Author: Rich von Lopez
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/01
Page Numbers: 161,162
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CONTROL LINE COMBAT

Rich von Lopez, 8334 Colegio Dr., Los Angeles CA 90045

THE SUMMER of 2004 was quite eventful, with the Control Line World Championships in Muncie, Indiana, followed by the AMA National Championships, which included a number of foreign competitors.

F2D/Fast event at the Nationals

The big hit of the Nats was the F2D/Fast event, held the Monday and Tuesday following the World Championships. Its format differed from anything done previously: competitors used F2D equipment but flew under Fast Combat rules. That meant pilots were allowed one model per bout (versus two in FAI F2D contests) and a kill would end the match.

F2D rules provide a one-minute warm-up period before launch, which usually results in simultaneous liftoff for both pilots' models and can lead to tie scores. Fast Combat rules call for instant starts and immediate launches, producing a time differential from the outset and resulting in fewer rematches.

Pat Willcox had extra streamers made from the same material used at the World Championships, contestants had plenty of fuel, and the fields had already been laid out to the correct specifications. Event Director Larry Driskill and Muffy Rudner shuffled match cards to ensure Americans flew against foreign competitors.

Starting procedures and team adaptation

The AMA Fast Combat starting procedure that works so well with Nelson, Fox, and Fora .36 engines caused a slight change in how teams operated. Experienced Fast Combat crews can get engines started and models in the air in one or two seconds.

F2D mechanics normally do not face that time pressure. The one-minute warm-up period provides plenty of time to start the engine, set it up, and deal with unforeseen problems such as a broken bladder. Early in the contest, most European crews used one mechanic to start the engine and launch the model: the airplane is held between the legs with the inboard tip on the ground, the mechanic flips the prop to start the engine, and then lifts the model to the launch position before release. Later in the contest, teams adapted to using two mechanics—one to hold and launch and the other to start—demonstrating quick adaptation despite language barriers.

The competition and participants

I started as the circle center marshal, with a number of others rotating in and out of the judges' chairs so no one or two individuals were tied to the job for two days. With the stage set, we enticed roughly 50 pilots to enter the competition, including 10 Junior and Senior fliers. Using two circles, we maintained a speedy pace.

Countries represented included:

  • Australia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Ukraine
  • Moldova
  • Great Britain
  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • Mexico
  • United States

The point of promoting this contest was to give everyone an opportunity to fly against competitors they had never faced and to experience various flying styles. This open contest allowed pit crews, supporters, and officials to participate in a true international competition. Those objectives were achieved—personally, I flew against three Eastern European pilots I had never flown against before, including Stas Chornyy from Ukraine.

Most people enjoyed the format. A few pilots had poor matches—line tangles or early midair collisions—which can be frustrating. Despite some low-quality matches, many were of much higher quality.

We completed four rounds on the first day. As expected, several top American pilots recorded multiple wins:

  • Bobby Mears
  • Richard Stubblefield
  • James Ehlen
  • Chuck Rudner
  • Will Rogers
  • Wayne McDaniel

Non-American pilots who looked strong included:

  • Stas Chornyy (Ukraine)
  • Michael Comiskey (Australia)
  • Timo Forss (Finland)
  • Boriss Jalunins (Latvia)
  • Igor Milenin (Ukraine)
  • Lennart Nord (Sweden)
  • Robert Owen (Australia)
  • Rod Smith (Australia)
  • Igor Tukubayev (Ukraine)
  • Volodymyr Vesich (Ukraine)

Results and prizes

Final results:

  1. Stas Chornyy — first place and $1,600
  2. Richard Stubblefield — second place and $800 (sterling-silver trophy mug)
  3. Boriss Jalunins — third place and $600

In addition to prize money, top-placing competitors received AMA trophies for the National Championships.

Juniors and Seniors

It was pleasing to see many European and Australian Juniors and Seniors participating. Notable junior/senior participants included:

  • Jussi Forss and Lasse Forss (Finland)
  • Ryan and Michael Comiskey Jr. (Australia)
  • Mikael Sjölund (Sweden)
  • Ben Johnson (England)
  • Olga Soshinina (Ukraine)
  • Dominykas Zubas (Lithuania)
  • Natasha Dementiev (Moldova)
  • Holden Hill (USA)

Sponsors and acknowledgements

Public thanks to the contest’s sponsors and donors:

  • James, Bobby, Andy, and Nick Mears
  • George Cleveland
  • Chuck Rudner
  • Paul Vallins
  • (Author also donated)

The contest would not have been possible without the ongoing support of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

I have no idea when conditions will allow another such event. It took 20 years for the World Championships to return to the United States; I hope we don’t have to wait that long for the next one. Spain is the rumored location for the 2006 World Championships.

Bladder Grabber — Snohomish, Washington

The Bladder Grabber in Snohomish continues to be the premier Fast Combat contest in the United States. The 2004 edition (July 31–August 1) had one of the smallest turnouts I’ve seen—only 22 participants—possibly because the World Championships and the Nats occurred earlier in the month and vacation time and funds were already used.

The prize—stereo equipment donated by Bob Carver—has been sponsored by him since the early days, approaching 30 years. His businesses have varied, so the prizes have changed over time, but his continued sponsorship keeps this contest alive.

Many pilots have achieved long careers in modeling. Chuck Rudner reached a milestone with his fourth Bladder Grabber win; he almost didn’t attend this year, but his last-minute decision paid off. Bill Maywald, Miniature Aircraft Combat Association newsletter editor, flew well all weekend and finished second. Bill is a pioneer in building fuel-shutoff devices and engine mounts and in producing fine-quality Combat kits; he refined the original Allenplane design and improved the airfoil.

Bill Maywald contact:

In third place was Jim Green, a local flier from Bellevue, Washington, who had enthusiastic support from his fan club. Dick Salter and Gary Harris finished fourth and fifth. Jeff Rein ran the contest efficiently.

Equipment and engines used

Nothing much has changed on the Fast Combat scene in recent years:

  • Most pilots used Nelson .36 engines
  • A few used Fora .36 engines
  • Even fewer used Fox Combat Specials (Mark III to Mark VI)

Bob Burch’s contest strategy

Bob Burch of Chicago has a clever strategy for getting models to contests: he orders a quantity of ready-to-fly airplanes from George Cleveland at GRS Models and has them shipped to the event director or to a friend near the contest. Since the models are RTF, he bolts on engines when he arrives and competes. After the contest or once eliminated, he sells remaining models to interested parties, eliminating the need to pack and ship airplanes back home.

GRS Models contact:

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.