District I - 2006/10
Event
On June 11, District I officers Ed Faria, Les Watson, and I attended the annual Ron Connors Memorial Stunt Trials in Wrentham, Massachusetts. The New England Stunt Team invited the New England Combat Association to run a Combat contest alongside the stunt event, giving attendees a double treat.
Notable attendees and officials
- Dave Cook judged the event. He is the District I CL Aerobatic Contest Board member, a former District I vice president, and a mentor to Dave Brown.
- Neil Simpson, District I Contest Board member for CL Combat and an active competitor, won a second-place trophy in the Championships for F2D Combat and a third-place trophy in the 1/2A event.
- Glen Simpson, Neil’s brother, is the District I Contest Board member for CL Carrier and a former winner of the Eugene Fly Award (the Nats high-point award for overall Navy Carrier champion). Glen placed seventh in the Formula GX Combat at this event.
Winners
- Formula GX Combat:
- Ken Hargreaves — 1st place
- Conrad Wondolowski — 3rd place
- Dick Sherman — 4th place
- Sportsman:
- Shay Vader — 1st place
- 1/2A:
- Rick Clark — 1st place
- Ken Hargreaves — 2nd place
- Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association (PAMPA) Stunt:
- Expert:
- Bill Suarez — 1st place
- Rick Campbell — 2nd place
- Waldo Cargill — 3rd place
- Advanced:
- Will Moore — 1st place
- Bob Robertshaw — 2nd place
- Lin Smith — 3rd place
- Intermediate:
- Norm Liversidge — 1st place
Observations
Watching these competitors highlighted that control-line (CL) flying is a physical sport requiring stamina, speed, agility, and years of practice building and flying precision CL aerobatic airplanes. The pilots were energetic, skilled, and a pleasure to watch.
Another notable aspect of CL meets is the camaraderie among competitors. Participants openly share experiences and knowledge and often involve their children in the sport. Unlike many newer RC pilots, CL fliers continue designing and building their aircraft, combining classic techniques with modern materials while passing on craftsmanship and flying skills to the next generation.
Links
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
