Modeling Spoken Here
Bob Hunt, Aeromodeling Editor
Whenever possible I like to combine my two hobby/sport interests. Aside from being a lifelong modeler, I am also an avid motorcycle enthusiast. In fact, I do part-time motorcycle safety instructing for the Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP) here in Pennsylvania as a certified RiderCoach.
I recently sold one of my motorcycles, a 1500cc Honda Goldwing SE, to one of my MSP students—Tom Segar—who I found out also happens to be a model-airplane enthusiast. When I decided to play hooky on a Friday and attend the 2003 version of the Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology (NEAT) Fair, I called Tom and asked him if he would like to join me on a ride to the Catskills in New York to see some state-of-the-art electric flying. He accepted the offer and looked forward to his first long trip on the “wing,” but he told me that he really had little or no interest in electric flying. But hey, any excuse to go riding is a good one!
Our trip up through northeastern Pennsylvania on a beautiful and sunny fall morning was delightful. Tom looked really at ease and happy on his new mount, and the winding path that PA Route 191 North takes gave me a chance to run off and do some serious “knee dragging” on my prized Suzuki Hayabusa. (It’s sort of like owning your own personal F-16!)
We arrived at the Fair at approximately 11 a.m., and just in time to watch Jason Shulman put on an aerobatic demonstration with his stunning Rhapsody radio-control pattern model. In case you haven’t heard, Jason placed seventh at the 2003 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) F3A Pattern World Championships flying an electric-powered model! He competed against pilots who were all flying glow-powered, “wet” models.
NEAT Fair and electric flight
Tom and I witnessed what I believe is the beginning of a new era in modeling, in which electric and glow/gas models will soon be perceived by all as equals in performance.
Jason took off and held the model roughly three feet off the ground as he passed the spectator line, which was approximately one-quarter mile long. The model was flying fairly slowly at this point, and as it passed the last of the spectators, Jason pulled it vertical but didn’t accelerate on the up-line. Instead he kept a steady speed and let the model climb almost out of sight. He followed this impressive takeoff with a complete and perfect-looking FAI Pattern sequence of roughly seven minutes in duration and then came down on the deck and performed another seven or so minutes of freestyle aerobatics that included sustained knife-edge flight with the low wingtip approximately two feet from the ground. He performed low-level rolling circles, knife-edge loops, and outside snap rolls that appeared to be started at approximately 10 feet altitude!
I’ve watched a lot of aerobatic flying and air-show routines through the years, but Jason’s performance left me with my jaw on the ground. I had a lot of company in that respect. Not only did his Rhapsody have more than sufficient power but impressive duration as well. Tom was completely blown away by what he saw, not only from Jason but also from the hundreds of other participants at the NEAT Fair. He gained a new respect for how far electric flight has come in a seemingly short time.
The truth is that electric-powered model flying has been gaining in popularity and performance for quite some time now. Jason’s performance seems to be a milestone that marks a point where there is no longer a need to qualify that a model is powered by fuel or electrons.
Many of the models flown at the NEAT Fair were electric conversions of popular glow-kit or Almost Ready-to-Fly offerings. It’s clear that weight and duration are becoming less of a concern because of recent breakthroughs in motor and battery technology. Yes, this type of technology has its own paradigms in cost, safety, and operation, but as I like to say, “Technology never goes backward.” Cost and safety concerns will be addressed, and those who choose to go deeper into the world of electric flight will find themselves flying on a routine basis. Hey, this is exciting!
The ride home from the NEAT Fair with Tom was fun, but at each rest stop all we could talk about was what we had seen that day. Tom said he definitely wants to go again next year — by car or bike!
In this issue you will find coverage of the 2003 NEAT Fair by our own Bob Kopski. In that report Bob gives the particulars of the power system in Jason's model as well as a look at the broad spectrum of the electric modeling hobby/sport. The NEAT Fair has become the mecca for electric enthusiasts from all over the world, and it will only continue to grow from here.
Bill Werwage’s USA-1 Control Line Stunt
This month we are proud to present an article by Bill Werwage about his legendary USA-1 Control Line (CL) Stunt design. This model is extremely significant because it was the first American F2B World Champion model design. With it Bill won:
- The 1970 and 1972 World Championship titles
- Two National Championship crowns
- Numerous other awards
It was not the first of the large CL Stunters to appear, but it was by far the most successful. Now a Classic-legal design, the USA-1 is still a force to be reckoned with. Bill feels that this model, fitted with a more modern power package, is still competitive at the highest levels. That's amazing, considering that this airplane debuted 34 years ago at the 1969 Nationals.
I had the opportunity to borrow one of Bill's USA-1 models in 1981. I was the assistant director of the FAI F2B Team Trials that year, and one of my duties was to train the judges for the competition. I didn't have a Stunt model at that time that was of the proper caliber to do the job, so Bill lent me his 1980 USA-1.
That was his least favorite version of the USA-1, but I loved the way it flew. It turned easily in very heavy wind conditions and was extremely easy to guide through maneuvers. I can only imagine how Bill's favorite USA-1 flew!
This is not a classic construction feature we are presenting but rather a saga of design development and improvement. It's must reading for serious students of the history of Stunt.
You can get in touch with me via E-mail at [email protected]. My address is Box 68, Stockertown, PA 18083, and my phone number is (610) 614-1747.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
