AMA Nats: RC Soaring

RC Soaring Byron Blakeslee IT WILL LONG remembered its high drama low weather stalwart fliers 1987 Soaring Nats dogged some perverse extremes weather Nats recent memory Plagued winds rains temperature swings contestants needed ingenuity survive Well tell about weatherwhich after heightened dramabefore describing exciting climax sorted out winners losers after week intense flying Actually no real los ers Everyone hero battle against weather demons Before getting further story ever AMA Soaring officials con testants wish thank Mr Norm LeGrande use flying site fact third time Nats Soaring event has flown Norm Hendricks sod farm property another Hendricks fields having used 1979 1982 familiar Soaring Nats works concept very simple con test runs Tuesday through Friday two rounds per day seven-minute International Du ration Scoring point per second up ex actly seven minutes loss point per second thereafter landing inside 82-ft-dia circle adds 100 bonus points maximum score therefore 420 points flight plus 100 landing making 520 points total Eight rounds add up maximum possible 4160 points contest Three sizes Sailplanes plus Scale Gliders flown Nats Soaring event classes assigned according wingspan follows Under Two-Meter 78 Under 100 Standard Class Over 100 Unlimited addition three age groups Junior under 15 Senior 15 19 Open mostly old folks Open 90 entries Un limited 89 Standard 85 Two-Meter However 264 entries yielded 112 ac tual fliersmost contestants like enter two three classes get moneys worth describe Junior Senior turnout sparse would understatement Junior flier12-year-old Robbie Edson Colorado Robbie flew Sagitta Standard Unlimited classes Senior age group just two contestants Steve Clasen Rolly Kardian Both flew three classes Steve taking win Sail plane flying general Nats Soaring par ticular booming nobody seems have answer attract Juniors Sen iors freshen its ranks Any suggestions would warmly welcomed Soaring far largest event Nats new frequencies spoken way back March know Sailplaners waited too long send entry forms couldnt get frequency knows big event will number frequencies increased will probably limited time constralnts running large number entries through eight rounds current procedure organize total 267 entries 15 flight groups 17 18 fliers group group made up fliers assigned available frequencies eliminate danger two transmitters same frequency being use same time no flier other group allowed fly until fliers previous group have returned morning different group picked lot start day fliers group pick up transmitters frequency pins proceed di rectly famous funnel end funnel waits Flight Line Director Dave Haer tel assigns flier four winches Dave winch masters event directors stay constantly touch hand radio happening next flight group assembles ready area next trans mitter impound As transmitters pilots have finished flights come back im Left Don Clark prepares launch Sagitta Walt Good gets set time Both long-time modelers two-thirds team invented Thermic Sniffler Right Dan Fink R discusses Standard-class-winning Panteria Jim Deck Model Larry Jolly kit 52 Model Aviation AMA NATSN oln Nebraska tired happy Soaring officials just after finishing up event Front row beginning left Fran Olix Betsy Coppersmith Carol Seydel Bonny Bomgardner Jim Thomas Walt Roucher Back row Tom Kozel Ross Butterfield Steve Dworsky Frank Nestor Dave Haertel Mike Mitchel Jack Berry did outstanding job together orchestrated largest event Nationals highest level professionalism h Left Helmut Lelke Heidi 2-meter ship plane electrostatically stabilized both roll pitch same model per formed well Helmut 1985 Nats Westover Look info upcoming Soaring column Model Aviation Right Last years Nats winner Leon Kincaid three sizes famous Scooter design lookout kitted Ace RC Left two lady Soaring entries left Ruby Keer Gentle Lady right Betsy Coppersmith Pantera Betsy also acted chief scorer Right Robbie Edson lone Junior flier entered Sagitta both Standard Unlimited classes Len uerry rana noias nis originsi tanaara ana z-ueter aesigns rhe Stanoara-ciass unameicon piacea secona Hignt mis i97 Heler fleld aioft builder flier Scott Dukes took top honors Scale Model Krick kit took lot nerve fly Scale brutal winds pound pins put ready groups transmitters fliers move fun nel group following ready group assem bles standby area procedure necessary make certain flights can run off day course wouldnt work cooperation contestants Again year people very upbeat complimentary about way contest organized run Event Director Fran Olix introduced new wrinlde yearthe pink card re cording names official flight timers Frans way coping requirementin ef fect last few yearsthat flight per class have different official timer thats going its too possible forget timed flight three days ago pink cards timers names class flight can inserted right spot Timers way premium 115 people flying 267 flights per round fliers too intent own flying find spare moments timing others flights Speaking time giving its appro priate subject contests admin istration recognize officials winch masters others donate time such great job rest us can compete Theyd rather flying too third straight year core group Valley Forge Signal Seekers has run Soaring event Fran Olix Assistant Director Tom Kozel Chief Scorer Betsy Coppersmith Computer Operator Carl Luft other scorers impound peo ple winch operators deserve big hand November 1987 53 Left Jim Thomas took third Scale Minimoa Participation Scale always popular spectators up year 10 en tries Right Brian Agnew 2-Meter-winning Sagitta 600 BrIan Flanked dad John left Paul Carison right Left Tom Neilson three static show trophies won Windsong plane built Craig Robinson both hail Portland club Right Ed Berton awaits final regular flight timer Carl Raichie offers advice flying windy conditions Well done gals guys following officials hand photo taken Carl Luft Ken Mitchel Bob Hekrale Dan Budde Now account 1987 Nats weather biggest adversary Lincoln fliers reckon elements summer week Lincoln generally inhospitable un predictable just plain tough fly prevailing summer winds Lincoln south few days before Nats week however winds blowing quite freshly north owing weather sys tem covering large part midwest Antici pating return normalcy Fran first set field up winches pointed south Weather reports Monday indicated elements going second event di rectors shrewd guess winds expected continue northas indeed did So crew switched everything field 54 Model Aviation Left Event director Fran Olix R explains flyoff procedure Ed Berton L Tom Nelison C flyoff resulted dramatic finishes recent Nats history see text details can seen right both finished tops sportsmanship 180 O Come Tueday morning Flight Service Weather said likely get winds south day Fran crew out 6 am turning everything around again Well winds started after about first two groups flown guess direction Yup north Everybody groanedand next group unfortunate experience downwind launches what looked like small cold front came scudding along clouding sky com pletely over bringing along some rains lasted about 1030 1145 Along forced intermission flying also got quite chilly people dressed hot dry weather real bummer cleared up nicely better windsfinallywere com ing along south rest day blew pretty steady 15 mph higher gusts time time rainstorm really smoothed out wind patterns Wednesday beautiful day winds stayed south fairly light course normal cy cles excellent lift directly followed terrible sink waiting funnel watching plane sky going out sight thought Let up now trouble time got head funnel assigned winch got launched good air long gone Wednesday evenings weather forecast sounded ominops winds expected crease speed Sure enough started blowing mid-morning Thursday continued through rest contest blew about 20 30 mph Thursday afternoon Friday morning down bit rest day blew stronger Thursday Winds high blew thermals pretty well nonexistence strategy keep nose pointed wind try find some sort wave action Some ventured down wind Some made back field some didnt planes crashed during launch ing landing Since nobody practices conditions fliers no precedents go everything new experience ex treme conditions seemed prove thing though must building wings stronger used didnt see wings fold launch due structural failure Scale scheduled noon break Thursday postponement until Friday morn ing considered due wind Since rule books criteria 40 mph however obvi ously unrealistic Sailplanes show went just well because conditions no better Friday Scale winner Scott Dukes Longmont CO beautiful 1937 Reier took first static judging model built German Krick kit spans 125 about 14-scale relation its 19-meter proto type Second place went Dave Elias West Palm Beach Kestrel 19 plane has rudder/elevator controls Dave did fine job flying wind Kestrel took third static second flying points Jim Thomas third-place winner /5-scale Minimoa first flight points flew remarkably smoothly under such windy con ditions Ed Whytes quarter-scale TG-3 really big Scale ship contest year placed fourth Total Scale entries 10 twice last year Perhaps starting see up surge interest category hope because Scale always favorite Continued page 149 November 1987 55 winners first Dan Pruss Memorial Team Trophy Representing Portland Area Sailplane Society L R Dave Johnson Tom Brightbiil Tom Nelison Rich Burnoski L made presentation behalf SOAR Club Fran Olix looks rear Al Scidmore winner prestigious Lee Ranaud Memorial Trophy left Tom Kozel Fran Olix background AMAs Jeff Troy right made presentation Steve Clasen recipient Sid Axeirod Scholarship outstanding achievement 2-meter class Junior Senior Tom Kozel L Fran Olix presented award Nats RC Pylon/Veager Continued page 145 taken over Just like body disappears Must time go home dont wanna go home lots things remember about Pylon Racing Nats year Ill just run through struck Meeting giant full-size aircraft world Burt Rutan visited site twice very impressed racing asked questions about building techniques materials Equipment failures caused several reflies something guarantee will corrected again course changes Quarter Midget Bill Millers Formula entry repainted very bright day-gb orange Bill could see F-4 Phantoms continually practiced touch-and-goes blasted everyone off seats after burners loudest things Ive ever heard except some Harriers all-girl crew staffed lap cage daya crew Id take day No fense guys girls dream crew because performed faultlessly guys seemed lessen up came time question cuts stuff Combat model flyaway wrapped itself around power lines provided great fireworks display before shutting down Nats headquarters Lin coln Sky Knights Club members worked hard ever having seen Pylon Race before kept coming back great guys However best people went Out way com pliment us thank us giving six good days racing people Id again anytime See ya next year Virginia Beach Nats RC Scale/Wischers Continued page 51 time Mustang monopo lized competition year three en tered Nats Lee Rice places fifth North American P-51D Mustang built Royal kit A-scale sixth place see very unusual 14-scale model Art Chesters Jeep has 52-in wingspan has built Jewel Ness Coverite kit powered Saito 45 four-stroke engine winner Sportsman class Bruce Tharpe Citabria Sig kit engine Saito 45 four-stroke seeond place Waco UMF-3 Pica kit powered Super tigre X-60 engine Its builder Elmer Herbran son remember early association RC modeling 30 years ago Elmer two Nats Scale trophy winners flight score higher static score other Greg Namey Expert class Third place Sportsman won Wayne Siewert entry scratch-built Mooney M2OK all-balsa construction modeled after Mooney Porsche engine %-scale wingspan 88 models engine Enya 120 four-stroke After FAT team selection trials week ear lier FAI portion Nats something letdown expected six entries reduced four due attrition during trials Beeause Nats using current FAI rules team trials using 1988 FAI rules quite difference complexity bonuses between two competitions ex ample Skip Masts Lockheed C-130 Hercules jumps 15% 3056 becomes Nats winner Steve Sauger s Stinson Trimotor 230-point leap static score over previous week addition 25% bonus places second Bob Wischers 10%-bonus Douglas Mailplane places third Gary Underhills Bristol M-l fourth Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 55 crowd pilots received nice hand upon safely touching down Everybody realized much intestinal fortitude required put lovingly-built beauties up such dangerous conditions extreme winds Thursday Friday raised havoc standings other classes leaders coming down two-minute nights Getting landing far automatic leader board being juggled up down good clip usual Nats top guys put eight flights close max 520 points per flight contest leaders scoring order 300 points over last four flights Few oth ers course doing better Most pilots contention chose scratch last four flights Notwithstanding foregoing commentary shuffling among leaders TwoMeter Standard winners established positions fairly early hung win pretty good margins Whats really amazing both top guys flying polyhedral rudder/elevator planes strong winds straight-wing aileron ships definite advan tage because superior roll control especially true during landing ground gusts bouncing plane over youre just trying get down right-side-up Two-Meter first four rounds close race between last years winner Paul Carl son last years runner-up Brian Agnew Paul flying same Prodigy caused such sensation last year cant af ford new onehis Off Ground Models com pany produces kit Brian also flew same ship last year Sagitta 600 Paul led through fourth round slipped back 298 Brians 520 Round Five Brian averaged just 290 points per flight over last three good enough hold off Tom Brightbill Terry Edmonds finNovember 1987 149 SUNBIRD SENSATION WITH STYLE Sunbird combines eye opening performance truly distinctive styling terrific flying design Whether choose 40 size Sunbird 10 Sunbird Jr youll find Sunbird perfect sport plane fl PRECISION EEEPRODUCTS INC 714 592-5144 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 FOR 25 TO 45 ENGINES RADIO CONTROL SHORT KIT DESIGNED AROUND FOAM CORE WING AND BOX FRAME FUSELAGE FOR SIMPLE AND STURDY CONSTRUCTION SHORT 1013 INCLUDE WING CORES CANOPIES COWLS PLANS ENGINE MOUNTS FIRE WALLS MOLDED MISC PARTS SHORT HA RD WA RE PA CKA GE AND MATERIALS LIST FOR ADDITIONAL BALSA AND HARDWARE NEEDED AGM2 ZERO 54 SPAN 2990 P40 TOMAHAWK55 SPAN. 2995 P39 AIRA COBRA 55 SPAN . 2990 P-Sb MUSTANG 54 SPAN . 2990 C202 FOL GORE 56 SPAN 990 FOCKE WULF 190 54 SPAN 2990 INVADER 7NIN 68 495 P-38 LIGHTNING 7WIN 70. 6490 ORDERING SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR REDUIRED AMOUNT PLUS $450 PER KIT CANADIANS ADD $675 TO WING MFG PD BOX 33 CRYSTAL LAKE IL 60014 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ADD 65% SALES TAX ORDERS MUST BE IN US FUNDS SEND $350 FOR PRODUCT CATALOG VISIT OUR OUTLET STORE AT 15 MORGAN 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Hayward CA 94545 CAL 415 783-4868 Out CAL 800 482-8663 Master Card Money Orders ks Dealer inqairies invited 9 Sportsman ModetPFR4-60 $3995 e $3 UPS Economy Model EPFR4-60 $3295 v $3 UPS Avialable F direct select hobby shops ALL BALSA ARF KIT Features pre-assembled wood & ply fuselage veneered plug-in wings stab & rudder epoxy cowl Lexan canopy & Dural U/C details other Zimbabwe Model Products kits call write Full color deluxe catalog -$100 ZIMPRO MARKETING R pyes & tmporters ol Fine Alrican Preducls 1cu iviouei ished second third respectively Fred China Vancouver BC very good flights fifth sixth rounds pulled up second place 226 eighth round dropped him back fourth Paul finished eighth behind Rich ard Simpson Dave Johnson Jim Thomas Standard Dan Fink took lead third round cruised 140-point win over Gerry Arana Jim Thomas finished third followed Al Scidmore Scott Dukes What note worthy Dan flying Larry Jolly Pantera Gerry original Chameleon Al Sagitta 900all polyhedral ships Jim pilot ing Bob Dodgson Camano Scott straight-wing Airtronics Cumic Dan couldnt get enough ballast inside plane resorted taping pound lead top fuselage Nevertheless Pantera did well him came within eight points contests high score real dramatics came after last flight Friday usual announcement made transmitters would released until scores checked tiesa formality case flyoff required determine trophy posi tion time announcement pop ular already 530 wind blowing 30 mph everyone hot tired dying shower However word came Carl Luft computer trailer indeed tie first place Unlimitedpeople jolted attention Wow Tom Neilson Portland Ed Berton Florida tied 3487 points Fran called Ed Tom together ex plained flyoff would same sevenminute task 100-point graduated land ing tape instead just in/out Since ferocious winds going prevent either flier get ting max landing would extremely im portant Ed won coin toss elected launch sec ond would try follow cover Tom Tom launched usual go-for-broke style flew Out east over highway found some waves earlier nothing doingall could keep Windsongs nose wind try get back landing circle Tom couldnt make cir cle landed 249 flight time Ed launched knew Tom missed landing Ed opening needed required about twominute flight good landing carefully steered over downwind side circle just keeping nose Windsong straight wind hovering about 20 ft up two minutes landing looked nailed As done hundreds times before Ed low ered flaps landing plane backed up wind lost airspeed started drop Ed quickly raised flaps got nose down tried regain spot No luckthe ship couldnt penetrate landed just outside cir cle Eds time about 30 sec short Toms As can see photos both pilots dis played super sportsmanship congratulating other Makes person proud associ ated gentlemen like two Third Unlimited taken Bumoski fly ing Dohie F3B ship Fourth through sixth went Walt Hill Al Scidmore Paul Carlson respectively Paul flying new threemeter design called Questor has nicelooking glass fuselage polyhedral foam wings Selig airfoils flaps launching landing Paul pleased its performance hopes have kit out early next year Most Nats regulars feel Old Home Wre proud announce TATONE PRODUCTS CORPORATION has acquired CB ASSOCIATES PRESIDENT TATONE PRODUCTS CORP L EXTRA 230 SPAN 76 AREA 900 sq POWER 4 stroke 120 PO BOX 3076 OAK RIDGE TENNESSEE 37830 Tel 615482-6188 Week aspects important competi tion Friday night banquet time gab bing razzing friends applauding winners everybody attends Awards three nice plaques Scale 13 Open classes Junior Robbie Seniors Steve Rolly received plaques also course addition awards class placing Soaring presents four very special awards other achievement $1000 Scholarship excellence Two-Meter Class Junior Senior Steve Clasen Modesto CA chosen receive award Hi Johnson Trophy highest score class As have seen Ed Berton Tom Neilson tied 3483 points trophy awarded Tom because flyoff win will no doubt ultimately remembered tie Lee Renaud Trophy highest total score three classes won Al Scid popular gentleman placed fifth Unlimited fourth Standard 12th TwoMeter Al along Carl Mohs does lot good work annual MARCS Symposium Everyone pleased see Al win presti gious award Also running Brian Agnew Terry Edmonds Jim Thomas Tom Neilson Dan Pruss Team Trophy new year originated Dans club SOAR honor Dans contributions Soaring foster team spirit presented three-man team earning highest total placings class team members must belong same AMA chartered club actual trophy large plaque will mounted wall AMA Headquarters year names win ning team members will inscribed brass plate affixed plaque team mem bers receive plaques keep 25 teams entered Portland Area Sail plane Societys three-man team became first win award Tom Nielson first Unlimited Tom Brightbill second TwoMeter Dave Johnson sixth Two-Meter team members captured lustre placings add up nine points lowest being best case score will likely stand years Im sure would also have won last year Lake Charles although best placings much less impressive 12th 2nd 6th 20 points Congratulations guys year AMA holds National Static Show prior Nats total 15 trophies awarded various categories Three plaques won Tom Nielsons Windsong Built Craig Robinson Portland OR cabinetmaker trade took Best Sailplane Best Craftsmanship Best Finish un doubtedly beautifully finished Sailplane Ive ever seen MonoKoted wings nary ripple nor sign balsa grain Tom says can actually tell feel difference between plane flies ordinary Windsongs special award made banquet AMA Executive Director John Worth Carl Beth Goldberg Vital Person Award Carl Beth wanted recognize people really make hobby tick seldom get recognized year person selected Tom Kozel Tom assistant event director ran Scale competition year Well done Tom Finally Id like make own Special Per son Award No hardware no cashjust hearty Well done SP award goes Jim Thomas Heres Jim flew three classes plus Scale 20th Unlimited Continued page 154 Designed Ken 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Saves Models BA1TCHEKRX-1 $1495 ein USA Install RO Models Check receiver battery status press button Small Light 1/2 oz Precise Rugged ORDER TODAY dealer Protune corp 914 462-6452 PO Box 1808 Poughkeepaie NY 12601 Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 151 third Standard seventh Two-Meter Dodgson planes scores placed him fourth Lee Renaud Trophy addition flying worked transmitter impound continuously between flights have tried will understand difficult main tain concentration flying preoccu pied doing something else Great job Jim Dan Pruss Team Trophy win other high plac usgs Dodgson planes will make Bob very happy manufacturer Portland guys have flown Bobs planes exclusively years As matter fact Windsong its smaller rela tives Camano Pixie appear kit airplanes choice serious contest flier days didnt make formal count must have about three dozen Dodgson planes contest Also aileron equipped planes continue gain popularity Nats goers last years Nats estimated about third planes ai lerons year Id guess proportion pushing half blustery tempest-ridden fly ing conditions faced Lincoln summer ailerons indeed blessing 1987 Natsand certainly its Soaring competitionshad its quota ups downs fliers got pretty tense wrung out times sure didnt have much chance boredthe wind weather provided drama suspense spare despite crashes caused wind think everyone would agree great time Next years Nats scheduled Virginia Beach VA Hope see final note Carl Mohs wants remind Sailplaners Fifth Annual Sailplane Sym posium coming up October 31 November 1 outstanding speakers have lined up Some know about include Walt Good Mi chael Selig Roland Stull Tom Runge Pete Wa ters Joe Wurts Leon Kincaid Madison WI symposium continues draw people year Time short write Carl its best call him information day num ber 608 233-8888 evenings its 238-2321 Room reservations Ramada symposium held can made call ing 1-800-356-7476 608 244-2481 Identify yourself symposium participant spe cial block rooms Nats CL Aerobat/Fancher Continued page 59 An international flavor added presence Kazuharo Minato former member Japanese World Championship team Jeff Reeves filled similar spot Australian team Both attended lovely wives Petite Miako Minato spoke almost no English ever Jeff taught say Gday mate along bubbly personality made hit Awards Banquet Beautiful Jenny Reeves served judge second year row expert critical eye pat tern complemented pilots appreciation eye-catching appearance array talent add eight former National Champions 15 total victories amongst 35 40 others just waiting chance break top ranks begin realize difficult task facing both competitors officialsContinued page 1S6 154 Model Aviation ATITOGIRO OuiiItLII,y umorout ruLe, flUtU9~ noun upouauou 57 too US Navy during aviations Golden Age Kit teatuiu Iniection-molded plastic parts Monofilament rigging rehensive instructions l military decal markings SEND $3 FOR COMPLETE COLOR CATALOG MA 181 PAWNEE STREET SAN MARCOS CA 92069 ILL~ NEW $425AVAILABLE AT AMERICAS$425 FINEST HOBBY SHOPS DISTRIBUTED BY BB S1MdflflII END WDYRZUD 7550 Sar Geb,eI Road oadero CA 93422 480-1717

RC Soaring Byron Blakeslee IT WILL LONG remembered its high drama low weather stalwart fliers 1987 Soaring Nats dogged some perverse extremes weather Nats recent memory Plagued winds rains temperature swings contestants needed ingenuity survive Well tell about weatherwhich after heightened dramabefore describing exciting climax sorted out winners losers after week intense flying Actually no real los ers Everyone hero battle against weather demons Before getting further story ever AMA Soaring officials con testants wish thank Mr Norm LeGrande use flying site fact third time Nats Soaring event has flown Norm Hendricks sod farm property another Hendricks fields having used 1979 1982 familiar Soaring Nats works concept very simple con test runs Tuesday through Friday two rounds per day seven-minute International Du ration Scoring point per second up ex actly seven minutes loss point per second thereafter landing inside 82-ft-dia circle adds 100 bonus points maximum score therefore 420 points flight plus 100 landing making 520 points total Eight rounds add up maximum possible 4160 points contest Three sizes Sailplanes plus Scale Gliders flown Nats Soaring event classes assigned according wingspan follows Under Two-Meter 78 Under 100 Standard Class Over 100 Unlimited addition three age groups Junior under 15 Senior 15 19 Open mostly old folks Open 90 entries Un limited 89 Standard 85 Two-Meter However 264 entries yielded 112 ac tual fliersmost contestants like enter two three classes get moneys worth describe Junior Senior turnout sparse would understatement Junior flier12-year-old Robbie Edson Colorado Robbie flew Sagitta Standard Unlimited classes Senior age group just two contestants Steve Clasen Rolly Kardian Both flew three classes Steve taking win Sail plane flying general Nats Soaring par ticular booming nobody seems have answer attract Juniors Sen iors freshen its ranks Any suggestions would warmly welcomed Soaring far largest event Nats new frequencies spoken way back March know Sailplaners waited too long send entry forms couldnt get frequency knows big event will number frequencies increased will probably limited time constralnts running large number entries through eight rounds current procedure organize total 267 entries 15 flight groups 17 18 fliers group group made up fliers assigned available frequencies eliminate danger two transmitters same frequency being use same time no flier other group allowed fly until fliers previous group have returned morning different group picked lot start day fliers group pick up transmitters frequency pins proceed di rectly famous funnel end funnel waits Flight Line Director Dave Haer tel assigns flier four winches Dave winch masters event directors stay constantly touch hand radio happening next flight group assembles ready area next trans mitter impound As transmitters pilots have finished flights come back im Left Don Clark prepares launch Sagitta Walt Good gets set time Both long-time modelers two-thirds team invented Thermic Sniffler Right Dan Fink R discusses Standard-class-winning Panteria Jim Deck Model Larry Jolly kit 52 Model Aviation AMA NATSN oln Nebraska tired happy Soaring officials just after finishing up event Front row beginning left Fran Olix Betsy Coppersmith Carol Seydel Bonny Bomgardner Jim Thomas Walt Roucher Back row Tom Kozel Ross Butterfield Steve Dworsky Frank Nestor Dave Haertel Mike Mitchel Jack Berry did outstanding job together orchestrated largest event Nationals highest level professionalism h Left Helmut Lelke Heidi 2-meter ship plane electrostatically stabilized both roll pitch same model per formed well Helmut 1985 Nats Westover Look info upcoming Soaring column Model Aviation Right Last years Nats winner Leon Kincaid three sizes famous Scooter design lookout kitted Ace RC Left two lady Soaring entries left Ruby Keer Gentle Lady right Betsy Coppersmith Pantera Betsy also acted chief scorer Right Robbie Edson lone Junior flier entered Sagitta both Standard Unlimited classes Len uerry rana noias nis originsi tanaara ana z-ueter aesigns rhe Stanoara-ciass unameicon piacea secona Hignt mis i97 Heler fleld aioft builder flier Scott Dukes took top honors Scale Model Krick kit took lot nerve fly Scale brutal winds pound pins put ready groups transmitters fliers move fun nel group following ready group assem bles standby area procedure necessary make certain flights can run off day course wouldnt work cooperation contestants Again year people very upbeat complimentary about way contest organized run Event Director Fran Olix introduced new wrinlde yearthe pink card re cording names official flight timers Frans way coping requirementin ef fect last few yearsthat flight per class have different official timer thats going its too possible forget timed flight three days ago pink cards timers names class flight can inserted right spot Timers way premium 115 people flying 267 flights per round fliers too intent own flying find spare moments timing others flights Speaking time giving its appro priate subject contests admin istration recognize officials winch masters others donate time such great job rest us can compete Theyd rather flying too third straight year core group Valley Forge Signal Seekers has run Soaring event Fran Olix Assistant Director Tom Kozel Chief Scorer Betsy Coppersmith Computer Operator Carl Luft other scorers impound peo ple winch operators deserve big hand November 1987 53 Left Jim Thomas took third Scale Minimoa Participation Scale always popular spectators up year 10 en tries Right Brian Agnew 2-Meter-winning Sagitta 600 BrIan Flanked dad John left Paul Carison right Left Tom Neilson three static show trophies won Windsong plane built Craig Robinson both hail Portland club Right Ed Berton awaits final regular flight timer Carl Raichie offers advice flying windy conditions Well done gals guys following officials hand photo taken Carl Luft Ken Mitchel Bob Hekrale Dan Budde Now account 1987 Nats weather biggest adversary Lincoln fliers reckon elements summer week Lincoln generally inhospitable un predictable just plain tough fly prevailing summer winds Lincoln south few days before Nats week however winds blowing quite freshly north owing weather sys tem covering large part midwest Antici pating return normalcy Fran first set field up winches pointed south Weather reports Monday indicated elements going second event di rectors shrewd guess winds expected continue northas indeed did So crew switched everything field 54 Model Aviation Left Event director Fran Olix R explains flyoff procedure Ed Berton L Tom Nelison C flyoff resulted dramatic finishes recent Nats history see text details can seen right both finished tops sportsmanship 180 O Come Tueday morning Flight Service Weather said likely get winds south day Fran crew out 6 am turning everything around again Well winds started after about first two groups flown guess direction Yup north Everybody groanedand next group unfortunate experience downwind launches what looked like small cold front came scudding along clouding sky com pletely over bringing along some rains lasted about 1030 1145 Along forced intermission flying also got quite chilly people dressed hot dry weather real bummer cleared up nicely better windsfinallywere com ing along south rest day blew pretty steady 15 mph higher gusts time time rainstorm really smoothed out wind patterns Wednesday beautiful day winds stayed south fairly light course normal cy cles excellent lift directly followed terrible sink waiting funnel watching plane sky going out sight thought Let up now trouble time got head funnel assigned winch got launched good air long gone Wednesday evenings weather forecast sounded ominops winds expected crease speed Sure enough started blowing mid-morning Thursday continued through rest contest blew about 20 30 mph Thursday afternoon Friday morning down bit rest day blew stronger Thursday Winds high blew thermals pretty well nonexistence strategy keep nose pointed wind try find some sort wave action Some ventured down wind Some made back field some didnt planes crashed during launch ing landing Since nobody practices conditions fliers no precedents go everything new experience ex treme conditions seemed prove thing though must building wings stronger used didnt see wings fold launch due structural failure Scale scheduled noon break Thursday postponement until Friday morn ing considered due wind Since rule books criteria 40 mph however obvi ously unrealistic Sailplanes show went just well because conditions no better Friday Scale winner Scott Dukes Longmont CO beautiful 1937 Reier took first static judging model built German Krick kit spans 125 about 14-scale relation its 19-meter proto type Second place went Dave Elias West Palm Beach Kestrel 19 plane has rudder/elevator controls Dave did fine job flying wind Kestrel took third static second flying points Jim Thomas third-place winner /5-scale Minimoa first flight points flew remarkably smoothly under such windy con ditions Ed Whytes quarter-scale TG-3 really big Scale ship contest year placed fourth Total Scale entries 10 twice last year Perhaps starting see up surge interest category hope because Scale always favorite Continued page 149 November 1987 55 winners first Dan Pruss Memorial Team Trophy Representing Portland Area Sailplane Society L R Dave Johnson Tom Brightbiil Tom Nelison Rich Burnoski L made presentation behalf SOAR Club Fran Olix looks rear Al Scidmore winner prestigious Lee Ranaud Memorial Trophy left Tom Kozel Fran Olix background AMAs Jeff Troy right made presentation Steve Clasen recipient Sid Axeirod Scholarship outstanding achievement 2-meter class Junior Senior Tom Kozel L Fran Olix presented award Nats RC Pylon/Veager Continued page 145 taken over Just like body disappears Must time go home dont wanna go home lots things remember about Pylon Racing Nats year Ill just run through struck Meeting giant full-size aircraft world Burt Rutan visited site twice very impressed racing asked questions about building techniques materials Equipment failures caused several reflies something guarantee will corrected again course changes Quarter Midget Bill Millers Formula entry repainted very bright day-gb orange Bill could see F-4 Phantoms continually practiced touch-and-goes blasted everyone off seats after burners loudest things Ive ever heard except some Harriers all-girl crew staffed lap cage daya crew Id take day No fense guys girls dream crew because performed faultlessly guys seemed lessen up came time question cuts stuff Combat model flyaway wrapped itself around power lines provided great fireworks display before shutting down Nats headquarters Lin coln Sky Knights Club members worked hard ever having seen Pylon Race before kept coming back great guys However best people went Out way com pliment us thank us giving six good days racing people Id again anytime See ya next year Virginia Beach Nats RC Scale/Wischers Continued page 51 time Mustang monopo lized competition year three en tered Nats Lee Rice places fifth North American P-51D Mustang built Royal kit A-scale sixth place see very unusual 14-scale model Art Chesters Jeep has 52-in wingspan has built Jewel Ness Coverite kit powered Saito 45 four-stroke engine winner Sportsman class Bruce Tharpe Citabria Sig kit engine Saito 45 four-stroke seeond place Waco UMF-3 Pica kit powered Super tigre X-60 engine Its builder Elmer Herbran son remember early association RC modeling 30 years ago Elmer two Nats Scale trophy winners flight score higher static score other Greg Namey Expert class Third place Sportsman won Wayne Siewert entry scratch-built Mooney M2OK all-balsa construction modeled after Mooney Porsche engine %-scale wingspan 88 models engine Enya 120 four-stroke After FAT team selection trials week ear lier FAI portion Nats something letdown expected six entries reduced four due attrition during trials Beeause Nats using current FAI rules team trials using 1988 FAI rules quite difference complexity bonuses between two competitions ex ample Skip Masts Lockheed C-130 Hercules jumps 15% 3056 becomes Nats winner Steve Sauger s Stinson Trimotor 230-point leap static score over previous week addition 25% bonus places second Bob Wischers 10%-bonus Douglas Mailplane places third Gary Underhills Bristol M-l fourth Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 55 crowd pilots received nice hand upon safely touching down Everybody realized much intestinal fortitude required put lovingly-built beauties up such dangerous conditions extreme winds Thursday Friday raised havoc standings other classes leaders coming down two-minute nights Getting landing far automatic leader board being juggled up down good clip usual Nats top guys put eight flights close max 520 points per flight contest leaders scoring order 300 points over last four flights Few oth ers course doing better Most pilots contention chose scratch last four flights Notwithstanding foregoing commentary shuffling among leaders TwoMeter Standard winners established positions fairly early hung win pretty good margins Whats really amazing both top guys flying polyhedral rudder/elevator planes strong winds straight-wing aileron ships definite advan tage because superior roll control especially true during landing ground gusts bouncing plane over youre just trying get down right-side-up Two-Meter first four rounds close race between last years winner Paul Carl son last years runner-up Brian Agnew Paul flying same Prodigy caused such sensation last year cant af ford new onehis Off Ground Models com pany produces kit Brian also flew same ship last year Sagitta 600 Paul led through fourth round slipped back 298 Brians 520 Round Five Brian averaged just 290 points per flight over last three good enough hold off Tom Brightbill Terry Edmonds finNovember 1987 149 SUNBIRD SENSATION WITH STYLE Sunbird combines eye opening performance truly distinctive styling terrific flying design Whether choose 40 size Sunbird 10 Sunbird Jr youll find Sunbird perfect sport plane fl PRECISION EEEPRODUCTS INC 714 592-5144 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 FOR 25 TO 45 ENGINES RADIO CONTROL SHORT KIT DESIGNED AROUND FOAM CORE WING AND BOX FRAME FUSELAGE FOR SIMPLE AND STURDY CONSTRUCTION SHORT 1013 INCLUDE WING CORES CANOPIES COWLS PLANS ENGINE MOUNTS FIRE WALLS MOLDED MISC PARTS SHORT HA RD WA RE PA CKA GE AND MATERIALS LIST FOR ADDITIONAL BALSA AND HARDWARE NEEDED AGM2 ZERO 54 SPAN 2990 P40 TOMAHAWK55 SPAN. 2995 P39 AIRA COBRA 55 SPAN . 2990 P-Sb MUSTANG 54 SPAN . 2990 C202 FOL GORE 56 SPAN 990 FOCKE WULF 190 54 SPAN 2990 INVADER 7NIN 68 495 P-38 LIGHTNING 7WIN 70. 6490 ORDERING SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR REDUIRED AMOUNT PLUS $450 PER KIT CANADIANS ADD $675 TO WING MFG PD BOX 33 CRYSTAL LAKE IL 60014 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ADD 65% SALES TAX ORDERS MUST BE IN US FUNDS SEND $350 FOR PRODUCT CATALOG VISIT OUR OUTLET STORE AT 15 MORGAN STREET IN CRYSTAL LAKE IL uTg1IIiUIif1 ets enjoy outdoorsin comfort Little World Comfort Hot Burning Summer Days Convenient Size Portable Shade Thats Quick Set Up Change Instantly Give Protection Weather Size 72 x 12060 sq Add units double triple etc.the size ot Porta-Shade available Add units can used trailer awnings patio covers etc Potta-Strade convenient size has nu center poie useable space can straddle picnic table model airplane small nenicle canopy strong heat retlecting waterproot material Iwbite tsp sidel unique tear proot cornet littings no grommeto stands almost 7 tatl strong t alunrinam poles can stand woth play under comlon vend resiutanttested 1040 MPH Pona-shatte very last antt easy install beach picoc moantainnor anywhere wart protect trom elements Set op nery quick person can doit about 5 minutes can adjusted easily against sun can set up vertically winobreak 4M Co Dept M 814 N Shawnee Dewey OK 74029 Phone 918-534-2244 r HAS MOVED INTO LARGER QUARTERS 21658 Cloud Way Hayward CA 94545 CAL 415 783-4868 Out CAL 800 482-8663 Master Card Money Orders ks Dealer inqairies invited 9 Sportsman ModetPFR4-60 $3995 e $3 UPS Economy Model EPFR4-60 $3295 v $3 UPS Avialable F direct select hobby shops ALL BALSA ARF KIT Features pre-assembled wood & ply fuselage veneered plug-in wings stab & rudder epoxy cowl Lexan canopy & Dural U/C details other Zimbabwe Model Products kits call write Full color deluxe catalog -$100 ZIMPRO MARKETING R pyes & tmporters ol Fine Alrican Preducls 1cu iviouei ished second third respectively Fred China Vancouver BC very good flights fifth sixth rounds pulled up second place 226 eighth round dropped him back fourth Paul finished eighth behind Rich ard Simpson Dave Johnson Jim Thomas Standard Dan Fink took lead third round cruised 140-point win over Gerry Arana Jim Thomas finished third followed Al Scidmore Scott Dukes What note worthy Dan flying Larry Jolly Pantera Gerry original Chameleon Al Sagitta 900all polyhedral ships Jim pilot ing Bob Dodgson Camano Scott straight-wing Airtronics Cumic Dan couldnt get enough ballast inside plane resorted taping pound lead top fuselage Nevertheless Pantera did well him came within eight points contests high score real dramatics came after last flight Friday usual announcement made transmitters would released until scores checked tiesa formality case flyoff required determine trophy posi tion time announcement pop ular already 530 wind blowing 30 mph everyone hot tired dying shower However word came Carl Luft computer trailer indeed tie first place Unlimitedpeople jolted attention Wow Tom Neilson Portland Ed Berton Florida tied 3487 points Fran called Ed Tom together ex plained flyoff would same sevenminute task 100-point graduated land ing tape instead just in/out Since ferocious winds going prevent either flier get ting max landing would extremely im portant Ed won coin toss elected launch sec ond would try follow cover Tom Tom launched usual go-for-broke style flew Out east over highway found some waves earlier nothing doingall could keep Windsongs nose wind try get back landing circle Tom couldnt make cir cle landed 249 flight time Ed launched knew Tom missed landing Ed opening needed required about twominute flight good landing carefully steered over downwind side circle just keeping nose Windsong straight wind hovering about 20 ft up two minutes landing looked nailed As done hundreds times before Ed low ered flaps landing plane backed up wind lost airspeed started drop Ed quickly raised flaps got nose down tried regain spot No luckthe ship couldnt penetrate landed just outside cir cle Eds time about 30 sec short Toms As can see photos both pilots dis played super sportsmanship congratulating other Makes person proud associ ated gentlemen like two Third Unlimited taken Bumoski fly ing Dohie F3B ship Fourth through sixth went Walt Hill Al Scidmore Paul Carlson respectively Paul flying new threemeter design called Questor has nicelooking glass fuselage polyhedral foam wings Selig airfoils flaps launching landing Paul pleased its performance hopes have kit out early next year Most Nats regulars feel Old Home Wre proud announce TATONE PRODUCTS CORPORATION has acquired CB ASSOCIATES PRESIDENT TATONE PRODUCTS CORP L EXTRA 230 SPAN 76 AREA 900 sq POWER 4 stroke 120 PO BOX 3076 OAK RIDGE TENNESSEE 37830 Tel 615482-6188 Week aspects important competi tion Friday night banquet time gab bing razzing friends applauding winners everybody attends Awards three nice plaques Scale 13 Open classes Junior Robbie Seniors Steve Rolly received plaques also course addition awards class placing Soaring presents four very special awards other achievement $1000 Scholarship excellence Two-Meter Class Junior Senior Steve Clasen Modesto CA chosen receive award Hi Johnson Trophy highest score class As have seen Ed Berton Tom Neilson tied 3483 points trophy awarded Tom because flyoff win will no doubt ultimately remembered tie Lee Renaud Trophy highest total score three classes won Al Scid popular gentleman placed fifth Unlimited fourth Standard 12th TwoMeter Al along Carl Mohs does lot good work annual MARCS Symposium Everyone pleased see Al win presti gious award Also running Brian Agnew Terry Edmonds Jim Thomas Tom Neilson Dan Pruss Team Trophy new year originated Dans club SOAR honor Dans contributions Soaring foster team spirit presented three-man team earning highest total placings class team members must belong same AMA chartered club actual trophy large plaque will mounted wall AMA Headquarters year names win ning team members will inscribed brass plate affixed plaque team mem bers receive plaques keep 25 teams entered Portland Area Sail plane Societys three-man team became first win award Tom Nielson first Unlimited Tom Brightbill second TwoMeter Dave Johnson sixth Two-Meter team members captured lustre placings add up nine points lowest being best case score will likely stand years Im sure would also have won last year Lake Charles although best placings much less impressive 12th 2nd 6th 20 points Congratulations guys year AMA holds National Static Show prior Nats total 15 trophies awarded various categories Three plaques won Tom Nielsons Windsong Built Craig Robinson Portland OR cabinetmaker trade took Best Sailplane Best Craftsmanship Best Finish un doubtedly beautifully finished Sailplane Ive ever seen MonoKoted wings nary ripple nor sign balsa grain Tom says can actually tell feel difference between plane flies ordinary Windsongs special award made banquet AMA Executive Director John Worth Carl Beth Goldberg Vital Person Award Carl Beth wanted recognize people really make hobby tick seldom get recognized year person selected Tom Kozel Tom assistant event director ran Scale competition year Well done Tom Finally Id like make own Special Per son Award No hardware no cashjust hearty Well done SP award goes Jim Thomas Heres Jim flew three classes plus Scale 20th Unlimited Continued page 154 Designed Ken Willard ea mader 4 New Kit CAJUN TWO STEP INTERMEDIATE TRAINER Slows walk yet Fully Acrobatic Complete Kit 899S 56 wingTail 4 40 LengibTiger 40 Engine 4 lbsNew Deluxe Kit 4CH16495 Fiber Glass Fuse & Belly Pan Foam wing & Stab Balsa & Plywood 72 wing 800 sq Dealer inquiries invited Cajun RIG Products 112 Rosie SI Lafayetle LA 70508 13181 232-7446 Extra 230 Kits Available Now Three Sizes 1/3 Scale 96 wing span $20995 Iplus $15 shipping 300/0 Scale 87 wing span $19995 Iplus $15 shipping 1/4 Scale 72 Y4 wing span $16995 plus $8 shipping Stand off scale ity parts wings a fuselage 712-943-4102 Cash y Order ified Check ge Cards November 1987 151 Flies off both land waterl Crisply die-cut balsa lite ply parts complete hardware easy sembly sensible engineering clear plans photo illustrated assembly manual Complete Catalog $200 ordered direct add $200 Handling NL116 W 19th St POBox 511 E6 Higginsville MO 37 call 816 584-7121 Composite Construction Balsa Fuse w/Fiberglass Top Deck Chin Cowl & Belly Pan Foam wing & Hwd Ask about Kit & Eng Combos Order NowRIC EXTRAS ChristmasRR 1 Box 28B Sergeant Bluff IA 51054 ATT- CHEK2 ON-Board Battery Tester Saves Time. Saves Models BA1TCHEKRX-1 $1495 ein USA Install RO Models Check receiver battery status press button Small Light 1/2 oz Precise Rugged ORDER TODAY dealer Protune corp 914 462-6452 PO Box 1808 Poughkeepaie NY 12601 Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 151 third Standard seventh Two-Meter Dodgson planes scores placed him fourth Lee Renaud Trophy addition flying worked transmitter impound continuously between flights have tried will understand difficult main tain concentration flying preoccu pied doing something else Great job Jim Dan Pruss Team Trophy win other high plac usgs Dodgson planes will make Bob very happy manufacturer Portland guys have flown Bobs planes exclusively years As matter fact Windsong its smaller rela tives Camano Pixie appear kit airplanes choice serious contest flier days didnt make formal count must have about three dozen Dodgson planes contest Also aileron equipped planes continue gain popularity Nats goers last years Nats estimated about third planes ai lerons year Id guess proportion pushing half blustery tempest-ridden fly ing conditions faced Lincoln summer ailerons indeed blessing 1987 Natsand certainly its Soaring competitionshad its quota ups downs fliers got pretty tense wrung out times sure didnt have much chance boredthe wind weather provided drama suspense spare despite crashes caused wind think everyone would agree great time Next years Nats scheduled Virginia Beach VA Hope see final note Carl Mohs wants remind Sailplaners Fifth Annual Sailplane Sym posium coming up October 31 November 1 outstanding speakers have lined up Some know about include Walt Good Mi chael Selig Roland Stull Tom Runge Pete Wa ters Joe Wurts Leon Kincaid Madison WI symposium continues draw people year Time short write Carl its best call him information day num ber 608 233-8888 evenings its 238-2321 Room reservations Ramada symposium held can made call ing 1-800-356-7476 608 244-2481 Identify yourself symposium participant spe cial block rooms Nats CL Aerobat/Fancher Continued page 59 An international flavor added presence Kazuharo Minato former member Japanese World Championship team Jeff Reeves filled similar spot Australian team Both attended lovely wives Petite Miako Minato spoke almost no English ever Jeff taught say Gday mate along bubbly personality made hit Awards Banquet Beautiful Jenny Reeves served judge second year row expert critical eye pat tern complemented pilots appreciation eye-catching appearance array talent add eight former National Champions 15 total victories amongst 35 40 others just waiting chance break top ranks begin realize difficult task facing both competitors officialsContinued page 1S6 154 Model Aviation ATITOGIRO OuiiItLII,y umorout ruLe, flUtU9~ noun upouauou 57 too US Navy during aviations Golden Age Kit teatuiu Iniection-molded plastic parts Monofilament rigging rehensive instructions l military decal markings SEND $3 FOR COMPLETE COLOR CATALOG MA 181 PAWNEE STREET SAN MARCOS CA 92069 ILL~ NEW $425AVAILABLE AT AMERICAS$425 FINEST HOBBY SHOPS DISTRIBUTED BY BB S1MdflflII END WDYRZUD 7550 Sar Geb,eI Road oadero CA 93422 480-1717

RC Soaring Byron Blakeslee IT WILL LONG remembered its high drama low weather stalwart fliers 1987 Soaring Nats dogged some perverse extremes weather Nats recent memory Plagued winds rains temperature swings contestants needed ingenuity survive Well tell about weatherwhich after heightened dramabefore describing exciting climax sorted out winners losers after week intense flying Actually no real los ers Everyone hero battle against weather demons Before getting further story ever AMA Soaring officials con testants wish thank Mr Norm LeGrande use flying site fact third time Nats Soaring event has flown Norm Hendricks sod farm property another Hendricks fields having used 1979 1982 familiar Soaring Nats works concept very simple con test runs Tuesday through Friday two rounds per day seven-minute International Du ration Scoring point per second up ex actly seven minutes loss point per second thereafter landing inside 82-ft-dia circle adds 100 bonus points maximum score therefore 420 points flight plus 100 landing making 520 points total Eight rounds add up maximum possible 4160 points contest Three sizes Sailplanes plus Scale Gliders flown Nats Soaring event classes assigned according wingspan follows Under Two-Meter 78 Under 100 Standard Class Over 100 Unlimited addition three age groups Junior under 15 Senior 15 19 Open mostly old folks Open 90 entries Un limited 89 Standard 85 Two-Meter However 264 entries yielded 112 ac tual fliersmost contestants like enter two three classes get moneys worth describe Junior Senior turnout sparse would understatement Junior flier12-year-old Robbie Edson Colorado Robbie flew Sagitta Standard Unlimited classes Senior age group just two contestants Steve Clasen Rolly Kardian Both flew three classes Steve taking win Sail plane flying general Nats Soaring par ticular booming nobody seems have answer attract Juniors Sen iors freshen its ranks Any suggestions would warmly welcomed Soaring far largest event Nats new frequencies spoken way back March know Sailplaners waited too long send entry forms couldnt get frequency knows big event will number frequencies increased will probably limited time constralnts running large number entries through eight rounds current procedure organize total 267 entries 15 flight groups 17 18 fliers group group made up fliers assigned available frequencies eliminate danger two transmitters same frequency being use same time no flier other group allowed fly until fliers previous group have returned morning different group picked lot start day fliers group pick up transmitters frequency pins proceed di rectly famous funnel end funnel waits Flight Line Director Dave Haer tel assigns flier four winches Dave winch masters event directors stay constantly touch hand radio happening next flight group assembles ready area next trans mitter impound As transmitters pilots have finished flights come back im Left Don Clark prepares launch Sagitta Walt Good gets set time Both long-time modelers two-thirds team invented Thermic Sniffler Right Dan Fink R discusses Standard-class-winning Panteria Jim Deck Model Larry Jolly kit 52 Model Aviation AMA NATSN oln Nebraska tired happy Soaring officials just after finishing up event Front row beginning left Fran Olix Betsy Coppersmith Carol Seydel Bonny Bomgardner Jim Thomas Walt Roucher Back row Tom Kozel Ross Butterfield Steve Dworsky Frank Nestor Dave Haertel Mike Mitchel Jack Berry did outstanding job together orchestrated largest event Nationals highest level professionalism h Left Helmut Lelke Heidi 2-meter ship plane electrostatically stabilized both roll pitch same model per formed well Helmut 1985 Nats Westover Look info upcoming Soaring column Model Aviation Right Last years Nats winner Leon Kincaid three sizes famous Scooter design lookout kitted Ace RC Left two lady Soaring entries left Ruby Keer Gentle Lady right Betsy Coppersmith Pantera Betsy also acted chief scorer Right Robbie Edson lone Junior flier entered Sagitta both Standard Unlimited classes Len uerry rana noias nis originsi tanaara ana z-ueter aesigns rhe Stanoara-ciass unameicon piacea secona Hignt mis i97 Heler fleld aioft builder flier Scott Dukes took top honors Scale Model Krick kit took lot nerve fly Scale brutal winds pound pins put ready groups transmitters fliers move fun nel group following ready group assem bles standby area procedure necessary make certain flights can run off day course wouldnt work cooperation contestants Again year people very upbeat complimentary about way contest organized run Event Director Fran Olix introduced new wrinlde yearthe pink card re cording names official flight timers Frans way coping requirementin ef fect last few yearsthat flight per class have different official timer thats going its too possible forget timed flight three days ago pink cards timers names class flight can inserted right spot Timers way premium 115 people flying 267 flights per round fliers too intent own flying find spare moments timing others flights Speaking time giving its appro priate subject contests admin istration recognize officials winch masters others donate time such great job rest us can compete Theyd rather flying too third straight year core group Valley Forge Signal Seekers has run Soaring event Fran Olix Assistant Director Tom Kozel Chief Scorer Betsy Coppersmith Computer Operator Carl Luft other scorers impound peo ple winch operators deserve big hand November 1987 53 Left Jim Thomas took third Scale Minimoa Participation Scale always popular spectators up year 10 en tries Right Brian Agnew 2-Meter-winning Sagitta 600 BrIan Flanked dad John left Paul Carison right Left Tom Neilson three static show trophies won Windsong plane built Craig Robinson both hail Portland club Right Ed Berton awaits final regular flight timer Carl Raichie offers advice flying windy conditions Well done gals guys following officials hand photo taken Carl Luft Ken Mitchel Bob Hekrale Dan Budde Now account 1987 Nats weather biggest adversary Lincoln fliers reckon elements summer week Lincoln generally inhospitable un predictable just plain tough fly prevailing summer winds Lincoln south few days before Nats week however winds blowing quite freshly north owing weather sys tem covering large part midwest Antici pating return normalcy Fran first set field up winches pointed south Weather reports Monday indicated elements going second event di rectors shrewd guess winds expected continue northas indeed did So crew switched everything field 54 Model Aviation Left Event director Fran Olix R explains flyoff procedure Ed Berton L Tom Nelison C flyoff resulted dramatic finishes recent Nats history see text details can seen right both finished tops sportsmanship 180 O Come Tueday morning Flight Service Weather said likely get winds south day Fran crew out 6 am turning everything around again Well winds started after about first two groups flown guess direction Yup north Everybody groanedand next group unfortunate experience downwind launches what looked like small cold front came scudding along clouding sky com pletely over bringing along some rains lasted about 1030 1145 Along forced intermission flying also got quite chilly people dressed hot dry weather real bummer cleared up nicely better windsfinallywere com ing along south rest day blew pretty steady 15 mph higher gusts time time rainstorm really smoothed out wind patterns Wednesday beautiful day winds stayed south fairly light course normal cy cles excellent lift directly followed terrible sink waiting funnel watching plane sky going out sight thought Let up now trouble time got head funnel assigned winch got launched good air long gone Wednesday evenings weather forecast sounded ominops winds expected crease speed Sure enough started blowing mid-morning Thursday continued through rest contest blew about 20 30 mph Thursday afternoon Friday morning down bit rest day blew stronger Thursday Winds high blew thermals pretty well nonexistence strategy keep nose pointed wind try find some sort wave action Some ventured down wind Some made back field some didnt planes crashed during launch ing landing Since nobody practices conditions fliers no precedents go everything new experience ex treme conditions seemed prove thing though must building wings stronger used didnt see wings fold launch due structural failure Scale scheduled noon break Thursday postponement until Friday morn ing considered due wind Since rule books criteria 40 mph however obvi ously unrealistic Sailplanes show went just well because conditions no better Friday Scale winner Scott Dukes Longmont CO beautiful 1937 Reier took first static judging model built German Krick kit spans 125 about 14-scale relation its 19-meter proto type Second place went Dave Elias West Palm Beach Kestrel 19 plane has rudder/elevator controls Dave did fine job flying wind Kestrel took third static second flying points Jim Thomas third-place winner /5-scale Minimoa first flight points flew remarkably smoothly under such windy con ditions Ed Whytes quarter-scale TG-3 really big Scale ship contest year placed fourth Total Scale entries 10 twice last year Perhaps starting see up surge interest category hope because Scale always favorite Continued page 149 November 1987 55 winners first Dan Pruss Memorial Team Trophy Representing Portland Area Sailplane Society L R Dave Johnson Tom Brightbiil Tom Nelison Rich Burnoski L made presentation behalf SOAR Club Fran Olix looks rear Al Scidmore winner prestigious Lee Ranaud Memorial Trophy left Tom Kozel Fran Olix background AMAs Jeff Troy right made presentation Steve Clasen recipient Sid Axeirod Scholarship outstanding achievement 2-meter class Junior Senior Tom Kozel L Fran Olix presented award Nats RC Pylon/Veager Continued page 145 taken over Just like body disappears Must time go home dont wanna go home lots things remember about Pylon Racing Nats year Ill just run through struck Meeting giant full-size aircraft world Burt Rutan visited site twice very impressed racing asked questions about building techniques materials Equipment failures caused several reflies something guarantee will corrected again course changes Quarter Midget Bill Millers Formula entry repainted very bright day-gb orange Bill could see F-4 Phantoms continually practiced touch-and-goes blasted everyone off seats after burners loudest things Ive ever heard except some Harriers all-girl crew staffed lap cage daya crew Id take day No fense guys girls dream crew because performed faultlessly guys seemed lessen up came time question cuts stuff Combat model flyaway wrapped itself around power lines provided great fireworks display before shutting down Nats headquarters Lin coln Sky Knights Club members worked hard ever having seen Pylon Race before kept coming back great guys However best people went Out way com pliment us thank us giving six good days racing people Id again anytime See ya next year Virginia Beach Nats RC Scale/Wischers Continued page 51 time Mustang monopo lized competition year three en tered Nats Lee Rice places fifth North American P-51D Mustang built Royal kit A-scale sixth place see very unusual 14-scale model Art Chesters Jeep has 52-in wingspan has built Jewel Ness Coverite kit powered Saito 45 four-stroke engine winner Sportsman class Bruce Tharpe Citabria Sig kit engine Saito 45 four-stroke seeond place Waco UMF-3 Pica kit powered Super tigre X-60 engine Its builder Elmer Herbran son remember early association RC modeling 30 years ago Elmer two Nats Scale trophy winners flight score higher static score other Greg Namey Expert class Third place Sportsman won Wayne Siewert entry scratch-built Mooney M2OK all-balsa construction modeled after Mooney Porsche engine %-scale wingspan 88 models engine Enya 120 four-stroke After FAT team selection trials week ear lier FAI portion Nats something letdown expected six entries reduced four due attrition during trials Beeause Nats using current FAI rules team trials using 1988 FAI rules quite difference complexity bonuses between two competitions ex ample Skip Masts Lockheed C-130 Hercules jumps 15% 3056 becomes Nats winner Steve Sauger s Stinson Trimotor 230-point leap static score over previous week addition 25% bonus places second Bob Wischers 10%-bonus Douglas Mailplane places third Gary Underhills Bristol M-l fourth Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 55 crowd pilots received nice hand upon safely touching down Everybody realized much intestinal fortitude required put lovingly-built beauties up such dangerous conditions extreme winds Thursday Friday raised havoc standings other classes leaders coming down two-minute nights Getting landing far automatic leader board being juggled up down good clip usual Nats top guys put eight flights close max 520 points per flight contest leaders scoring order 300 points over last four flights Few oth ers course doing better Most pilots contention chose scratch last four flights Notwithstanding foregoing commentary shuffling among leaders TwoMeter Standard winners established positions fairly early hung win pretty good margins Whats really amazing both top guys flying polyhedral rudder/elevator planes strong winds straight-wing aileron ships definite advan tage because superior roll control especially true during landing ground gusts bouncing plane over youre just trying get down right-side-up Two-Meter first four rounds close race between last years winner Paul Carl son last years runner-up Brian Agnew Paul flying same Prodigy caused such sensation last year cant af ford new onehis Off Ground Models com pany produces kit Brian also flew same ship last year Sagitta 600 Paul led through fourth round slipped back 298 Brians 520 Round Five Brian averaged just 290 points per flight over last three good enough hold off Tom Brightbill Terry Edmonds finNovember 1987 149 SUNBIRD SENSATION WITH STYLE Sunbird combines eye opening performance truly distinctive styling terrific flying design Whether choose 40 size Sunbird 10 Sunbird Jr youll find Sunbird perfect sport plane fl PRECISION EEEPRODUCTS INC 714 592-5144 510 E Arrow Highway San Dimas CA 91773 FOR 25 TO 45 ENGINES RADIO CONTROL SHORT KIT DESIGNED AROUND FOAM CORE WING AND BOX FRAME FUSELAGE FOR SIMPLE AND STURDY CONSTRUCTION SHORT 1013 INCLUDE WING CORES CANOPIES COWLS PLANS ENGINE MOUNTS FIRE WALLS MOLDED MISC PARTS SHORT HA RD WA RE PA CKA GE AND MATERIALS LIST FOR ADDITIONAL BALSA AND HARDWARE NEEDED AGM2 ZERO 54 SPAN 2990 P40 TOMAHAWK55 SPAN. 2995 P39 AIRA COBRA 55 SPAN . 2990 P-Sb MUSTANG 54 SPAN . 2990 C202 FOL GORE 56 SPAN 990 FOCKE WULF 190 54 SPAN 2990 INVADER 7NIN 68 495 P-38 LIGHTNING 7WIN 70. 6490 ORDERING SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR REDUIRED AMOUNT PLUS $450 PER KIT CANADIANS ADD $675 TO WING MFG PD BOX 33 CRYSTAL LAKE IL 60014 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ADD 65% SALES TAX ORDERS MUST BE IN US FUNDS SEND $350 FOR PRODUCT CATALOG VISIT OUR OUTLET STORE AT 15 MORGAN STREET IN CRYSTAL LAKE IL uTg1IIiUIif1 ets enjoy outdoorsin comfort Little World Comfort Hot Burning Summer Days Convenient Size Portable Shade Thats Quick Set Up Change Instantly Give Protection Weather Size 72 x 12060 sq Add units double triple etc.the size ot Porta-Shade available Add units can used trailer awnings patio covers etc Potta-Strade convenient size has nu center poie useable space can straddle picnic table model airplane small nenicle canopy strong heat retlecting waterproot material Iwbite tsp sidel unique tear proot cornet littings no grommeto stands almost 7 tatl strong t alunrinam poles can stand woth play under comlon vend resiutanttested 1040 MPH Pona-shatte very last antt easy install beach picoc moantainnor anywhere wart protect trom elements Set op nery quick person can doit about 5 minutes can adjusted easily against sun can set up vertically winobreak 4M Co Dept M 814 N Shawnee Dewey OK 74029 Phone 918-534-2244 r HAS MOVED INTO LARGER QUARTERS 21658 Cloud Way Hayward CA 94545 CAL 415 783-4868 Out CAL 800 482-8663 Master Card Money Orders ks Dealer inqairies invited 9 Sportsman ModetPFR4-60 $3995 e $3 UPS Economy Model EPFR4-60 $3295 v $3 UPS Avialable F direct select hobby shops ALL BALSA ARF KIT Features pre-assembled wood & ply fuselage veneered plug-in wings stab & rudder epoxy cowl Lexan canopy & Dural U/C details other Zimbabwe Model Products kits call write Full color deluxe catalog -$100 ZIMPRO MARKETING R pyes & tmporters ol Fine Alrican Preducls 1cu iviouei ished second third respectively Fred China Vancouver BC very good flights fifth sixth rounds pulled up second place 226 eighth round dropped him back fourth Paul finished eighth behind Rich ard Simpson Dave Johnson Jim Thomas Standard Dan Fink took lead third round cruised 140-point win over Gerry Arana Jim Thomas finished third followed Al Scidmore Scott Dukes What note worthy Dan flying Larry Jolly Pantera Gerry original Chameleon Al Sagitta 900all polyhedral ships Jim pilot ing Bob Dodgson Camano Scott straight-wing Airtronics Cumic Dan couldnt get enough ballast inside plane resorted taping pound lead top fuselage Nevertheless Pantera did well him came within eight points contests high score real dramatics came after last flight Friday usual announcement made transmitters would released until scores checked tiesa formality case flyoff required determine trophy posi tion time announcement pop ular already 530 wind blowing 30 mph everyone hot tired dying shower However word came Carl Luft computer trailer indeed tie first place Unlimitedpeople jolted attention Wow Tom Neilson Portland Ed Berton Florida tied 3487 points Fran called Ed Tom together ex plained flyoff would same sevenminute task 100-point graduated land ing tape instead just in/out Since ferocious winds going prevent either flier get ting max landing would extremely im portant Ed won coin toss elected launch sec ond would try follow cover Tom Tom launched usual go-for-broke style flew Out east over highway found some waves earlier nothing doingall could keep Windsongs nose wind try get back landing circle Tom couldnt make cir cle landed 249 flight time Ed launched knew Tom missed landing Ed opening needed required about twominute flight good landing carefully steered over downwind side circle just keeping nose Windsong straight wind hovering about 20 ft up two minutes landing looked nailed As done hundreds times before Ed low ered flaps landing plane backed up wind lost airspeed started drop Ed quickly raised flaps got nose down tried regain spot No luckthe ship couldnt penetrate landed just outside cir cle Eds time about 30 sec short Toms As can see photos both pilots dis played super sportsmanship congratulating other Makes person proud associ ated gentlemen like two Third Unlimited taken Bumoski fly ing Dohie F3B ship Fourth through sixth went Walt Hill Al Scidmore Paul Carlson respectively Paul flying new threemeter design called Questor has nicelooking glass fuselage polyhedral foam wings Selig airfoils flaps launching landing Paul pleased its performance hopes have kit out early next year Most Nats regulars feel Old Home Wre proud announce TATONE PRODUCTS CORPORATION has acquired CB ASSOCIATES PRESIDENT TATONE PRODUCTS CORP L EXTRA 230 SPAN 76 AREA 900 sq POWER 4 stroke 120 PO BOX 3076 OAK RIDGE TENNESSEE 37830 Tel 615482-6188 Week aspects important competi tion Friday night banquet time gab bing razzing friends applauding winners everybody attends Awards three nice plaques Scale 13 Open classes Junior Robbie Seniors Steve Rolly received plaques also course addition awards class placing Soaring presents four very special awards other achievement $1000 Scholarship excellence Two-Meter Class Junior Senior Steve Clasen Modesto CA chosen receive award Hi Johnson Trophy highest score class As have seen Ed Berton Tom Neilson tied 3483 points trophy awarded Tom because flyoff win will no doubt ultimately remembered tie Lee Renaud Trophy highest total score three classes won Al Scid popular gentleman placed fifth Unlimited fourth Standard 12th TwoMeter Al along Carl Mohs does lot good work annual MARCS Symposium Everyone pleased see Al win presti gious award Also running Brian Agnew Terry Edmonds Jim Thomas Tom Neilson Dan Pruss Team Trophy new year originated Dans club SOAR honor Dans contributions Soaring foster team spirit presented three-man team earning highest total placings class team members must belong same AMA chartered club actual trophy large plaque will mounted wall AMA Headquarters year names win ning team members will inscribed brass plate affixed plaque team mem bers receive plaques keep 25 teams entered Portland Area Sail plane Societys three-man team became first win award Tom Nielson first Unlimited Tom Brightbill second TwoMeter Dave Johnson sixth Two-Meter team members captured lustre placings add up nine points lowest being best case score will likely stand years Im sure would also have won last year Lake Charles although best placings much less impressive 12th 2nd 6th 20 points Congratulations guys year AMA holds National Static Show prior Nats total 15 trophies awarded various categories Three plaques won Tom Nielsons Windsong Built Craig Robinson Portland OR cabinetmaker trade took Best Sailplane Best Craftsmanship Best Finish un doubtedly beautifully finished Sailplane Ive ever seen MonoKoted wings nary ripple nor sign balsa grain Tom says can actually tell feel difference between plane flies ordinary Windsongs special award made banquet AMA Executive Director John Worth Carl Beth Goldberg Vital Person Award Carl Beth wanted recognize people really make hobby tick seldom get recognized year person selected Tom Kozel Tom assistant event director ran Scale competition year Well done Tom Finally Id like make own Special Per son Award No hardware no cashjust hearty Well done SP award goes Jim Thomas Heres Jim flew three classes plus Scale 20th Unlimited Continued page 154 Designed Ken Willard ea mader 4 New Kit CAJUN TWO STEP INTERMEDIATE TRAINER Slows walk yet Fully Acrobatic Complete Kit 899S 56 wingTail 4 40 LengibTiger 40 Engine 4 lbsNew Deluxe Kit 4CH16495 Fiber Glass Fuse & Belly Pan Foam wing & Stab Balsa & Plywood 72 wing 800 sq Dealer inquiries invited Cajun RIG Products 112 Rosie SI Lafayetle LA 70508 13181 232-7446 Extra 230 Kits Available Now Three Sizes 1/3 Scale 96 wing span $20995 Iplus $15 shipping 300/0 Scale 87 wing span $19995 Iplus $15 shipping 1/4 Scale 72 Y4 wing span $16995 plus $8 shipping Stand off scale ity parts wings a fuselage 712-943-4102 Cash y Order ified Check ge Cards November 1987 151 Flies off both land waterl Crisply die-cut balsa lite ply parts complete hardware easy sembly sensible engineering clear plans photo illustrated assembly manual Complete Catalog $200 ordered direct add $200 Handling NL116 W 19th St POBox 511 E6 Higginsville MO 37 call 816 584-7121 Composite Construction Balsa Fuse w/Fiberglass Top Deck Chin Cowl & Belly Pan Foam wing & Hwd Ask about Kit & Eng Combos Order NowRIC EXTRAS ChristmasRR 1 Box 28B Sergeant Bluff IA 51054 ATT- CHEK2 ON-Board Battery Tester Saves Time. Saves Models BA1TCHEKRX-1 $1495 ein USA Install RO Models Check receiver battery status press button Small Light 1/2 oz Precise Rugged ORDER TODAY dealer Protune corp 914 462-6452 PO Box 1808 Poughkeepaie NY 12601 Nats RC Soaring/Blakeslee Continued page 151 third Standard seventh Two-Meter Dodgson planes scores placed him fourth Lee Renaud Trophy addition flying worked transmitter impound continuously between flights have tried will understand difficult main tain concentration flying preoccu pied doing something else Great job Jim Dan Pruss Team Trophy win other high plac usgs Dodgson planes will make Bob very happy manufacturer Portland guys have flown Bobs planes exclusively years As matter fact Windsong its smaller rela tives Camano Pixie appear kit airplanes choice serious contest flier days didnt make formal count must have about three dozen Dodgson planes contest Also aileron equipped planes continue gain popularity Nats goers last years Nats estimated about third planes ai lerons year Id guess proportion pushing half blustery tempest-ridden fly ing conditions faced Lincoln summer ailerons indeed blessing 1987 Natsand certainly its Soaring competitionshad its quota ups downs fliers got pretty tense wrung out times sure didnt have much chance boredthe wind weather provided drama suspense spare despite crashes caused wind think everyone would agree great time Next years Nats scheduled Virginia Beach VA Hope see final note Carl Mohs wants remind Sailplaners Fifth Annual Sailplane Sym posium coming up October 31 November 1 outstanding speakers have lined up Some know about include Walt Good Mi chael Selig Roland Stull Tom Runge Pete Wa ters Joe Wurts Leon Kincaid Madison WI symposium continues draw people year Time short write Carl its best call him information day num ber 608 233-8888 evenings its 238-2321 Room reservations Ramada symposium held can made call ing 1-800-356-7476 608 244-2481 Identify yourself symposium participant spe cial block rooms Nats CL Aerobat/Fancher Continued page 59 An international flavor added presence Kazuharo Minato former member Japanese World Championship team Jeff Reeves filled similar spot Australian team Both attended lovely wives Petite Miako Minato spoke almost no English ever Jeff taught say Gday mate along bubbly personality made hit Awards Banquet Beautiful Jenny Reeves served judge second year row expert critical eye pat tern complemented pilots appreciation eye-catching appearance array talent add eight former National Champions 15 total victories amongst 35 40 others just waiting chance break top ranks begin realize difficult task facing both competitors officialsContinued page 1S6 154 Model Aviation ATITOGIRO OuiiItLII,y umorout ruLe, flUtU9~ noun upouauou 57 too US Navy during aviations Golden Age Kit teatuiu Iniection-molded plastic parts Monofilament rigging rehensive instructions l military decal markings SEND $3 FOR COMPLETE COLOR CATALOG MA 181 PAWNEE STREET SAN MARCOS CA 92069 ILL~ NEW $425AVAILABLE AT AMERICAS$425 FINEST HOBBY SHOPS DISTRIBUTED BY BB S1MdflflII END WDYRZUD 7550 Sar Geb,eI Road oadero CA 93422 480-1717