Matt Steele just posted this on Facebook but I thought I'd copy it here as this is a better history repository.


From Matt: "I ran across these old Centuri kits -and I sent some photos to Lee Piester asking him the background on them. I thought I would share his responses with the group:"

From Lee:

Page 2 of our 1962 Centuri catalog shows the original Aero-Bat--priced at $1.75 postpaid. Amazing!! How did we sell it for that and pay the freight?? .

From my 58 year old memory of 1962, I recall four iterations of "Aero-Bat".

#1 First offered in 1962 catalog, it offered my hand-turned hardwood nose cone, cloth hinges, and blank balsa sheet. I flew Aero-Bat's first prototype at NARAM 2 or 3.

#2 Included balsa cone, pre-printed balsa wings, improved elevator hinges and release clip, and simulated canards and payload capsule.

#3 Using the best ideas of Aero-Bat #2--evolved the"Acro-Bat" . It eliminated the moveable elevator, and controlled pitch thru (preset) canards. The body tube came pre-marked for more accurate wing and canard positioning. Shown In 1965 catalog,

#4 The "X-21 Glider (1965) was a further revision of "Aero-Bat"
Vertical ascent and glide duration improved with each revision.
The Micro-Probe was introduced in 1964--priced at $2.50 It did not go thru revisions---performed well, and was a good seller.

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