Not quite the last “BG” draws a host of Combat notables
November 2006 147
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Milissa Huber won the 2005 Bladder
Grabber and flew well in 2006.
These fellas can spin a yarn. Riley
Wooten and James Mears love Combat
and can tell you 100 stories.
The 2006 Bladder Grabber winners (L-R): Mel Lyne, first; Steve Stewart, second; Andy
Mears, third; Ron Colombo, fourth; and Chris Jensen, fifth.
Dan won the first BG and made sure
everyone knew it through his writings. He
has always had a way with words, and his
columns had more than a few tongue-incheek
references. From those interactions
between Bob Carver and the members of
the Jive Combat Team more than 30 years
ago, the BG has become known around the
world as the richest Combat meet in the
world.
There have been many notable
participants in the BG, including all three
CL Combat World Champions from the
US: Tom Fluker Jr., Mike Willcox, and
Junior World Champion Mark Rudner. The
Canadians used to field the “Dreaded
Canadian Combat Contingent” that
traveled across the border to compete.
Some Soviet pilots made the trek on a
couple occasions, and the national Mexican
team members have also participated.
Chuck Rudner is the pilot with the most
BG wins with four, including one edition
that had roughly 65 entries. Phil (P.T.)
Granderson of the Jive Combat Team
racked up three wins throughout the years.
He now flies CL Precision Aerobatics and
builds beautiful models. David Owen
recently won two BGs back to back. I had
the good fortune to win two of the contests
at different times.
Some legends were present at the 29th
BG to participate as pit crew or support
personnel. Riley Wooten—a former
National Champion and designer of the
I JUST RETURNED to Southern
California after having attended the 29th
Bladder Grabber at Harvey Field in
Snohomish, Washington. The Bladder
Grabber, or BG as it is known to many
Combat enthusiasts, was the brainchild of
“Dirty” Dan Rutherford and his band of
renegade Combat buddies who made up
the “Jive Combat Team,” along with Bob
Carver.
Bob is a creative and innovative
individual who made a name for himself
designing and building high-end
stereophonic equipment. He is especially
good at making super-powerful power
amplifiers. Bob had the financial backing
to offer a significant amount of this stereo
gear for the winners of this Fast Combat
contest.
Dirty Dan is good at promoting events,
and he used his position as a columnist
with Model Builder magazine to publicize
this contest. He has a competitive
personality that causes him to devote a
tremendous amount of energy and time to
whatever tickles his fancy.
In the mid-1970s Dan was at the top of
his game flying Combat. Fast Combat was
the premier event in the US, while Slow,
1/2A, and FAI were merely alternate events
not to be taken too seriously. Most contests
in the US offered trophies to the podium
finishers; the idea of offering something of
real value for flying Combat was truly
novel.
11sig5.QXD 9/26/06 9:30 AM Page 147VooDoo, Vampire, Demon, Sneeker, and
other models—was seen giving advice to
three generations of Mears Combat pilots
who include James, Bobby, Andy, and
Nick. James has to be one of the all-time
best storytellers who deals with Combat
and non-Combat adventures.
Former National Champion Larry
Driskill attended. He has interesting
stories to tell that deal with his career in
the US Air Force. Other National
Champions present were Richard
Stubblefield of Houston, Texas, and
George Cleveland of Kenner, Louisiana,
who have been teaming up with Bob
Burch of Chicago, Illinois.
The best Fast Combat engine in the
world is the Nelson, and designer and
builder Henry Nelson was at the BG to
give it a go.
Last year’s winner—and the only
woman to have ever placed in the event—
Milissa Huber was there this year to
defend her title and send three big-name
pilots back to the pits with big “L”s on
their scoresheets. I was the first to fall
prey to Milissa, and Alan Deveuve and
Nick Mears followed.
It was good to see Ron Colombo return
to the Pacific Northwest and finish in
fourth place. He has been on US World
Championships team on several occasions.
He was paired up with the cigar-smoking
Mike Evans at the BG.
Mike Petri of Santa Rosa, Calfornia,
has to have earned more second-place
finishes at the BG than any other pilot.
His old flying buddy Norm McFadden—
from Redwood City, California, who now
resides in Lynwood, Washington—helped
with pitting duties. Norm used to fly
wooden-structured models called
“Creamsicles” because of their orangeand-
white covering. Those models made a
spectacular sight when they were involved
in a midair collision.
Local pilots who competed in the BG
included Dick and Rich Salter, Buzz
Wilson, Jeff Rein, Howard Rush, Chuck
Matheny, Tony Huber, Garry Harris, Jim
Green, and Ken Burdick. The San Diego,
California, posse consisted of Darrin
Albert, Greg Hill, and Sean “Lucky” Dea.
Pete Athans, Bill Maywald, Don Jensen,
Chris Jensen, Chuck Rudner, and I
rounded out the group from Southern
California.
Jeff Dawson has been building RTF
Combat models for the 1/2A event.
Brothers John and Bill Duane of
Jacksonville, Florida, made their first
appearance at the BG and managed to
collect eight wins between the two of
them. Wayne McDaniel of Muncie,
Indiana, did not have a super competition,
but he did have a great time.
The lone contestant from Wisconsin
was Emil Opffer, who seems to turn up at
locations across the country. Only Steve
Stewart was present to represent the
interests of the Arizona pilots. He did so
with style by finishing second, which is
also his personal best. Steve claims that he
is giving up Fast Combat, but I don’t
believe him—especially after this contest.
Andy Mears flew extremely well and
placed a respectable third place. Chris
Jensen had his best contest ever and
finished $400 richer in fifth place.
The winner was a resident of North
America but not a US citizen. Canadian
Mel Lyne has been at this for years at the
BG and finally put it all together to take
the top honors. He looked good all
weekend, flying with accuracy and getting
the kills when he needed to.
Mel had a big grin on his face when
Bob Carver handed him a check for
$2,500. That’s not bad for doing what you
like to do!
The thing that makes the BG a success is
all the help; the organizers have to do the
grunt work. Jeff Rein was the CD and
promoter of this year’s event. He ran
around, made the T-shirts, and arranged
for the caterers to provide lunch Saturday
and Sunday. He is to be given lots of
credit.
Marilou Rush does all the match
postings and tries to keep everything
running quickly. She also fed a bunch of
hungry houseguests. Chris Cox and his
son Steven flew down from Canada tojudge and run the two circles. Ron Enos
flew in from Hawaii with pineapples and
judged all weekend long.
This was to have been the last BG of
all time, so it was dubbed the “The Last
Man Standing” contest. Ah, but it will not
be the last BG; all the pilots, through a
poll conducted by Bob Carver, indicated
that they wanted the BG to continue.
Tony Huber went to the trouble to
make a special plaque for Bob Carver in
appreciation for his many years of
sponsoring this contest. All the pilots
signed the mat around the plaque. This
was a classy way to give thanks to a man
who has done so much for the sport of
Combat.
Harvey Field in Snohomish has to be
one of the most picturesque Combat sites
in the country because of all the activity
taking place throughout the contest
weekend. There are skydivers and small
aircraft landing and taking off all day and
in the mornings, and hot air balloons
flying around in the sky. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 147,148,150
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 147,148,150
Not quite the last “BG” draws a host of Combat notables
November 2006 147
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Milissa Huber won the 2005 Bladder
Grabber and flew well in 2006.
These fellas can spin a yarn. Riley
Wooten and James Mears love Combat
and can tell you 100 stories.
The 2006 Bladder Grabber winners (L-R): Mel Lyne, first; Steve Stewart, second; Andy
Mears, third; Ron Colombo, fourth; and Chris Jensen, fifth.
Dan won the first BG and made sure
everyone knew it through his writings. He
has always had a way with words, and his
columns had more than a few tongue-incheek
references. From those interactions
between Bob Carver and the members of
the Jive Combat Team more than 30 years
ago, the BG has become known around the
world as the richest Combat meet in the
world.
There have been many notable
participants in the BG, including all three
CL Combat World Champions from the
US: Tom Fluker Jr., Mike Willcox, and
Junior World Champion Mark Rudner. The
Canadians used to field the “Dreaded
Canadian Combat Contingent” that
traveled across the border to compete.
Some Soviet pilots made the trek on a
couple occasions, and the national Mexican
team members have also participated.
Chuck Rudner is the pilot with the most
BG wins with four, including one edition
that had roughly 65 entries. Phil (P.T.)
Granderson of the Jive Combat Team
racked up three wins throughout the years.
He now flies CL Precision Aerobatics and
builds beautiful models. David Owen
recently won two BGs back to back. I had
the good fortune to win two of the contests
at different times.
Some legends were present at the 29th
BG to participate as pit crew or support
personnel. Riley Wooten—a former
National Champion and designer of the
I JUST RETURNED to Southern
California after having attended the 29th
Bladder Grabber at Harvey Field in
Snohomish, Washington. The Bladder
Grabber, or BG as it is known to many
Combat enthusiasts, was the brainchild of
“Dirty” Dan Rutherford and his band of
renegade Combat buddies who made up
the “Jive Combat Team,” along with Bob
Carver.
Bob is a creative and innovative
individual who made a name for himself
designing and building high-end
stereophonic equipment. He is especially
good at making super-powerful power
amplifiers. Bob had the financial backing
to offer a significant amount of this stereo
gear for the winners of this Fast Combat
contest.
Dirty Dan is good at promoting events,
and he used his position as a columnist
with Model Builder magazine to publicize
this contest. He has a competitive
personality that causes him to devote a
tremendous amount of energy and time to
whatever tickles his fancy.
In the mid-1970s Dan was at the top of
his game flying Combat. Fast Combat was
the premier event in the US, while Slow,
1/2A, and FAI were merely alternate events
not to be taken too seriously. Most contests
in the US offered trophies to the podium
finishers; the idea of offering something of
real value for flying Combat was truly
novel.
11sig5.QXD 9/26/06 9:30 AM Page 147VooDoo, Vampire, Demon, Sneeker, and
other models—was seen giving advice to
three generations of Mears Combat pilots
who include James, Bobby, Andy, and
Nick. James has to be one of the all-time
best storytellers who deals with Combat
and non-Combat adventures.
Former National Champion Larry
Driskill attended. He has interesting
stories to tell that deal with his career in
the US Air Force. Other National
Champions present were Richard
Stubblefield of Houston, Texas, and
George Cleveland of Kenner, Louisiana,
who have been teaming up with Bob
Burch of Chicago, Illinois.
The best Fast Combat engine in the
world is the Nelson, and designer and
builder Henry Nelson was at the BG to
give it a go.
Last year’s winner—and the only
woman to have ever placed in the event—
Milissa Huber was there this year to
defend her title and send three big-name
pilots back to the pits with big “L”s on
their scoresheets. I was the first to fall
prey to Milissa, and Alan Deveuve and
Nick Mears followed.
It was good to see Ron Colombo return
to the Pacific Northwest and finish in
fourth place. He has been on US World
Championships team on several occasions.
He was paired up with the cigar-smoking
Mike Evans at the BG.
Mike Petri of Santa Rosa, Calfornia,
has to have earned more second-place
finishes at the BG than any other pilot.
His old flying buddy Norm McFadden—
from Redwood City, California, who now
resides in Lynwood, Washington—helped
with pitting duties. Norm used to fly
wooden-structured models called
“Creamsicles” because of their orangeand-
white covering. Those models made a
spectacular sight when they were involved
in a midair collision.
Local pilots who competed in the BG
included Dick and Rich Salter, Buzz
Wilson, Jeff Rein, Howard Rush, Chuck
Matheny, Tony Huber, Garry Harris, Jim
Green, and Ken Burdick. The San Diego,
California, posse consisted of Darrin
Albert, Greg Hill, and Sean “Lucky” Dea.
Pete Athans, Bill Maywald, Don Jensen,
Chris Jensen, Chuck Rudner, and I
rounded out the group from Southern
California.
Jeff Dawson has been building RTF
Combat models for the 1/2A event.
Brothers John and Bill Duane of
Jacksonville, Florida, made their first
appearance at the BG and managed to
collect eight wins between the two of
them. Wayne McDaniel of Muncie,
Indiana, did not have a super competition,
but he did have a great time.
The lone contestant from Wisconsin
was Emil Opffer, who seems to turn up at
locations across the country. Only Steve
Stewart was present to represent the
interests of the Arizona pilots. He did so
with style by finishing second, which is
also his personal best. Steve claims that he
is giving up Fast Combat, but I don’t
believe him—especially after this contest.
Andy Mears flew extremely well and
placed a respectable third place. Chris
Jensen had his best contest ever and
finished $400 richer in fifth place.
The winner was a resident of North
America but not a US citizen. Canadian
Mel Lyne has been at this for years at the
BG and finally put it all together to take
the top honors. He looked good all
weekend, flying with accuracy and getting
the kills when he needed to.
Mel had a big grin on his face when
Bob Carver handed him a check for
$2,500. That’s not bad for doing what you
like to do!
The thing that makes the BG a success is
all the help; the organizers have to do the
grunt work. Jeff Rein was the CD and
promoter of this year’s event. He ran
around, made the T-shirts, and arranged
for the caterers to provide lunch Saturday
and Sunday. He is to be given lots of
credit.
Marilou Rush does all the match
postings and tries to keep everything
running quickly. She also fed a bunch of
hungry houseguests. Chris Cox and his
son Steven flew down from Canada tojudge and run the two circles. Ron Enos
flew in from Hawaii with pineapples and
judged all weekend long.
This was to have been the last BG of
all time, so it was dubbed the “The Last
Man Standing” contest. Ah, but it will not
be the last BG; all the pilots, through a
poll conducted by Bob Carver, indicated
that they wanted the BG to continue.
Tony Huber went to the trouble to
make a special plaque for Bob Carver in
appreciation for his many years of
sponsoring this contest. All the pilots
signed the mat around the plaque. This
was a classy way to give thanks to a man
who has done so much for the sport of
Combat.
Harvey Field in Snohomish has to be
one of the most picturesque Combat sites
in the country because of all the activity
taking place throughout the contest
weekend. There are skydivers and small
aircraft landing and taking off all day and
in the mornings, and hot air balloons
flying around in the sky. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 147,148,150
Not quite the last “BG” draws a host of Combat notables
November 2006 147
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Milissa Huber won the 2005 Bladder
Grabber and flew well in 2006.
These fellas can spin a yarn. Riley
Wooten and James Mears love Combat
and can tell you 100 stories.
The 2006 Bladder Grabber winners (L-R): Mel Lyne, first; Steve Stewart, second; Andy
Mears, third; Ron Colombo, fourth; and Chris Jensen, fifth.
Dan won the first BG and made sure
everyone knew it through his writings. He
has always had a way with words, and his
columns had more than a few tongue-incheek
references. From those interactions
between Bob Carver and the members of
the Jive Combat Team more than 30 years
ago, the BG has become known around the
world as the richest Combat meet in the
world.
There have been many notable
participants in the BG, including all three
CL Combat World Champions from the
US: Tom Fluker Jr., Mike Willcox, and
Junior World Champion Mark Rudner. The
Canadians used to field the “Dreaded
Canadian Combat Contingent” that
traveled across the border to compete.
Some Soviet pilots made the trek on a
couple occasions, and the national Mexican
team members have also participated.
Chuck Rudner is the pilot with the most
BG wins with four, including one edition
that had roughly 65 entries. Phil (P.T.)
Granderson of the Jive Combat Team
racked up three wins throughout the years.
He now flies CL Precision Aerobatics and
builds beautiful models. David Owen
recently won two BGs back to back. I had
the good fortune to win two of the contests
at different times.
Some legends were present at the 29th
BG to participate as pit crew or support
personnel. Riley Wooten—a former
National Champion and designer of the
I JUST RETURNED to Southern
California after having attended the 29th
Bladder Grabber at Harvey Field in
Snohomish, Washington. The Bladder
Grabber, or BG as it is known to many
Combat enthusiasts, was the brainchild of
“Dirty” Dan Rutherford and his band of
renegade Combat buddies who made up
the “Jive Combat Team,” along with Bob
Carver.
Bob is a creative and innovative
individual who made a name for himself
designing and building high-end
stereophonic equipment. He is especially
good at making super-powerful power
amplifiers. Bob had the financial backing
to offer a significant amount of this stereo
gear for the winners of this Fast Combat
contest.
Dirty Dan is good at promoting events,
and he used his position as a columnist
with Model Builder magazine to publicize
this contest. He has a competitive
personality that causes him to devote a
tremendous amount of energy and time to
whatever tickles his fancy.
In the mid-1970s Dan was at the top of
his game flying Combat. Fast Combat was
the premier event in the US, while Slow,
1/2A, and FAI were merely alternate events
not to be taken too seriously. Most contests
in the US offered trophies to the podium
finishers; the idea of offering something of
real value for flying Combat was truly
novel.
11sig5.QXD 9/26/06 9:30 AM Page 147VooDoo, Vampire, Demon, Sneeker, and
other models—was seen giving advice to
three generations of Mears Combat pilots
who include James, Bobby, Andy, and
Nick. James has to be one of the all-time
best storytellers who deals with Combat
and non-Combat adventures.
Former National Champion Larry
Driskill attended. He has interesting
stories to tell that deal with his career in
the US Air Force. Other National
Champions present were Richard
Stubblefield of Houston, Texas, and
George Cleveland of Kenner, Louisiana,
who have been teaming up with Bob
Burch of Chicago, Illinois.
The best Fast Combat engine in the
world is the Nelson, and designer and
builder Henry Nelson was at the BG to
give it a go.
Last year’s winner—and the only
woman to have ever placed in the event—
Milissa Huber was there this year to
defend her title and send three big-name
pilots back to the pits with big “L”s on
their scoresheets. I was the first to fall
prey to Milissa, and Alan Deveuve and
Nick Mears followed.
It was good to see Ron Colombo return
to the Pacific Northwest and finish in
fourth place. He has been on US World
Championships team on several occasions.
He was paired up with the cigar-smoking
Mike Evans at the BG.
Mike Petri of Santa Rosa, Calfornia,
has to have earned more second-place
finishes at the BG than any other pilot.
His old flying buddy Norm McFadden—
from Redwood City, California, who now
resides in Lynwood, Washington—helped
with pitting duties. Norm used to fly
wooden-structured models called
“Creamsicles” because of their orangeand-
white covering. Those models made a
spectacular sight when they were involved
in a midair collision.
Local pilots who competed in the BG
included Dick and Rich Salter, Buzz
Wilson, Jeff Rein, Howard Rush, Chuck
Matheny, Tony Huber, Garry Harris, Jim
Green, and Ken Burdick. The San Diego,
California, posse consisted of Darrin
Albert, Greg Hill, and Sean “Lucky” Dea.
Pete Athans, Bill Maywald, Don Jensen,
Chris Jensen, Chuck Rudner, and I
rounded out the group from Southern
California.
Jeff Dawson has been building RTF
Combat models for the 1/2A event.
Brothers John and Bill Duane of
Jacksonville, Florida, made their first
appearance at the BG and managed to
collect eight wins between the two of
them. Wayne McDaniel of Muncie,
Indiana, did not have a super competition,
but he did have a great time.
The lone contestant from Wisconsin
was Emil Opffer, who seems to turn up at
locations across the country. Only Steve
Stewart was present to represent the
interests of the Arizona pilots. He did so
with style by finishing second, which is
also his personal best. Steve claims that he
is giving up Fast Combat, but I don’t
believe him—especially after this contest.
Andy Mears flew extremely well and
placed a respectable third place. Chris
Jensen had his best contest ever and
finished $400 richer in fifth place.
The winner was a resident of North
America but not a US citizen. Canadian
Mel Lyne has been at this for years at the
BG and finally put it all together to take
the top honors. He looked good all
weekend, flying with accuracy and getting
the kills when he needed to.
Mel had a big grin on his face when
Bob Carver handed him a check for
$2,500. That’s not bad for doing what you
like to do!
The thing that makes the BG a success is
all the help; the organizers have to do the
grunt work. Jeff Rein was the CD and
promoter of this year’s event. He ran
around, made the T-shirts, and arranged
for the caterers to provide lunch Saturday
and Sunday. He is to be given lots of
credit.
Marilou Rush does all the match
postings and tries to keep everything
running quickly. She also fed a bunch of
hungry houseguests. Chris Cox and his
son Steven flew down from Canada tojudge and run the two circles. Ron Enos
flew in from Hawaii with pineapples and
judged all weekend long.
This was to have been the last BG of
all time, so it was dubbed the “The Last
Man Standing” contest. Ah, but it will not
be the last BG; all the pilots, through a
poll conducted by Bob Carver, indicated
that they wanted the BG to continue.
Tony Huber went to the trouble to
make a special plaque for Bob Carver in
appreciation for his many years of
sponsoring this contest. All the pilots
signed the mat around the plaque. This
was a classy way to give thanks to a man
who has done so much for the sport of
Combat.
Harvey Field in Snohomish has to be
one of the most picturesque Combat sites
in the country because of all the activity
taking place throughout the contest
weekend. There are skydivers and small
aircraft landing and taking off all day and
in the mornings, and hot air balloons
flying around in the sky. MA