team through their distributor in France. Remi Epron will see to it that
the fuel is delivered to the venue before our arrival.
I thank the Hammonds for the support they have provided to our
teams and to the AMA this year and in years past. I will certainly
purchase Powermaster fuels to show my appreciation.
Bill Rich of the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
made a donation of $100 to support one of the CL team’s Junior
members. Robin Hunt also made a $100 donation, and Paul Vallins of
Cascade Aircraft donated $500 to defray the cost of team uniforms.
Most of the funds raised come from the sales of souvenir caps
and T-shirts that carry the World Championships team logo. If you
want to help
support the team,
you can purchase a
T-shirt (S, M, L,
XL, or XXL) for
$20 or a cap for
$15 from me or my
assistant team
manager, Howard
Rush. You will
need to add $9.80
for US Postal
Service Priority
Mail charges for as
Support the FAI CL World Championships. Go Team USA!
Also included in this column:
• March Madness F2D contest
• Support Combat: attend a
contest
• Overseas imports updates
• More legendary Combat-pilot
sightings
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Above and left: Lester Haury (L) of Texas
does battle with Greg Hill of California.
Notice that Greg looks stationary while
Lester walks around in the circle. Both
pilots are focused.
Below: George Cleveland, the winner of
the Phoenix March Madness contest, sits
on his pit box while Greg Hill tries to
learn some new tricks.
SOME OF YOU may already know that I have been selected as team
manager for the 2008 US CL team that will compete in the World
Championships. The event will begin at the end of July in France.
In addition to coordinating all the paperwork for the team and
supporters, one of my major responsibilities is to raise funds for the
F2A (Speed), F2B (Aerobatics), F2C (Team Race), and F2D
(Combat) team members. Team USA has some good corporate
friends that help out with some of the more logistically difficult tasks,
such as getting practice fuel to Landres, France.
Given the tight security restrictions placed on air travelers, getting
18 gallons of flammable liquids across the Atlantic Ocean can be
problematic and costly. Shirley and Willard Hammond of
Powermaster Fuels graciously agreed to provide fuel, at no cost, to the
July 2008 145
many as seven items in a box.
Keith Trostle in Arizona, Bob Whitney in
Florida, and Jason Allen in Pennsylvania
have been selling these items at various
contests. Some merchandise will be available
at the AMA Nats.
The AMA is generous in supporting
teams by paying World Championships
entry, lodging, and banquet fees, as well as
providing a travel allowance of $400 per
team member. Every AMA SIG, which
represents a specific discipline, contributes
additional funds to each of its team members,
to defray additional airfare and model and
ground transportation.
With the strength of the euro against the
dollar, each team member will have
considerable out-of-pocket expenses. As you
can imagine, your help in supporting the
team is greatly appreciated.
The Combat season got off to a great start
with the March Madness F2D Contest in
Phoenix, Arizona. Friday March 7, seven
pilots started the weekend with a laid-back
1/2A competition.
James McKinney, the Miniature Aircraft
Combat Association (MACA) promoter,
bashed his way to a first-place finish. He put
the hurt on George Cleveland’s and Richard
Stubblefield’s fleet of models to take top
honors.
Twenty-one F2D pilots evacuated their
cold-weather states for a warm weekend in
the Arizona sun. Senior citizens who enjoy
Combat competition can still finish on the
podium, as George Cleveland and Richard
Stubblefield demonstrated by finishing first
and second. Alexander Prokofiev of the
Latvian team finished third.
In 2007, this contest’s Arizona sponsors
offered a buyback into the contest formula.
At the 2008 contest, if you lost three
consecutive matches, you could fly in the
fourth round for an additional $25. In
essence, you were able to buy a fourth loss.
If you lost in the fourth round, you could buy
back into the fifth round for $50. For $75,
you could buy back into the sixth round.
I have mixed feelings about this system.
On the one hand, it offers a pilot the ability
to do more flying; on the other hand, it gives
an unfair advantage to guys with money. The
extra fees went to the World Championships
Combat team fund.
This is one of those innovations that will
need to be looked at carefully in the future.
Go to the MACA Web site to view a huge
number of photographs of the March
Madness contest.
As I am writing this column in early April,
many F2D pilots are getting ready for the
second annual Jacksonville, Florida, F2D
contest that the Duane brothers organize.
Another big F2D contest will be held in
Houston, Texas, May 10-11.
While the New England-area modelers
have a strong following for speed-limit
contests, most other parts of the country are
primarily focused on F2D. The 1/2A event
seems to have turned into a warm-up, flown
mostly just for fun.
The AMA Nats has taken a nosedive in
terms of participation. The last time there
was a good turnout in Combat at that contest
was in 2004, when it immediately followed
the World Championships in Muncie.
I loved traveling to various states when
the Nats moved to different parts of the
146 MODEL AVIATION
country every year. I do recognize that this
must have put a strain on the organizers just
in trying to find host clubs with the
manpower to judge and run all the events.
As a Combat community, we all need to
support the existing contests with our
attendance and through volunteering to help
with organizing and running the events.
The economic problems that have faced our
country are now having an impact on our
overseas equipment suppliers. Igor Kolosov
of ViKo Models sent E-mail messages to the
Combat group forum and to his customers
indicating that he was raising the prices of
the various products he offers.
Several years ago, you could buy Igor’s
standard RTF F2D model for $28; the new
price is $42. Engine mounts that once sold
for $12 will cost you $18. Everything is
relative, and when you consider other
hobbies and sports we could be involved in,
ours is really very inexpensive.
Mike Willcox, a former World Champion
and many-time Team USA member, has
great contacts with overseas equipment
suppliers. He has updated his Web site to
show a number of products that are available
through him.
Mike can get engines, models, propellers,
and a bunch of other stuff to help you get
your model into the air. He has also made
many videos of various competitions that are
suitable to show at club meetings and share
with those who are unfamiliar with what we
do.
Former Combat fliers have been showing
up after years of absences. Gene Pape of
Eugene, Oregon, recently made an
appearance at the San Diego sod farm, where
the locals fly.
I have heard rumors that the infamous
Richard Brasher, formerly of Redwood City,
California, wants to get back into
competition. He was an exceptionally
talented pilot who pioneered foam models,
the most notable of which was the Rotation
Station.
Paul Smith came out of hibernation to fly
models in Michigan and Canada. Perhaps we
can get Phil Granderson, John Salvin, and
Mike Petri back in the thick of the Combat
scene! MA
Sources:
Howard Rush
14321 SE 63rd St.
Bellevue WA 98006
MACA March Madness photos
maca.hobby-site.com:3535/gallery.html
Mike Willcox
web.mac.com/emomedia/Evil_Emo_Creation
s/Welcome.html
Rich Lopez
8334 Colegio Dr.
Los Angeles CA 90045
ViKo Models
www.viko-shop.com/
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 145,146
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 145,146
team through their distributor in France. Remi Epron will see to it that
the fuel is delivered to the venue before our arrival.
I thank the Hammonds for the support they have provided to our
teams and to the AMA this year and in years past. I will certainly
purchase Powermaster fuels to show my appreciation.
Bill Rich of the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
made a donation of $100 to support one of the CL team’s Junior
members. Robin Hunt also made a $100 donation, and Paul Vallins of
Cascade Aircraft donated $500 to defray the cost of team uniforms.
Most of the funds raised come from the sales of souvenir caps
and T-shirts that carry the World Championships team logo. If you
want to help
support the team,
you can purchase a
T-shirt (S, M, L,
XL, or XXL) for
$20 or a cap for
$15 from me or my
assistant team
manager, Howard
Rush. You will
need to add $9.80
for US Postal
Service Priority
Mail charges for as
Support the FAI CL World Championships. Go Team USA!
Also included in this column:
• March Madness F2D contest
• Support Combat: attend a
contest
• Overseas imports updates
• More legendary Combat-pilot
sightings
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Above and left: Lester Haury (L) of Texas
does battle with Greg Hill of California.
Notice that Greg looks stationary while
Lester walks around in the circle. Both
pilots are focused.
Below: George Cleveland, the winner of
the Phoenix March Madness contest, sits
on his pit box while Greg Hill tries to
learn some new tricks.
SOME OF YOU may already know that I have been selected as team
manager for the 2008 US CL team that will compete in the World
Championships. The event will begin at the end of July in France.
In addition to coordinating all the paperwork for the team and
supporters, one of my major responsibilities is to raise funds for the
F2A (Speed), F2B (Aerobatics), F2C (Team Race), and F2D
(Combat) team members. Team USA has some good corporate
friends that help out with some of the more logistically difficult tasks,
such as getting practice fuel to Landres, France.
Given the tight security restrictions placed on air travelers, getting
18 gallons of flammable liquids across the Atlantic Ocean can be
problematic and costly. Shirley and Willard Hammond of
Powermaster Fuels graciously agreed to provide fuel, at no cost, to the
July 2008 145
many as seven items in a box.
Keith Trostle in Arizona, Bob Whitney in
Florida, and Jason Allen in Pennsylvania
have been selling these items at various
contests. Some merchandise will be available
at the AMA Nats.
The AMA is generous in supporting
teams by paying World Championships
entry, lodging, and banquet fees, as well as
providing a travel allowance of $400 per
team member. Every AMA SIG, which
represents a specific discipline, contributes
additional funds to each of its team members,
to defray additional airfare and model and
ground transportation.
With the strength of the euro against the
dollar, each team member will have
considerable out-of-pocket expenses. As you
can imagine, your help in supporting the
team is greatly appreciated.
The Combat season got off to a great start
with the March Madness F2D Contest in
Phoenix, Arizona. Friday March 7, seven
pilots started the weekend with a laid-back
1/2A competition.
James McKinney, the Miniature Aircraft
Combat Association (MACA) promoter,
bashed his way to a first-place finish. He put
the hurt on George Cleveland’s and Richard
Stubblefield’s fleet of models to take top
honors.
Twenty-one F2D pilots evacuated their
cold-weather states for a warm weekend in
the Arizona sun. Senior citizens who enjoy
Combat competition can still finish on the
podium, as George Cleveland and Richard
Stubblefield demonstrated by finishing first
and second. Alexander Prokofiev of the
Latvian team finished third.
In 2007, this contest’s Arizona sponsors
offered a buyback into the contest formula.
At the 2008 contest, if you lost three
consecutive matches, you could fly in the
fourth round for an additional $25. In
essence, you were able to buy a fourth loss.
If you lost in the fourth round, you could buy
back into the fifth round for $50. For $75,
you could buy back into the sixth round.
I have mixed feelings about this system.
On the one hand, it offers a pilot the ability
to do more flying; on the other hand, it gives
an unfair advantage to guys with money. The
extra fees went to the World Championships
Combat team fund.
This is one of those innovations that will
need to be looked at carefully in the future.
Go to the MACA Web site to view a huge
number of photographs of the March
Madness contest.
As I am writing this column in early April,
many F2D pilots are getting ready for the
second annual Jacksonville, Florida, F2D
contest that the Duane brothers organize.
Another big F2D contest will be held in
Houston, Texas, May 10-11.
While the New England-area modelers
have a strong following for speed-limit
contests, most other parts of the country are
primarily focused on F2D. The 1/2A event
seems to have turned into a warm-up, flown
mostly just for fun.
The AMA Nats has taken a nosedive in
terms of participation. The last time there
was a good turnout in Combat at that contest
was in 2004, when it immediately followed
the World Championships in Muncie.
I loved traveling to various states when
the Nats moved to different parts of the
146 MODEL AVIATION
country every year. I do recognize that this
must have put a strain on the organizers just
in trying to find host clubs with the
manpower to judge and run all the events.
As a Combat community, we all need to
support the existing contests with our
attendance and through volunteering to help
with organizing and running the events.
The economic problems that have faced our
country are now having an impact on our
overseas equipment suppliers. Igor Kolosov
of ViKo Models sent E-mail messages to the
Combat group forum and to his customers
indicating that he was raising the prices of
the various products he offers.
Several years ago, you could buy Igor’s
standard RTF F2D model for $28; the new
price is $42. Engine mounts that once sold
for $12 will cost you $18. Everything is
relative, and when you consider other
hobbies and sports we could be involved in,
ours is really very inexpensive.
Mike Willcox, a former World Champion
and many-time Team USA member, has
great contacts with overseas equipment
suppliers. He has updated his Web site to
show a number of products that are available
through him.
Mike can get engines, models, propellers,
and a bunch of other stuff to help you get
your model into the air. He has also made
many videos of various competitions that are
suitable to show at club meetings and share
with those who are unfamiliar with what we
do.
Former Combat fliers have been showing
up after years of absences. Gene Pape of
Eugene, Oregon, recently made an
appearance at the San Diego sod farm, where
the locals fly.
I have heard rumors that the infamous
Richard Brasher, formerly of Redwood City,
California, wants to get back into
competition. He was an exceptionally
talented pilot who pioneered foam models,
the most notable of which was the Rotation
Station.
Paul Smith came out of hibernation to fly
models in Michigan and Canada. Perhaps we
can get Phil Granderson, John Salvin, and
Mike Petri back in the thick of the Combat
scene! MA
Sources:
Howard Rush
14321 SE 63rd St.
Bellevue WA 98006
MACA March Madness photos
maca.hobby-site.com:3535/gallery.html
Mike Willcox
web.mac.com/emomedia/Evil_Emo_Creation
s/Welcome.html
Rich Lopez
8334 Colegio Dr.
Los Angeles CA 90045
ViKo Models
www.viko-shop.com/