CL Precision Aerobatics
Frank McMillan, 12106 Gunter Grv., San Antonio TX 78231
As I reflect on the Nationals each year, I realize that each has its own character. A theme emerges, and carries through the week of competition.
As some had predicted, this proved to be a year of "surprise" and "youth." New faces rose to prominence, and potential was fulfilled. It was really exciting to watch the reaction of those whose performances were rewarded.
The competition kicked off with a full day of fun Monday, July 10. While Beginner and Intermediate PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association) skill classes were competing on the wonderful grass circles, Old-Time and Classic were hard at it on the "L-pad" area of the site.
The weather was cool with some rain early, but aside from some wind, it was a good day.
Old-Time
Old-Time had a list of well-known entries, many with airplanes that had seen "the wars" a few times.
As he did in 1998, Charles Reeves of Paducah KY had a close victory. He flew his beautiful Stunt Wagon 60 with an excellent-running Fox .59 that "barks" as it should.
Second place—three points behind first—was Keith Trostle. In contrast, Keith modeled a British design, a Pagan, which had the look of an old AMA Team Racer. Powered by an O.S. .25, the Pagan flew extremely well and had the nicest corners I've seen in a nonflapped design.
Classic
Classic had some real twists and turns. John Simpson was clearly in the lead after the first round, flying his Cavalier with an Aero Tiger .36—a powerful combination.
The second round was another story. Recovering from engine problems, Ted Fancher flew his excellent Chizler to a well-deserved third place.
As has happened many times in Classic, a great effort on the last flight of the day pulled it out. Gary Phelps (a former US team member), ably aided by his wife Mary, flew his beautiful Tucker Special/Webra .32 combination "on the money," to edge out John Simpson's first-round score.
It was really "Team Phelps" day; Gary was also awarded a well-deserved Concours D' Elegance award for his Tucker.
Beginner and Intermediate (PAMPA skill classes)
As he has for many years, Allen Brickhaus ran the Beginner event with tireless enthusiasm. Junior and Senior classes were combined, and Zack Starr emerged as the winner. Zack followed in his dad Steve's path; Steve won Open Beginner in 1993.
Rich Peabody directed the Intermediate event. After only a few years, this skill class has taken hold, offering a niche for everyone who wants to come and participate in the Nationals.
- Mike McHenry took first place in Intermediate.
- John Paris was second in spite of an overrun.
- Paul Eaton was third.
Bob Brookins' model was selected as pilots' choice for appearance.
Senior Keith Fletcher was the class winner, with a nice-flying Oriental.
Advanced
The Advanced class features as much heated competition as the Open class. The fliers go through the same elimination to arrive at the top 20, who fly off for the final placings.
There were visitors from overseas in this event. Germanico Becerril came from Puerto Rico with Alberto Haber and family, to place eighth. Germanico had a nice Chipmunk Acro semiscale on a smooth-running pipe setup.
John Benzing and Paul Winter came from England, and John performed well.
In the Advanced finals, just as in the Open-class finals, the wind really started to howl, causing nearly 2/3 of the fliers to pass on the second round. There was excellent flying in the early qualifying. Steve Millet's new SV-22 with a Pagi/pipe was working very well. Muncie IN native Allen Goff got his new SV-12 trimmed, and it was locked in. Spectacular color marked Dave Midgley's new Tradition, with the venerable ST .60.
Friday's finals belonged to Dallas's Mike Scott, who won the event. Mike is Bob Gieseke's protege, and he flew a version of Bob's Bear design with one of the new PA .65s with pipe.
Mike had planned to compete with a new airplane, but that didn't work out. However, the power and characteristics of the .65 improved his older model. As Mike put it, "the engine just went wonderfully right from the start."
Rounding out the top five:
- Mike Scott — winner
- John Benzing — second
- Jeff Anderson — third
- Doug Moon — fourth (flew another version of the Gieseke Bear; now in kit form with laser-cut ribs)
- Traian Morosan — fifth (with a nice new SV-12)
Watch out if Traian gets an airplane with a lot of flights on it!
Open Competition
Open competition evolves throughout four days of competition. During the qualification rounds Thursday and Friday, competitors essentially take stock of where they stand and how their group is distributed.
(The pilots are divided into two groups, which stick circles but remain together; 10 fliers advance to the finals from each pack.)
With so many new, really good fliers this year, the initial distributor, or seeding, was difficult; the circular rotation showed some tightly packed scores. The scores from each elimination round only count in that round (i.e., qualifications, finals, and Open championship). Some excellent fliers were disappointed, and each flight counted.
Bob Gieseke brought out the '98 Bear with the PA .65, and was obviously very comfortable; he scored well.
Curt Contrata showed off his Stunt News (PAMPA newsletter) cover model, and put in more practice than anyone.
Bob McDonald's yellow P-47 racer with PA .65 was working smoothly, and Bill Rich signaled that he was going to be a real racer.
Former top-five qualifier Kirk Mullinix had a beautiful new airplane with the ever-present PA .61/pipe. Matt Neumann—of Stuka Stunt Team fame—had a beautiful Impact-based Stuka in the front appearance row, and it flew as well as it looked!
As the second day of qualifying progressed, the final picture started to materialize. Many familiar names emerged. Windy Urtnowski had a gorgeous new Miss Ashley on a Jett .60/pipe, and Bob Whiteley had a slick semiscale Shoestring. Bob did a major retrim between qualifying rounds.
Ted Fancher and his well-known Final Edition were on top, but Todd Lee made everyone look. He flew a much-modified Sig Magnum that looked like a P-51B with dihedral.
The stage was finally set for Friday—the toughest day in Stunt. As one of the leading fliers said, "it's all survival 'til Friday." The challenge was greater this time, with the gusty, swirling winds.
Brett Buck complained about his number-one draw; however, the wind hadn't begun, so his score held up for the rounds. When I was competing a few flights later, a 14 x 14-foot tent flew 20 yards into an adjoining cornfield.
By the end of the first round (10 flights), the air was so "heavy" that some competitors asked for a velocity check. It was within the limit, but was predicted to increase, so the round continued after a slight delay. Three pilots passed on their second flights. Since both flight rounds count, the final five competitors hung on who would "gut it out" in the severe conditions.
All scores went down, except for Todd Lee's; he flew after the break. It was a question of how well each flier's setup handled the wind.
There were numerous "interesting" maneuver shapes—especially on the overheads. One was down to 10 feet inverted.
Perhaps the toughest break was when Bill Rich experienced problems in the overheads. To record a relatively low second-round flight, Bill was flying extremely well and had a real shot at winning. He finished sixth.
Randy Smith had a new SV-22 with a PA .51, which gets better each time I see it. Randy flew very well for seventh.
In his best placing—eighth—Dan Banjoick impressed with his second-round wind flight, and Curt Contrata continued his impressive flying for ninth. Rounding out the top 10 was John Sunderland, who was steady all week. This was his first appearance in the top 10.
Open Championship and Walker Cup
The format of this year's Open championship was adjusted so that it was not merged with the Walker Cup activity. The final five Open pilots finished their competition, then the Open winner entered a flyoff with the Junior and Senior winners.
The conditions were good, so everyone looked forward to a group head-to-head competition.
Ted Fancher broke out early in the first round, with Brett Buck, Todd Lee, and I within a point of each other. Todd came back with a big second flight to get the lead, then Ted achieved the high score of the competition to edge him for first. Todd finished a well-deserved second.
Also in his first final-five competition, Brett Buck tied me for third place. Brett flew strong, as he has many times in the past. Windy Urtnowski flew to a well-earned fifth place.
The Junior and Senior competition took place while the Open final five was in progress. There were only three Junior entries, and Robert Gruber was a clear winner. In Senior, Kevin Stewart bested Keith Fletcher.
The Walker Cup flyoff—the symbol of the Nationals Stunt championships—was certainly climactic. Robert Gruber and Kevin Stewart flew credibly. Everyone who watched saw the future of Stunt, and it looks good if these two continue.
When it was finished, Ted Fancher was crowned the Nationals champion for the fourth time.
Earlier in the week, pilots voted for the airplane with the best appearance—a daunting task. Curt Contrata won for the first time. Congratulations, Curt!
1/2A Stunt (unofficial)
1/2A Stunt was back as an unofficial event. With eight entries, there were enough airplanes for everyone to have fun. Dale Berry took the initiative to start the event up again, and he had some really nice class trophies.
- Keith Trostle — winner (with a 25-year-old model)
- John Davis — second
- Jim Lee — third
Volunteers and Thanks
No major events run so smoothly without volunteers. Each year I marvel at the attention to detail and the commitment. They do it right!
- Event director: Warren Tjahart
- Assistant: Dave Cook
- Head judge: Gary McClellan
- Head tabulator: Sharon Fancher, ably assisted by Lisa Lee and Amy Lee
- Chief pit boss: Woody Midgley
Thanks to the many other judges, runners, and assistant event directors. We wouldn't be there without you.
'Til next year. MA
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