Control Line Combat - 2011/05

126 MODEL AVIATION
The Northern European World Cups
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Also included in this column:
• Join MACA
• WAM memories
• Northwest Control-Line
Regionals
• New rules for F2D
• This year’s F2D Team Trials
Henning Forbech (R) of Denmark does battle with Bryce Gibson of New
Zealand.
THE 2011 SUPER Dreiländerpolka World
Cups: This marks the fifth year that the
Northern European countries of Sweden,
Denmark, and Germany are hosting three
consecutive F2D (FAI CL Combat) World Cup
competitions within a short time span.
The weekend of May 28-29, Swedish
organizers kick off the “Polka” in Karlskoga.
Just two days later the Danes have their
competition in Aslborg, and two days after that,
June 4-5, the Germans end the dance in
Sebnitz.
The US will be well represented by Andy
Above: David Owen (foreground) awaits the signal to start the engine.
Ingemar Larson (L) of Sweden organized the first Dreiländerpolka event.
Mike Willcox (standing) and Mark Rudner are also shown.
Left: Greg Machen (L) learned Combat in WAM competitions. Tom
Siegler is an experienced World Cup pi lot who wi l l be at the
Dreiländerpolka at the end of May.
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and Bobby Mears, Allen Deveuve, Tom
Siegler, and me. Leonardo Silva of Mexico
will no doubt participate with the US
members. Leonardo holds dual citizenship,
since he was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
The plan is to travel with some models
and have others from the manufacturers in
Ukraine ship them to Sweden. It does mean
that few will have to arrive early to trim the
airplanes.
Look in the “Sources” section to find the
Web sites for each competition.
The Miniature Aircraft Combat
Association (MACA) was started in 1974
and has been recognized by the AMA as the
official SIG for CL Combat. Neal White,
who designed the elliptical-wing Bosta
(published in the October 1973 American
Aircraft Modeler) and Howard Rush, who
designed the Nemesis, originated the MACA
concept.
Tom Southern was one of the early
newsletter editors who kept information
flowing to the membership. Gary Frost
became the first MACA president and got the
idea of the yearly Top 20 pilots off the
ground.
Ira Keeler of Vacaville, California,
designed the MACA logo that is still in use.
Frank Garcher of Midwest Products was one
of the early sponsors of the Top 20 T-shirts
and even advertised and offered prize money
to modelers who won at the AMA Nats using
his company’s kits.
During most of MACA’s existence,
various editors have published a monthly
newsletter. That aspect of the organization
has vanished almost entirely and has been
replaced by a Web site, which James
McKinney maintains.
Members can contribute information and
have their contests listed in the calendar
section of the site. It has a great number of
high-quality photographs that one can view
and many worthwhile links to related sites.
If it has been awhile since you have
visited the Web site, take a moment to
reacquaint yourself with MACA.
I was introduced to competitive model
flying by members of a Western Associated
Modelers (WAM) club. I am sad to say that
the once-thriving umbrella organization of
Northern California aeromodeling clubs
has officially disbanded, and the remaining
funds have been distributed to active clubs
of the area.
Mrs. Myrtle B. “mom” Coad was the heart
and soul of WAM for as long as I participated
in competitions. She was at every
competition’s registration desk early in the
morning, ready to greet contest regulars by
name and to welcome new members with a
great smile.
Many National Champions and World
Championship competitors honed their flying
skills at WAM events. I remain in contact
with several early competitors I flew against
and assisted with pitting.
In the heyday of the organization, in
roughly the late 1960s, WAM had more than
3,000 members. The Propwash newsletter
included results of each contest and contained
flyers for upcoming competitions.
I will always have fond memories of
WAM and the many people who helped make
the organization a solid place to make friends,
compete, and learn all aspects of model
flying.
John Thompson sent me information about
this year’s Northwest Control-Line
Regionals that will be held, as always, on
Memorial Day weekend, which is May 27-
29 this year. The venue is the airport in
Eugene, Oregon.
This will be the 40th annual competition
that boasts 39 separate events, and there will
be three Combat events: High-Performance
1/2A, 80-MPH, and Vintage Diesel. Having
participated in this event many years ago, I
can tell you that you should consider
attending this special happening.
For information about this contest, contact
John or visit the Flying Lines Web site.
If you need a set of the 2011 F2D rules, the
quickest way to get them is to visit Henning
Forbech’s site. It is the same as the one listed
in “Sources” for the Danish competition.
There are several items you might want
to read carefully. The FAI has taken a page
from the FIFA soccer organization by
requiring the circle marshal to show yellow
cards for penalties and disqualifications.
Section 4.4.13 has been added to
explain the use of video equipment to
monitor pilots’ behavior in the center
circle. The judges and circle marshal can
use the officially recorded video to make
decisions. The new 6mm muffler rule is also
listed, as are the measuring-tool tolerances.
You now have seven pages of homework,
and you will be tested the next time you enter
an F2D contest.
The 2011 F2D Team Trials will be held this
year, and invitations to submit a bid to host
the event have been put out to members of the
Team Selection Committee. Bobby Mears is
the current Team Selection Chairman.
Hosting the Trials is a difficult task. There
is a need for lots of personnel on hand to
judge, serve as support for field setup, provide
food for competitors and spectators, take care
of publicity, etc.
And there must be sufficient field space to
practice both before and during the
competition. The idea is to get the best
performance from each competitor.
Many places across the country have
the space, but there might not be a big
enough club to help with judging. Judges
need to be completely knowledgeable
about the new rules and know how to
apply and interpret them.
The host club must be able to clearly
present the procedures for contest operation
and be willing to follow the protocol set forth
in the approved Team Selection Program
Guidelines during the pilots’ meeting. MA
Sources:
Swedish competition site:
www.kmfk.org
Danish competition site:
www.f2d.dk
German competition site:
www.F2-sebnitz.de
Miniature Aircraft Combat Association
http://www.maca.hobby-site.com:3535/
John Thompson
[email protected]
Flying Lines
www.flyinglines.org
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