Pacmin Studios x The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation: Part One
“It was amazing to see him in pilot mode- he was happy, at peace and so passionate about flying and engaging with the remarkable people in the industry, from air traffic controllers to the folks on the ground. They were “his people” and he was inspired by the comradery and shared passion.”
As Arnold Palmer’s youngest daughter, Amy Saunders, reminisces on being tucked into the back of her father’s Cessna C172, she shares a glimpse of into what Mr. Palmer was like when behind the controls of an airplane:
“My father, for all the fun he had tipping the wings to get a rise, I had enormous faith and comfort in his flying abilities. He was in the left seat for all the flights we had the opportunity to join and we witnessed him navigating all kinds of challenges that he did masterfully and with confidence. It was amazing to see him in pilot mode- he was happy, at peace and so passionate about flying and engaging with the remarkable people in the industry, from air traffic controllers to the folks on the ground. They were ‘his people’ and he was inspired by the camaraderie and shared passion.”
In addition to his skills on the golf course, the legendary Palmer is well known for his love of aviation and extensive experience as a pilot. Mr. Palmer owned 11 different aircraft over the course of his lifetime and piloted countless more, eventually logging nearly 20,000 flight hours in total.
Pacmin Studios recently worked with The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation to create custom 1:30 scale reproductions of nine of Mr. Palmer’s aircraft, including the Cessna 172 in which he learned to fly.
The Orlando-based Foundation (palmerfoundation.org) supports efforts to improve children’s health, youth character development and nature-focused wellness—all part of its overall mission to continue the Palmers’ philanthropic legacy and to extend Mr. Palmer’s legacy specifically. This project contributes to these goals, offering a vibrant showcase of an important part of Mr. Palmer’s life and career. We were honored to be approached—and we worked hard to get it right.
Using a combination of historical photographs, similar aircraft models, and previous miniatures, our team designed and created each model to be as accurate as possible. The models will be displayed outside of Mr. Palmer’s historic office in Bay Hill, Florida, which remains much as he left it, inspiring visitors with its collection of trophies and memorabilia—including a lot of memorabilia related to flight.
In this blog entry, we will highlight the first four models that were developed for the collection: the Cessna 172, Aero Commander, Jet Commander, and Learjet 24. Part Two will cover the remaining five Cessna Citation models.
Take a look below at some of the original photos that were used to design the models, as well a few behind-the-scenes progress shots taken as the team at Pacmin developed on each one. Finally, check out the finished product to see if we were able to do these famous planes justice.
Cessna 172
While Mr. Palmer never officially owned the Cessna 172, the plane played an integral part in his flying career. After training to earn his pilot’s license in the aircraft, Palmer flew it down on a solo trip to Akron for an exhibition and was back home in time for dinner. The experience opened him up to the possibilities that flight would be able to afford him as he pursued his golfing career.
Aero Commander 560F
The Aero Commander 560F was Arnold Palmer’s second official aircraft purchase. He originally owned a 500 model before upgrading to the 560F. Our team worked with photos of Mr. Palmer’s Aero Commander 560F, his original 500, and other Aero Commander aircraft to bring this plane back to life.
Rockwell Jet Commander
The Rockwell Jet Commander was Mr. Palmer’s first foray into the jet age. With the ability to cruise at 500 nautical miles per hour, the Jet Commander gave Mr. Palmer the ability to travel at twice the speed of his previous Aero Commander 560F.
Learjet 24
Mr. Palmer leased a Lear 24 for some years, before becoming a loyal Cessna Citation customer. Our team was able to dig through records and find two pictures of the high-speed business jet, which were just enough to recreate the red, white, and blue livery with Palmer’s trademark signature and umbrella underneath the windshield.
Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter for Part Two of this series where we share the process behind producing all five of Arnold Palmer’s Cessna Citation models.
By Max Ouweleen
Marketing Coordinator at Pacmin Studios and The Model Shop
About Pacmin Studios
Pacmin Studios has been serving the aviation and transportation industries with creative physical and digital models and exhibits since 1946.
Known for producing high quality custom aircraft display models, Pacmin Studios has evolved to provide a suite of additional services, including graphic design, CAD, CGI rendering and animation, livery design, and other transportation marketing solutions.
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Additional Sources
Cover Image
- The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
