I985 NATS: FF Outdoor Scale

I 985NATSY 985NATSY I985NATS FF Outdoor Scale Bob Clemens FOUR DAYS OF SUNNY warm weather gone Wednesday morning out door Scale competition scheduled begin 8 am No sunshine greeted early-rising Scale fliers headed toward outdoor site located Westovers long asphalt runways about half mile AMA Headquarters building weather forecast called raln until late afternoon slight breeze drifted diagonally across runway contestants already hand making test flights 7 oclock Wary weather contest officials decided official flights would begin half hour earlier planned 730 fateful decision although no realized time C02-powered Farman Jabiru flown Bob Clemens lifted off runway mark first official flight Gas Scale event models given stringent static-scale judging also judged realism flight performance through takeoff cruise descent Flight duration must least 20 seconds no additional points added longer flight times AMA Rubber Peanut events Dave Rees attempted ROG superb Short 5D3-30 twin-engined transport model curved off runway onto grass breaking ground Bill Bells beautiful Stearman C-3B biplane built Flyline Models kit zoomed off series power stalls ended model hitting nosefirst runway resulting broken wing strut damage scale radial engine As Paul Gaertner attempted trim electric-powered entry contest quick ly determined Heath Super Parasol showing stability problems could easily corrected wisely chose attempt further flights Heath built Gene Thomas kit/plan featured pendulum aileron controls powered VL Hytork motor FlyIng AMA Rubber Scale Don Srull started quietly putting hand-launched offi cial flights allowed biplanes scarlet Missel Thrush 30-inch Thrush climbed out steady spiral pattern easily topping minute heavy air fighting second today noted Dave Rees began taking officials Peanut clipped-wing Monocoupe Little Butch Subtly breeze picked up Overhead gray cloud deck showed no signs breaking flights went Don Steebs Micro-X Fike Peanut Dave Rees Nicholas Beazlcy Bar ling low-winger Tom Sandors beautiful Ryan PT-21 AMA over growing crowd end runway came purr twin CO2 engines Dave Rees Short turned superb official flight never gaining 15 20 feet altitude An all-red Cessna AW flown George Meyers made 90-sec max AMA Rubber rain came about 1030 much earlier predicted sprinkled lightly 10 minutes built steady soaking shower continue almost letup next five hours So began bizarre scenario saw stick-and-tissue Scale models bravely attempting fly rain Amazingly number good flights includ ing several maxes turned sod den wrinkled craft could com fort came fact air remained fairly calm during rain 330 scant half hour remaining contest showers virtually stopped Frantic contestants emerged cars winding models last-ditch effort complete official flights results already pretty well determined though fliers flown early Don Srull took first Open AMA Rubber Don Steeb first Open Peanut Dave Rees first Gas Scale Aaron Markos topped threeplane field Junior Peanut Bill Bell gallant effort repaired Stearman finished fourth AMA Gas Scale El 74 Model Aviation Heres close look Open Rubber fly rain tissue covering Scale winner Missel Thrush biplane tends get bit saggy seen pic Don Srull Spanning 30 Thrush ture Fleet Finch entered Don Ross bright red silver cowl markings Cresakili NJ modei built weighs 31/2 oz Two loops 1/4-in PAl rubber R/N Models kit spans 28 Rain fell steadi provided power fullsize Thrush iy five hours causing some contestants 1 g2os-vintage English sport plane try despiratlon flights lasting rain El Howdowescorca reTracwalanalnggearr asks Peanut Scale judges Bert Dugan Bob Adair L-R cast critical eye George Meyes Chambermaid racer during outdoor Peanut Scale judging Bertand Bob also judged indoor Peanut Surprisingly 16 Peanuts entered outdoors Left Power Dave Rees Gas Scale Short SD3-3otransport came two Brown Campus Bee motors single 20cctank providing gasfor both Filler tube can seen exiting fuselage top just front wing leading edge projection Right Dave entertains gaggle gawkers superb model went win first place Open Notethe five-bladed props made North Pacific plastic blades