starts, Black Widows and other 'reedies'. Currently my fascination has extend to the 'micro-Cox' engines: the PeeWee .020 and the TD .010 which I recently obtained brand-new from a vendor. In total I now have 19 functional Cox engines and a decent assembly of parts to support them. COX ROX!!!!!"     - SuperDave

"I was born in 1962 and my brother (13-years older) had a green Stuka that I longed after from about age 3 on. Starting in about 1972, I purchased (with my grass cutting money) and flew numerous Cox planes (all control line back then), and built/flew my share of profile control line planes all equipped (of course) with screaming Cox .049s. I then got into RC with an Airtronics Q-Tee with a QRC .049 and a Cox/Sanwa 2 channel radio. I still fly RC, mainly EP RTF stuff at the moment because it's so convenient, but still love the sound and smell of a screaming nitro-burner!!!"     - John Gronowski

"I was born in 1957. In the early 60's I saw an ad for a Cox PT-19 Trainer in the back of a comic book. You had to sell flower and vegetable seeds door to door in order to get that airplane. I talked my Dad into letting me send away for that (rip off) chance to earn my own COX control line plane. After selling seeds all summer long I sent in the money order and 1 month later a big brown package arrived, The PT-19 was MINE! It had the third string with the pilot and parachute, It was Great. Started right up and after 2 laps I pulled the string and the pilot bailed out. I was so busy watching him I forgot about the plane, Nose dive into the dirt (Pilot Lived), After a new prop we flew that plane all summer. I've had several more planes since, but that One Was MINE!!I Earned IT!! Thanks for the memories."     - Pete C

"In 1984 I purchased a Cox Sky Rally Ultralight. I was a teenager then. I am in my 40s now and just purchased the Cox Extra 300. I also had a Cox hydro boat but can't remember the name of it. I love your products."     - jhern

"I got the "Thompson Trophy 74" Corsair for Christmas 1969, at age 7. Couldn't fly it because there was too much snow, so dad and I started it in the basement. It stunk up the whole house, but what a great smell! Several months later he took me to the Union St. church parking lot to fly it. Not even one lap and it was destroyed beyond repair. So was the Acro Cub which came next. But the Super Sport Trainer finally got me flying. I went on to build many control line airplanes and rockets with my friends. I learned to fly RC planes with a Cox Sportavia a friend had in the early 1980's. My son's first CL airplane was also a gift from my dad, the yellow Cox Piper Cub. I can't beat him at Call Of Duty, but I can still fly better than him! I can't help but think that good hobbies and great parents set the stage for an enjoyable career in engineering and a lifetime of fun. After my dad passed away in 2008 I decided to buy another Thompson Corsair on eBay, and get it flying in memory of him. All the memories of 1969 flooded back as soon as I saw the box. It even had an advertisement for a Shrike (of which I had one) on it. After replacing the reed valve and an elevator hinge, it was ready for action. Vindication at last, after 40 years! No crash this time. I still get it out and fly it every so often, along with fuel and electric RC planes and rockets. Nothing quite like the smell of nitro/castor oil or black powder rocket engines. So thanks Cox, for all the fun."     - DP

"A lot of us 1955's on this blog. All I wanted for Christmas in 1964 was a PT19 trainer with an .049 nitro engine. I got it too! We went to the schoolyard 3 houses away, I flew 3/4 of a circle, did a wingover, and dad was off to the hobby store for a new horizontal stab for the empennage on Monday. Didn't matter, we go it fixed by Wednesday, and despite a handful of mishaps in early spring, I went the whole summer the king of the neighborhood. There was something about the whine of a nitro motor that brought all of us out to see who was flying what. We weren't as litigious a society back then, and you could fly on the school asphalt without a care in the world. If someone got in the way, their folks would more than likely ask 'Why are you so stupid??' Now they look for a $1million. Today, when I go to the field, the smell of someone flying (including me) nitro recalls my childhood. The gassers just remind me I have yard work to do."     - Paul Weissbrod

"I was born in 1958. By the time I reached 10 years old, I had a Cox Chopper Motorcycle/trike. After much begging and rationalization for why this was such a necessary purchase, I was allowed to buy it from a neighbor using paper-route money. (I had wanted the "Shrike, but even so)... Great fun to say the least!"     - R. Donez

"I was born in 1957. My brother and I loved flying all of the Cox planes... My first plane was the Army Grasshopper reconnaissance plane that was green in color. After that we had nearly every Cox airplane made and we bought tether cars too. The Corvette, Ford GT and Chaparral were our favorites."     - Rudy Blaschke

"I was born in Summer 1967 and got my first Cox control line plane when I was 7 years old. I have loved model planes since that time. Still to this day remember unwrapping that box at Christmas. I was on top of the world! I have a lot of fond memories that center around model planes, cars, boats and rockets. Thank you guys for making all of them."     - Wes Casto

"Back in 1988 I got my first RC plane. It was a Cox EZ-Bee. I had fun with it. It was the best RC plane I've ever had."     - kristopher zimmerman

"I was born in 1954. We lived just a couple of miles from Disneyland so I was lucky enough to visit the Magic Kingdom often. My favorite spot in the entire park was Cox Field in Tomorrowland. Watching the experts fly control line planes made it look so simple to do. It was my 10th birthday when I received my first Cox plane, a P-19 trainer. I remember being so confidant that I would have a natural talent for flying a CL plane because of all the hours I spent watching the experts at Disneyland. Needless to say it was a very humbling experience returning home with the scratched and broken remnants of what just a few hours previously was the best birthday present ever. That was the extent of CL flying for me and future visits to the Magic Kingdom never included Cox Field. Failure leaves a very bitter taste at 10 years of age. Then I discovered Girls, Rock and Roll and, well, you know the rest . . . "     - Dave

"I was born in 1963 and had my first Cox Control Line plane was I was 5. From there I was able to get almost every .049 powered model car, buggy and plane. I really miss the sound of that .049 screaming and the smell of the Cox fuel burning!!! They were good days back then and lots of fun!!!"     - Scott Randle

"My Dad was an avid CL flyer and when he started taking my brothers and me out to the local flying field. He started us out on Cox CL planes. I remember all of them that Dad purchased for us, the A6m5 Zero, P-40, P-39, Corsair, PT-19, Chipmunk and Lil' Red Baron. But the ones I remember most were the large scale Cox Spitfire, Stuka and P-63 King Cobra he bought for me on my birthdays. I never flew them because I was so afraid to crash them because they were so detailed. I had them up until a few years ago, but unfortunately a house fire claimed them. Although all of my Cox CL's airplanes are gone now the memories of that time flying with my Dad and my brothers will always be with me."     - Robert Salopek

"I started flying control line back in the 70's. My first control line plane was a Cox P-40 Warhawk and it was a lot of fun till I got dizzy and crashed it. :( Since then I have had just about everything that Cox ever made including the old Funny Cars and the Shrike. I can remember going to Toy's R Us to get a new bubble-packed Cox "Wings" series airplane for $9.99 every week after I got my $10.00 allowance! Those were great times! In fact, I recently restored a Shrike and a Fokker Tri-Plane and I have a new in box 50th Anniversary Pitt's. I'd really like to see Cox bring those old classics back. Cox, if your reading these comment, please bring back the products that made you guys famous! I know there would be a great demand for those old great gas powered classic's such as the Funny Car, the dog fighters, (Tri-Plane, the Sopwith etc..)"     - Shawn

"I had many Cox .049 engines as a kid. I put them on Sterling profile planes and had a blast. I also had a drag racer called the "Eliminator". The thing was so fast people could not believe it was that small of an engine. These are some of my best childhood memories. I now hope I can share these things with my son."     - Nick Hampton

"My friends and I had a lot of fun with Cox 049s on Ranger 30s when we were kids in the 60s. We would run them for hours, crash the airplanes numerous times, tape and glue the planes and back to flying. Can't remember a crash that disabled the motors (durable little guys). In the 90s I got my son interested in control line flying and the fun resumed (he still has his Cosmic Wind). Lots of good memories. Thanks."     - Ian Pratt

"I caught my first sight of a Cox control line model flying in a local park in Queens NY. A couple of kids were flying in an open area. They crashed numerous times but kept restarting and trying again. I can still recall this image 40 years later! I wanted one real bad and a few years later bought the Cox green P51 at the local Five and Dime. I was 12. My life long addiction to the model airplane hobby had started. Thank you Cox for keeping a kid off the mean streets."     - George T.

"I'm a retired Airline captain, but my first set of wings I earned were from Cox. I still have them proudly displayed along side my Air Force and airline wings. Great engines and models."     - Peter D.

"In 1976 my parents wanted to reward me because I won a scholarship for Anatolia College [high school in Greece]. So, they asked me to choose a gift! I had little time in aero-modeling by then but that didn't fool me to make the right choice! I choose Cox Fokker Dr-7 control line plane which I flew every evening all that year after school with my friends! The next year I got a Cox Super Sport control line plane. Since then I have in my collection almost every Cox engine and almost half of the planes, cars and boats that Cox ever produced! I am 45 now. Cox products and my family made my life happy and thrilling. I think will never stop flying Cox planes!"     - Sotiris Reizis

"Years ago I had a control line Cox airplane. I used to get so dizzy, but it was still fun. About 10 years ago I got the P-40 and a Corsair but did not have much luck with them. Now I have your Sky Ranger and its great. Keep up the good work."     - Ron Koch

"In 1978 my brother came home from the marine corps. He had a Cox Focke-Wulf Fw-190 control line and I wanted to fly it. He had modified it a ton and didn't want his 12 year old brother to kill it. He bought me a Cox P-40 with a 049 Black Widow engine. Now my garage is full of RC planes and helicopters. I'd love to have that P-40 back. Thanks Cox and thanks to my bro who is gone now for my start in a hobby that has brought me joy for 45 years."     - Matthew Jones

"I got my first one back in the late 60's a Big, black JU87d Stuka from my uncle. I was just too young for it. But in the early 70's I had many others after that, Fokker d7, Cosmic Wind, p51, F-14/f15 and relied on Cox power when building my own. Lots of Baby bees and Black Widows. Lots of them flown just after school, bringing the "fleet" (15 planes, some Cox, some home-built, all Cox powered) out with my Dad on a weekend he had free, sweet aroma of spent nitro and a fresh cut grass, good friends, good times... take me back there, Pleeeeze."     - Charlie H.

"My father had been a modeler as a youth, but WWII and the Koren War got in the way, and his modeling was put on the back burner for a while. Fortunately for me Dad wanted to get me into modeling also. So, in 1965 after being gone for a several months at Command and General Staff School he [Dad] returned and gave me a Cox PT-19 that he had purchased for me while away. We spent many hours flying that plane (and replaced a few rubber bands along the way). But, that little plane was the start of a life-long hobby/sport for me and a continuation of one for my father. For me, control line eventually progressed into radio control and that evolved into a 29 year career in model aviation. Thank you Cox for some great memories and that start of a wonderful career!"     - Steve Kaluf

"First airplane was a cox control line around 1955-56. It had a red and white checkerboard pattern on the wings and an .049. It started a lifelong addiction, as I have flown control line, and radio control for 55 years. Currently flying electric motor R/C. Thank you Cox for starting me on a lifetime of fun."     - Bill Saylor

"My parents bought me a control line Corsair in 1971. This was truly the start of my interest in mechanical things. I loved(and still do) the smell of nitro fuel burning. I've just gotten back into the rc hobby now that my kids have grown up,and was pleasantly surprised to see that Cox has been resurrected. This brings back some great memories of the enjoyment my Dad and I had with this little plane. Thanks, Cox!"     - Bryan Browning

"I was born in 1955 and sometime during the 60's my dad bought me a British Spitfire with the Cox .049 engine. It was the type with the strings attached to the airplane. I can still remember the smell of the model airplane fuel and attaching the glowplug to the battery to start it. It was a great time to be a kid in America!"     - Rick Hope