CONTROL LINE COMBAT - 2003/02

THE TOPIC OF an event that will take place in the year 2004 may
seem a bit premature, but it is worth consideration now. The 2004
Control Line World Championships (WC) will take place in Muncie,
Indiana.
While at the 2002 WC in Sebnitz, Germany, I was throwing out
the idea of having a preliminary contest before the WC that would
be open to all competitors and would be flown as a tripleelimination
event. The rules would be those used for Fast Combat;
the only exception would be that competitors must use Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) models and fuel.
This format would give all of the Americans who do not make
the US team a shot at the Europeans and at all of the others who are
present at a WC. The idea behind the use of the Fast rules is to limit
the carnage to the fleets of WC models and to give the non-
Americans a taste of how we fly Combat in the US.
To make this event attractive to the foreign competitors, I was
throwing out the idea of a $2,000 cash prize, or even more if we can
get sponsorship. I am certain that if we offer cash through fifth
place, most of the top fliers would arrive a few days early to have a
go at the dough. The British, Germans, Russians, French, Spaniards,
and many others seemed keen on the idea. I am hoping that we can
talk this up and make it a reality.
In 1984 at the WC in Chicopee, Massachusetts, we did have a
preliminary contest that drew more than 20 entries, with no
advertised money. Jeri Karger of Germany won that contest and was
surprised when he received three crisp $100 bills to boot. I have not
read or heard of any of the overseas contests being flown for money.
A preliminary contest run with Fast Combat rules would
certainly require fewer officials than a full-blown FAI competition.
Give it some thought and write to me and to the Miniature Aircraft
Combat Association (MACA) with your input.
During the summer of 2002, many pilots participated in a couple of
the larger triple-elimination Fast Combat contests. In late June the
Bladder Grabber (BG) takes place in Snohomish, Washington. Bob
Carver sponsors the event through his Sunfire Corporation. Not only
is there cash for the top finishers, but approximately $16,000 worth
of high-end stereo equipment.
The 2002 Bladder Grabber saw a young lady named Milissa
Huber, flying in her first BG, put kills on some of the top pilots.
David Owen of Nashville, Tennessee, took the top spot and the
lion’s share of the loot. Fliers from the Pacific Northwest—Jeffrey
Rein and Tim Strom—finished in second and third place
respectively. Mitchell Cleveland of Kenner, Louisiana, was fourth,
and Darrin Albert of San Diego, California, was fifth.
This contest has the best payday for Combat pilots anywhere in
the world. Watch for a date change for this event; it may go to
August in 2003.
The other big Fast Combat contest held during the summer, in
August, was the Riverside Combat Challenge in California. Bill
Maywald, the MACA newsletter editor, organizes and obtains
sponsorship for this contest. There was $2,000 worth of cash given
out to the top three places at the 2002 edition.
Riverside in August is hot. This year the temperatures were
roughly 105°. It is a good thing that there are many shade trees
where everyone sets up camp. Bill Maywald has made it a tradition
to provide lunch for the competitors on both days of the contest.
February 2003 125
CONTROL LINE COMBAT
Rich von Lopez, 8334 Colegio Dr., Los Angeles CA 90045
From left to right are George Cleveland, Mitchell Cleveland, and
Richard Stubblefield at the 200 US Team Trials.
Jeffrey Rein finished second at the 2002 Bladder Grabber in
Snohomish, Washington. Steve Stewart helped him pit.
From left to right are David Owen, who won the 2002 Bladder
Grabber, Andrey Nadein filling a bladder, and Mike Willcox.
02sig4.QXD 11.21.02 1:34 pm Page 125
This is the sort of thing that takes extra
planning but pays off when competitors
return year after year.
Richard Stubblefield of Houston,
Texas, has been flying Combat since
before the television was invented. The
weekend of the Riverside event he was
flying like the spry, young man he thinks
he is to finish in first place. I guess there is
still hope for the rest of us gray-haired
types. Russ Graves of Long Beach,
California, finished in second place, and
Greg Hill of San Diego, California,
finished third.
The Riverside Combat Challenge is
flown on the American Youth Soccer
Association facility. This group has asked
if the contest could be moved to June in
2003.
For the pilots who still like to build kits,
Bill Maywald is offering an improved
version of the Allenplane. The foam cores
for this model are computer-cut and
accurate. The price is $35 for one kit or
$30 if you order six or more kits.
Bill also has metal engine mounts and
double bellcrank shutoff systems. I built
some of the Allenplane kits in the past, and
they just fell together. This is a good
alternative to the ready-to-fly Russianstyle
models.
You can contact Bill at 719 Allen Dr.,
Corona CA 91719; Tel.: (909) 280-9720. MA