Control Line Speed
Dave Mark, Box 773, Fenton MI 48430; E-mail: [email protected]
REGISTRATION FOR the Speed events at the 76th AMA Control Line Nationals (Nats) was 35% lower than in the previous years. Many felt that this was because the Control Line World Championships was scheduled on the same dates. Many contestants who are not on the team attend the world meet as team supporters, which results in low attendance at the Nats. Those who did attend the Nats July 15-19 experienced good weather, warm temperatures, and great competition.
Monday was FAI Day, and 18 fliers completed 39 official flights in those events. First place in FAI Open Proto went to Warren Kurth. Before Warren put up a flight, he said that this year he had decided to give his StunBee powered Proto a try and he was not sure how it would do. He turned 110.99 on his first flight, and his slowest attempt was 110.25.
This man is a consistent competitor. Last year he took third with his CS-powered model at a speed of 110.72. Another sign of Warren's consistency is that this year was the 48th Nats in which he has competed and piloted his speed models.
Charlie Legg took second place with a speed of 108.78. He uses a one-blade propeller made from maple with a counterbalance on his home-built engine. He finished second in 2001 with this combination at a speed of 111.54. Third place went to Team Brown with a speed of 103.11. Team Brown used a Fogg carbon fiber model powered by an ABC .049.
First place for the Junior/Senior contestants in FAI Proto went to Scott Mason with a speed of 95.50. He also took first in 2001 with a time of 96.37. Second place went to James Vasant at 71.97.
In FAI Speed, Team Brown used all four of its attempts to post a speed of 145.04 on the fourth try, thus gaining first place. Its equipment as in past years uses a Fogg carbon fiber Sidewinder powered by an ABC engine on a muzzle.
Charlie Legg took second place with a speed of 138.71 using equipment that is the result of years of development. The model, engine, fuel tank, pipe, and single-blade propeller are all of his design and manufacture. Glen Vasant placed third with a time of 135.75. Many contestants said that the high heat and humidity were not allowing higher speeds as have been reached in past years.
In Junior/Senior 1/2A Speed, Scott Mason posted first at 98.33. James Vasant took second place with a speed of 65.13. Both of these young modelers look very comfortable in the pylon.
The hot, humid weather returned on Tuesday for the .21 Sport and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Speed events.
In .21 Sport, the NewMath team of John Newton and Joey Mathison used all four attempts to post a speed of 147.60 for first place. The two tried many propeller configurations and mixes but could not reproduce the speeds turned last year that put them in second place.
Al Stevens used all of his attempts to turn 150.44 for fourth place. Al and his pilot Chris Montagano added 1.2 mph on each trip to the circle. The propeller used on each attempt was painted a different color. Al said that it was the same propeller with only a color change.
Glenn Lee placed third by turning 151.07 on his last flight at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon.
North American Speed Society (NASS) treasurer Barry Tippett put his first flight up at 8:30 in the morning. Ken Bartell and I were the picture for Barry's flight. We were using a new wand to reach through the dolly to set the needle. The set was reached, and as I removed the wand from the needle, it turned the ring slightly. I reached over the wing and reset it and turned it loose. Barry then turned a personal best of 154.71 for second place.
Flying early in the day, the Brown team put in the fastest flight of the day at 155.91. It used an Aloise model powered by an ACE .21. The best air-density readings were taken in the early morning and late afternoon.
After the awards were handed out, John Newton congratulated Barry Tippett on his time of 154.71. Although Barry had beaten John's time, John was pleased that Barry had used his .21 Sport Speed kit to build his model.
There were three Junior/Seniors this year in .21 Sport. Zach Schoonover took third with a speed of 86.75. Second went to James Vasant with a time of 126.62. First place went to Scott Matson with 136.61. All of these fliers bettered their times from the 2001 Nats.
Four contestants entered FAI Speed this year. First place went to Chris Montagino, with a time of 175.17 for his Profi-powered model. Glen Vasant placed second with his Irvine-powered model with a speed of 171.68. Team Brown placed third at 154.59, and fourth place went to Jim Rhoades at 148.83.
On Wednesday the Nelson .29 was the engine of choice for B Speed, but first place went to an engine from the past. The Brown team used an ACE engine in a Bob Boggs-built model and set a record of 183.87. To everyone's amazement, the engine was found to be a .26. It was checked several times to determine if an error had been made, but it checked the same each time.
Second place went to Glenn Lee with 180.10. Glenn had used all three of his officials to find the correct propeller. James Vasant placed third with a speed of 176.74.
Newcomer Chuck Whitler placed fourth with a 165.37. His model was vibrating during the flight. Chuck said he learned that he had installed the Nelson balanced spinner incorrectly, thus causing the vibration. Glen Vasant took fifth at 164.46.
Four contestants managed to make official flights in A Speed. First place went to Team NewMath with a speed of 188.60 for its Profi-powered model. Second place went to Glen Vasant when his Irvine-powered model produced a speed of 185.87.
Team Brown took third place with 177.61, also with an Irvine. Chris Montagino took fourth with 163.86.
In the Junior/Senior age group, Scott Matson took first in A Speed at 128.88 and James Vasant was second at 88.89. In B Speed it was the same order: Scott was first at 124.86, and James was second at 105.59.
Thursday saw 13 contestants make official flights in Formula 40, with seven hitting speeds faster than 154 mph. Fast times were put up by Bill Capinida, 169.00; Marty Schoenheiter, 168.52; and Dave Dunn, 162.78.
Steve O'Donnell, owner of ProBlend Fuels, donated all the fuel used at the Speed races. NASS thanks Steve for his generosity in supporting Speed at the Nats and many other contests through the year.
Munici Ray Scout Troop 25 supplied several scouts each day to help with pull testing, paperwork, and line measuring. NASS made a donation to the troop in appreciation of their efforts.
Others who generously donated their time helping with paperwork and timing flights were Bob Tapia (tabulating and paperwork) and Barry Tippett, Frank Caron, and Ken Barthel as controllers. Timers were Gary Andrews, Charlie Legg, Bob Wilkie, Al Stegner, Chris Montagino, Santo Rizzotto, John Newton, Tom Lawman, and James Vasant.
Anyone that is interested in joining NASS or wants information about Control Line Speed should contact NASS Treasurer Barry Tippett, 5102 Mason, Livonia MI 48152; Tel.: (734) 266-7290.
See result in "Focus on Competition".
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
