IF ONE WERE to ask any participants of this year’s Control
Line (CL) Navy Carrier Nationals competition to describe the
most memorable part of the events, the most common answer
would probably be the weather! We came closer this year than
any time in memory of having a true floating carrier deck and
flying over water.
Muncie had received 16 inches of rain in two weeks, which is
quite a change for me; I am used to getting 16 inches of rain in
two years in Albuquerque! Aside from the flooded roads that
made driving a challenge, the traditional Carrier-event location
was waterlogged and far too wet for flying.
Fortunately AMA had just completed a double paved circle
northeast of the usual Carrier venue in preparation for the CL
World Championships, to be held at the site in 2004. Carrier was
flown this year on those circles. It was nice to be able to land off
the deck without worrying about flipping over in the grass, but
the hard pavement was unforgiving Friday when the wind gusts
to 30 knots caused many inadvertent ground contacts.
Few contestants or spectators expected to need jackets in
Muncie in July, which added some discomfort to the mix. In
spite of the adverse weather, the camaraderie was outstanding;
everyone pitched in to make the best of the conditions.
Profile Carrier was flown Thursday, July 10, and the unofficial
Sportsman Profile Carrier event was flown at the same time. Ten
contestants posted official flights in Profile, and five did so in
Sportsman.
The weather started out calm, with a slight breeze developing
approximately an hour into the official competition. By 11 a.m.,
the wind was a little stronger but becoming more variable with
gusts to roughly 10 knots. With more rain threatening later in the
day, most contestants elected to complete their flights early.
A variety of models were entered this year, with the MO-1
being the more popular single design as usual. The MO-1s were
a minority this year, with only five entries of the 15 total. Even
among the MO-1s there was some variety; three different
designs were entered. The rest of the models were a good mix,
with two de Havilland Vampires, two Vought Kingfishers, two
Grumman Guardians, a Douglas Dauntless, a Brewster 340, a
Consolidated XBY-1, and a Sig Skyray.
John Vlna’s XBY-1 was one of the more interesting aircraft.
It was modeled after an obscure single-engine level bomber from
between the wars that didn’t get past initial testing. It is a highwing
airplane with proportions similar to those of the MO-1, but
it offers a welcome change of pace without deviating
significantly from the proven MO-1 configuration. I’ll include
more information on the models in my next CL Navy Carrier
column.
John Vlna was first off of the deck in Profile Carrier with his
XBY-1. His successful attempt started the competition much
better than it began last year, when no complete flights were
made during the first hour.
Mike Greb followed John’s example with the second flight of
the day and moved into first place with a 318.1 score. Mike’s 90
mph high speed was respectable, and his low time of just less
than four minutes was great with no wind to assist.
The initial trend of complete flights was not to endure; a
succession of bad luck consisting of engine and mechanical
problems started challenging the contestants. Slow engine
response, flameout, engine sag on takeoff, and line-slider
malfunctions left the leaders secure in their positions for a while.
December 2003 85
N a v y C a r r i e r
Dick Perry, 427 Live Oak Ln. N.E., Albuquerque NM 87122; E-mail: [email protected]
Bill Bischoff prepares his Sig Skyray for the Skyray Carrier event.
He captured first place in the event this year.
Mike Greb pull-tests his Class II model. He won the Eugene Ely
Award for being the outstanding Navy Carrier competitor.
CONTROL LINE
As the morning progressed, the weather
began to change and performances
improved.
Brian Silversmith flew his Kingfisher
into second place with an 83.4 mph high
speed and a 216-second low. My
Nostalgia Guardian managed a 97.2 mph
high speed (the best of the day), but the
design’s limited slow-flight capability
affected the total score potential, and I
inched ahead of John Vlna by less than
three points.
The good conditions didn’t last long,
and much of the opportunity for higher
scores was lost while equipment issues
were addressed. Tom Schaefer had the
other complete flight of the day, but low
speed kept him out of the running for a
trophy.
The wind began to change in
consistency, with gusts disrupting the
low-speed portions of the flights and
affecting landings. Dale Gleason moved
into third place with his MO-1, but lowspeed
performance and missed landings
kept other contestants from the trophies.
Bill Calkins’ efforts were adversely
affected by a loose throttle retaining
screw and a tail-high landing. Pete
Mazur’s initial attempt resulted in an
engine failure on low speed, probably
induced by a failing throttle arm that let
go completely on his second attempt and
kept him from achieving a low speed on
either flight. Gary Hull and Ted Kraver
had problems that kept them from scoring
a landing and a low speed respectively.
At the end of the day, Mike Greb was
in first place and in the lead for the
Eugene Ely Award. Only Dale Gleason
and John Vlna achieved flights in Profile
and Class I and II with which to challenge
Mike for the Ely award. Other
competitors were at a distinct
disadvantage without complete flights in
Profile.
In Sportsman, the Schwalbe family—
John, Charlie, and Rob—took on Dave
King and Bob Frogner. In the end, John
and Charlie went home with the first- and
third-place trophies, and Dave King
placed second. Bob Frogner had the best
high and low speeds, but his model
missed the arresting lines during landing
and rolled off the end of the deck and out
of the running.
Friday, July 11, started with strong
winds, and the forecast was for more of
the same throughout the day. With the
potential for complete flights severely
limited by the wind, the competition for
the Eugene Ely Award was wide open
again.
Mike Greb started the day in Class II
with a 96 mph high and a safe 44 mph
low, but his model hit the ground hard
short of the deck while attempting to land.
The tail separated, and it became airborne
again with dire consequences when it hit
the ground the second time.
Pete Mazur’s Class II MO-1 was
86 MODEL AVIATION
Melvin Schuette prepares John “Doc” Holliday’s G-S Bearcat for
flight in Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier.
Gary Hull entered this model of the Brewster Model 340
prototype in the Profile Navy Carrier event.
Ted Kraver flew this Aloise Condor powered by a SuperTigre ST-
35 engine in the Nostalgia Profile Carrier event.
Brenda Schuette received the NCS Carol Johnson Spirit of
Volunteerism Award for her ongoing efforts at the Nationals.
CONTROL LINE
running rich in transition because of the
level attitude, and the engine flamed out
before low speed. He landed safely. John
Vlna and Ted Kraver lost control of their
Class I models on low speed and hit the
pavement.
Back in Class II, John Vlna flew his
Myrt through high and a 43 mph low. He
lined up on the deck and nearly made the
landing, but the high speed caused him to
misjudge the approach and touch down
three feet past the last arresting line. The
airplane rolled off the end of the deck and
into second place behind Mike’s.
Other competitors had difficulties with
the wind. Pete Mazur’s Class I aircraft
spun in from the top of the circle after he
lost line tension during low speed. Ted
Kraver and John Vlna also crashed before
completing their Class I low speeds. Ted
and John were more successful in Class
II, but both missed their landing attempts.
Bill Calkins was up next in Class II
with his MO-1. He completed a high of
94.4 mph and a low of 55.8 mph. He set
up for landing by cutting the throttle on
the far side of the circle and attempting to
slow the aircraft while flying downwind
toward the deck. He went around on the
first approach and tried again. That time
he managed to complete the landing and
move into first place, 90 points ahead of
Mike Greb. The differences in their
scores in Class II and Profile nearly
canceled each other; they were close for
the Ely award, so both waited to compete
in Class I.
Pete Mazur’s second attempt in Class
II ended with less than a half lap
remaining in low speed when his richrunning
engine flamed out again.
In the Class I competition between
Mike Greb and Bill Calkins, Mike’s first
attempt ended with a throttle failure that
brought him down before his low-speed
signal for an attempt, with no score. On
his second try Mike finished high and low
(94.3 and 44 mph), but his landing
approach was low and the model touched
down short of the deck with no damage.
Bill topped Mike’s high speed with
97.4 mph, but his low of more than 63
mph was not sufficient to beat Mike for
Class I or the Eugene Ely Award. Bill’s
second attempt ended with a slower high
speed, and he tried again. His third flight
ended with a flameout during low. With
first place in Class I and the lead in the
Eugene Ely competition, Mike elected not
to risk his airplane again and waived his
last go at an official flight.
With the competition looking more
like a demolition derby than Navy
Carrier, the other contestants withdrew to
fly another day with airplanes intact.
The Navy Carrier Society awards
banquet was a good opportunity to relax
after the trials of the day. Mike Greb was
crowned the overall CL Navy Carrier
champion and presented with the Eugene
Ely Award.
December 2003 87
Dick Perry flew this Grumman Guardian designed by Bill Melton
to first place in the Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier event.
Pete Mazur (L) holds Bill Calkins’ MO-1 while Bill checks the lines
on the Class II Navy Carrier model.
Navy Carrier Society President Bill Calkins (L) congratulates
Mike Greb on winning this year’s Eugene Ely Award.
John Vlna holds his Class II Nostalgia first-place plaque and
McCoy .60 he won as the best flier in the Nostalgia events.
CONTROL LINE
Each year the Navy Carrier Society
honors an outstanding volunteer whose
service to the sport enhances the
participants’ enjoyment. This year the
Carol Johnson Spirit of Volunteerism
Award went to Brenda Schuette. She has
been the CL category director at the
Nationals for many years, running the
events superbly. Thanks, Brenda, from all
of us.
Saturday, July 12, the weather was
nearly perfect for the unofficial events.
The Texas Contingent sponsored the .15
Carrier event with an Expert and a
Sportsman class. Bill Bischoff placed first
88 MODEL AVIATION
Art Johnson uses a triangle to check the attitude of Mike Greb’s Profile model.
These de Havilland Vampire models were flown by Bob Frogner (in Sportsman Profile)
and Bill Calkins (in AMA Profile). It is Bill’s newest design.
CONTROL LINE
in the Expert category, followed by
Melvin Schuette and Dale Gleason.
Melvin (a Kansan) kept the Texans from
dominating the event as they often do.
Bob Frogner won Sportsman, Dave King
was second, and Art Johnson was third.
Sig sponsored the Skyray Carrier event
and donated fuel and a Skyray kit as
prizes. Bill Bischoff won the event, with
Ted Kraver and John Vlna finishing in
second and third.
Participation in the Nostalgia Carrier
events increased this year, and
merchandise prizes were offered in
addition to plaques. John Brodak (of
Brodak Manufacturing) donated an F7F
Tigercat kit, APC donated propellers,
Frank Landry donated one of his new
Profile MO-1 kits, and Kit Logan donated
a Dumas Crusader kit.
I won the Profile event with a Melton
Guardian at 356.51 points, Art Johnson
was second flying a Cordes Spearfish, and
John Vlna was third with a Mottin XPC-1
Starjet.
Ted Kraver beat me in Class I by just
more than one-quarter of a point. Ted flew
a Domizi-designed Guardian with a Fox
.29 engine using a flapper valve for speed
control. I flew my Short Seamew with a
SuperTigre G-40 engine. Reliability was a
problem for both of us. Unfortunately a
lack of reliability was common in earlier
Carrier models, but a trait not worth
emulating, even for a Nostalgia event.
In Class II the second and third places
went to Ted Kraver and Art Johnson. Both
flew Guardians. Ted’s was built from the
Sterling kit. Art flew a Bill Johnson
design with a McCoy .60 engine equipped
with a fuel meter and exhaust slide. John
Vlna won Class II with 450.40 points,
flying his Myrt by Roland Baltes. He also
won the McCoy .60 engine that was
awarded to the flier with the most total
points in all three Nostalgia Carrier
events.
The Nationals was a good time spent
with good friends. The three days of
flying would have been impossible
without the efforts of the volunteers who
served as officials so that the rest of us
could fly. Bill Bischoff was the Navy
Carrier event director, and Art Johnson
was the center judge. Dave King served as
pit boss, and John “Doc” Holliday
computed the scores.
A host of people timed the events
during the three days, including John
Schwalbe, Melvin Schuette, Gary Hull,
Bob Frogner, Linda Gleason, and many of
the contestants at one time or another. Bill
Calkins was the center judge on Saturday,
and Pete Mazur ran the deck as event
director.
In addition to the volunteers serving at
this year’s Nationals events, the AMA staff
repaired and refinished the Navy Carrier
deck during the winter.
Thanks to all of you for making this
year’s CL Navy Carrier events possible. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 85,86,87,88
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 85,86,87,88
IF ONE WERE to ask any participants of this year’s Control
Line (CL) Navy Carrier Nationals competition to describe the
most memorable part of the events, the most common answer
would probably be the weather! We came closer this year than
any time in memory of having a true floating carrier deck and
flying over water.
Muncie had received 16 inches of rain in two weeks, which is
quite a change for me; I am used to getting 16 inches of rain in
two years in Albuquerque! Aside from the flooded roads that
made driving a challenge, the traditional Carrier-event location
was waterlogged and far too wet for flying.
Fortunately AMA had just completed a double paved circle
northeast of the usual Carrier venue in preparation for the CL
World Championships, to be held at the site in 2004. Carrier was
flown this year on those circles. It was nice to be able to land off
the deck without worrying about flipping over in the grass, but
the hard pavement was unforgiving Friday when the wind gusts
to 30 knots caused many inadvertent ground contacts.
Few contestants or spectators expected to need jackets in
Muncie in July, which added some discomfort to the mix. In
spite of the adverse weather, the camaraderie was outstanding;
everyone pitched in to make the best of the conditions.
Profile Carrier was flown Thursday, July 10, and the unofficial
Sportsman Profile Carrier event was flown at the same time. Ten
contestants posted official flights in Profile, and five did so in
Sportsman.
The weather started out calm, with a slight breeze developing
approximately an hour into the official competition. By 11 a.m.,
the wind was a little stronger but becoming more variable with
gusts to roughly 10 knots. With more rain threatening later in the
day, most contestants elected to complete their flights early.
A variety of models were entered this year, with the MO-1
being the more popular single design as usual. The MO-1s were
a minority this year, with only five entries of the 15 total. Even
among the MO-1s there was some variety; three different
designs were entered. The rest of the models were a good mix,
with two de Havilland Vampires, two Vought Kingfishers, two
Grumman Guardians, a Douglas Dauntless, a Brewster 340, a
Consolidated XBY-1, and a Sig Skyray.
John Vlna’s XBY-1 was one of the more interesting aircraft.
It was modeled after an obscure single-engine level bomber from
between the wars that didn’t get past initial testing. It is a highwing
airplane with proportions similar to those of the MO-1, but
it offers a welcome change of pace without deviating
significantly from the proven MO-1 configuration. I’ll include
more information on the models in my next CL Navy Carrier
column.
John Vlna was first off of the deck in Profile Carrier with his
XBY-1. His successful attempt started the competition much
better than it began last year, when no complete flights were
made during the first hour.
Mike Greb followed John’s example with the second flight of
the day and moved into first place with a 318.1 score. Mike’s 90
mph high speed was respectable, and his low time of just less
than four minutes was great with no wind to assist.
The initial trend of complete flights was not to endure; a
succession of bad luck consisting of engine and mechanical
problems started challenging the contestants. Slow engine
response, flameout, engine sag on takeoff, and line-slider
malfunctions left the leaders secure in their positions for a while.
December 2003 85
N a v y C a r r i e r
Dick Perry, 427 Live Oak Ln. N.E., Albuquerque NM 87122; E-mail: [email protected]
Bill Bischoff prepares his Sig Skyray for the Skyray Carrier event.
He captured first place in the event this year.
Mike Greb pull-tests his Class II model. He won the Eugene Ely
Award for being the outstanding Navy Carrier competitor.
CONTROL LINE
As the morning progressed, the weather
began to change and performances
improved.
Brian Silversmith flew his Kingfisher
into second place with an 83.4 mph high
speed and a 216-second low. My
Nostalgia Guardian managed a 97.2 mph
high speed (the best of the day), but the
design’s limited slow-flight capability
affected the total score potential, and I
inched ahead of John Vlna by less than
three points.
The good conditions didn’t last long,
and much of the opportunity for higher
scores was lost while equipment issues
were addressed. Tom Schaefer had the
other complete flight of the day, but low
speed kept him out of the running for a
trophy.
The wind began to change in
consistency, with gusts disrupting the
low-speed portions of the flights and
affecting landings. Dale Gleason moved
into third place with his MO-1, but lowspeed
performance and missed landings
kept other contestants from the trophies.
Bill Calkins’ efforts were adversely
affected by a loose throttle retaining
screw and a tail-high landing. Pete
Mazur’s initial attempt resulted in an
engine failure on low speed, probably
induced by a failing throttle arm that let
go completely on his second attempt and
kept him from achieving a low speed on
either flight. Gary Hull and Ted Kraver
had problems that kept them from scoring
a landing and a low speed respectively.
At the end of the day, Mike Greb was
in first place and in the lead for the
Eugene Ely Award. Only Dale Gleason
and John Vlna achieved flights in Profile
and Class I and II with which to challenge
Mike for the Ely award. Other
competitors were at a distinct
disadvantage without complete flights in
Profile.
In Sportsman, the Schwalbe family—
John, Charlie, and Rob—took on Dave
King and Bob Frogner. In the end, John
and Charlie went home with the first- and
third-place trophies, and Dave King
placed second. Bob Frogner had the best
high and low speeds, but his model
missed the arresting lines during landing
and rolled off the end of the deck and out
of the running.
Friday, July 11, started with strong
winds, and the forecast was for more of
the same throughout the day. With the
potential for complete flights severely
limited by the wind, the competition for
the Eugene Ely Award was wide open
again.
Mike Greb started the day in Class II
with a 96 mph high and a safe 44 mph
low, but his model hit the ground hard
short of the deck while attempting to land.
The tail separated, and it became airborne
again with dire consequences when it hit
the ground the second time.
Pete Mazur’s Class II MO-1 was
86 MODEL AVIATION
Melvin Schuette prepares John “Doc” Holliday’s G-S Bearcat for
flight in Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier.
Gary Hull entered this model of the Brewster Model 340
prototype in the Profile Navy Carrier event.
Ted Kraver flew this Aloise Condor powered by a SuperTigre ST-
35 engine in the Nostalgia Profile Carrier event.
Brenda Schuette received the NCS Carol Johnson Spirit of
Volunteerism Award for her ongoing efforts at the Nationals.
CONTROL LINE
running rich in transition because of the
level attitude, and the engine flamed out
before low speed. He landed safely. John
Vlna and Ted Kraver lost control of their
Class I models on low speed and hit the
pavement.
Back in Class II, John Vlna flew his
Myrt through high and a 43 mph low. He
lined up on the deck and nearly made the
landing, but the high speed caused him to
misjudge the approach and touch down
three feet past the last arresting line. The
airplane rolled off the end of the deck and
into second place behind Mike’s.
Other competitors had difficulties with
the wind. Pete Mazur’s Class I aircraft
spun in from the top of the circle after he
lost line tension during low speed. Ted
Kraver and John Vlna also crashed before
completing their Class I low speeds. Ted
and John were more successful in Class
II, but both missed their landing attempts.
Bill Calkins was up next in Class II
with his MO-1. He completed a high of
94.4 mph and a low of 55.8 mph. He set
up for landing by cutting the throttle on
the far side of the circle and attempting to
slow the aircraft while flying downwind
toward the deck. He went around on the
first approach and tried again. That time
he managed to complete the landing and
move into first place, 90 points ahead of
Mike Greb. The differences in their
scores in Class II and Profile nearly
canceled each other; they were close for
the Ely award, so both waited to compete
in Class I.
Pete Mazur’s second attempt in Class
II ended with less than a half lap
remaining in low speed when his richrunning
engine flamed out again.
In the Class I competition between
Mike Greb and Bill Calkins, Mike’s first
attempt ended with a throttle failure that
brought him down before his low-speed
signal for an attempt, with no score. On
his second try Mike finished high and low
(94.3 and 44 mph), but his landing
approach was low and the model touched
down short of the deck with no damage.
Bill topped Mike’s high speed with
97.4 mph, but his low of more than 63
mph was not sufficient to beat Mike for
Class I or the Eugene Ely Award. Bill’s
second attempt ended with a slower high
speed, and he tried again. His third flight
ended with a flameout during low. With
first place in Class I and the lead in the
Eugene Ely competition, Mike elected not
to risk his airplane again and waived his
last go at an official flight.
With the competition looking more
like a demolition derby than Navy
Carrier, the other contestants withdrew to
fly another day with airplanes intact.
The Navy Carrier Society awards
banquet was a good opportunity to relax
after the trials of the day. Mike Greb was
crowned the overall CL Navy Carrier
champion and presented with the Eugene
Ely Award.
December 2003 87
Dick Perry flew this Grumman Guardian designed by Bill Melton
to first place in the Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier event.
Pete Mazur (L) holds Bill Calkins’ MO-1 while Bill checks the lines
on the Class II Navy Carrier model.
Navy Carrier Society President Bill Calkins (L) congratulates
Mike Greb on winning this year’s Eugene Ely Award.
John Vlna holds his Class II Nostalgia first-place plaque and
McCoy .60 he won as the best flier in the Nostalgia events.
CONTROL LINE
Each year the Navy Carrier Society
honors an outstanding volunteer whose
service to the sport enhances the
participants’ enjoyment. This year the
Carol Johnson Spirit of Volunteerism
Award went to Brenda Schuette. She has
been the CL category director at the
Nationals for many years, running the
events superbly. Thanks, Brenda, from all
of us.
Saturday, July 12, the weather was
nearly perfect for the unofficial events.
The Texas Contingent sponsored the .15
Carrier event with an Expert and a
Sportsman class. Bill Bischoff placed first
88 MODEL AVIATION
Art Johnson uses a triangle to check the attitude of Mike Greb’s Profile model.
These de Havilland Vampire models were flown by Bob Frogner (in Sportsman Profile)
and Bill Calkins (in AMA Profile). It is Bill’s newest design.
CONTROL LINE
in the Expert category, followed by
Melvin Schuette and Dale Gleason.
Melvin (a Kansan) kept the Texans from
dominating the event as they often do.
Bob Frogner won Sportsman, Dave King
was second, and Art Johnson was third.
Sig sponsored the Skyray Carrier event
and donated fuel and a Skyray kit as
prizes. Bill Bischoff won the event, with
Ted Kraver and John Vlna finishing in
second and third.
Participation in the Nostalgia Carrier
events increased this year, and
merchandise prizes were offered in
addition to plaques. John Brodak (of
Brodak Manufacturing) donated an F7F
Tigercat kit, APC donated propellers,
Frank Landry donated one of his new
Profile MO-1 kits, and Kit Logan donated
a Dumas Crusader kit.
I won the Profile event with a Melton
Guardian at 356.51 points, Art Johnson
was second flying a Cordes Spearfish, and
John Vlna was third with a Mottin XPC-1
Starjet.
Ted Kraver beat me in Class I by just
more than one-quarter of a point. Ted flew
a Domizi-designed Guardian with a Fox
.29 engine using a flapper valve for speed
control. I flew my Short Seamew with a
SuperTigre G-40 engine. Reliability was a
problem for both of us. Unfortunately a
lack of reliability was common in earlier
Carrier models, but a trait not worth
emulating, even for a Nostalgia event.
In Class II the second and third places
went to Ted Kraver and Art Johnson. Both
flew Guardians. Ted’s was built from the
Sterling kit. Art flew a Bill Johnson
design with a McCoy .60 engine equipped
with a fuel meter and exhaust slide. John
Vlna won Class II with 450.40 points,
flying his Myrt by Roland Baltes. He also
won the McCoy .60 engine that was
awarded to the flier with the most total
points in all three Nostalgia Carrier
events.
The Nationals was a good time spent
with good friends. The three days of
flying would have been impossible
without the efforts of the volunteers who
served as officials so that the rest of us
could fly. Bill Bischoff was the Navy
Carrier event director, and Art Johnson
was the center judge. Dave King served as
pit boss, and John “Doc” Holliday
computed the scores.
A host of people timed the events
during the three days, including John
Schwalbe, Melvin Schuette, Gary Hull,
Bob Frogner, Linda Gleason, and many of
the contestants at one time or another. Bill
Calkins was the center judge on Saturday,
and Pete Mazur ran the deck as event
director.
In addition to the volunteers serving at
this year’s Nationals events, the AMA staff
repaired and refinished the Navy Carrier
deck during the winter.
Thanks to all of you for making this
year’s CL Navy Carrier events possible. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 85,86,87,88
IF ONE WERE to ask any participants of this year’s Control
Line (CL) Navy Carrier Nationals competition to describe the
most memorable part of the events, the most common answer
would probably be the weather! We came closer this year than
any time in memory of having a true floating carrier deck and
flying over water.
Muncie had received 16 inches of rain in two weeks, which is
quite a change for me; I am used to getting 16 inches of rain in
two years in Albuquerque! Aside from the flooded roads that
made driving a challenge, the traditional Carrier-event location
was waterlogged and far too wet for flying.
Fortunately AMA had just completed a double paved circle
northeast of the usual Carrier venue in preparation for the CL
World Championships, to be held at the site in 2004. Carrier was
flown this year on those circles. It was nice to be able to land off
the deck without worrying about flipping over in the grass, but
the hard pavement was unforgiving Friday when the wind gusts
to 30 knots caused many inadvertent ground contacts.
Few contestants or spectators expected to need jackets in
Muncie in July, which added some discomfort to the mix. In
spite of the adverse weather, the camaraderie was outstanding;
everyone pitched in to make the best of the conditions.
Profile Carrier was flown Thursday, July 10, and the unofficial
Sportsman Profile Carrier event was flown at the same time. Ten
contestants posted official flights in Profile, and five did so in
Sportsman.
The weather started out calm, with a slight breeze developing
approximately an hour into the official competition. By 11 a.m.,
the wind was a little stronger but becoming more variable with
gusts to roughly 10 knots. With more rain threatening later in the
day, most contestants elected to complete their flights early.
A variety of models were entered this year, with the MO-1
being the more popular single design as usual. The MO-1s were
a minority this year, with only five entries of the 15 total. Even
among the MO-1s there was some variety; three different
designs were entered. The rest of the models were a good mix,
with two de Havilland Vampires, two Vought Kingfishers, two
Grumman Guardians, a Douglas Dauntless, a Brewster 340, a
Consolidated XBY-1, and a Sig Skyray.
John Vlna’s XBY-1 was one of the more interesting aircraft.
It was modeled after an obscure single-engine level bomber from
between the wars that didn’t get past initial testing. It is a highwing
airplane with proportions similar to those of the MO-1, but
it offers a welcome change of pace without deviating
significantly from the proven MO-1 configuration. I’ll include
more information on the models in my next CL Navy Carrier
column.
John Vlna was first off of the deck in Profile Carrier with his
XBY-1. His successful attempt started the competition much
better than it began last year, when no complete flights were
made during the first hour.
Mike Greb followed John’s example with the second flight of
the day and moved into first place with a 318.1 score. Mike’s 90
mph high speed was respectable, and his low time of just less
than four minutes was great with no wind to assist.
The initial trend of complete flights was not to endure; a
succession of bad luck consisting of engine and mechanical
problems started challenging the contestants. Slow engine
response, flameout, engine sag on takeoff, and line-slider
malfunctions left the leaders secure in their positions for a while.
December 2003 85
N a v y C a r r i e r
Dick Perry, 427 Live Oak Ln. N.E., Albuquerque NM 87122; E-mail: [email protected]
Bill Bischoff prepares his Sig Skyray for the Skyray Carrier event.
He captured first place in the event this year.
Mike Greb pull-tests his Class II model. He won the Eugene Ely
Award for being the outstanding Navy Carrier competitor.
CONTROL LINE
As the morning progressed, the weather
began to change and performances
improved.
Brian Silversmith flew his Kingfisher
into second place with an 83.4 mph high
speed and a 216-second low. My
Nostalgia Guardian managed a 97.2 mph
high speed (the best of the day), but the
design’s limited slow-flight capability
affected the total score potential, and I
inched ahead of John Vlna by less than
three points.
The good conditions didn’t last long,
and much of the opportunity for higher
scores was lost while equipment issues
were addressed. Tom Schaefer had the
other complete flight of the day, but low
speed kept him out of the running for a
trophy.
The wind began to change in
consistency, with gusts disrupting the
low-speed portions of the flights and
affecting landings. Dale Gleason moved
into third place with his MO-1, but lowspeed
performance and missed landings
kept other contestants from the trophies.
Bill Calkins’ efforts were adversely
affected by a loose throttle retaining
screw and a tail-high landing. Pete
Mazur’s initial attempt resulted in an
engine failure on low speed, probably
induced by a failing throttle arm that let
go completely on his second attempt and
kept him from achieving a low speed on
either flight. Gary Hull and Ted Kraver
had problems that kept them from scoring
a landing and a low speed respectively.
At the end of the day, Mike Greb was
in first place and in the lead for the
Eugene Ely Award. Only Dale Gleason
and John Vlna achieved flights in Profile
and Class I and II with which to challenge
Mike for the Ely award. Other
competitors were at a distinct
disadvantage without complete flights in
Profile.
In Sportsman, the Schwalbe family—
John, Charlie, and Rob—took on Dave
King and Bob Frogner. In the end, John
and Charlie went home with the first- and
third-place trophies, and Dave King
placed second. Bob Frogner had the best
high and low speeds, but his model
missed the arresting lines during landing
and rolled off the end of the deck and out
of the running.
Friday, July 11, started with strong
winds, and the forecast was for more of
the same throughout the day. With the
potential for complete flights severely
limited by the wind, the competition for
the Eugene Ely Award was wide open
again.
Mike Greb started the day in Class II
with a 96 mph high and a safe 44 mph
low, but his model hit the ground hard
short of the deck while attempting to land.
The tail separated, and it became airborne
again with dire consequences when it hit
the ground the second time.
Pete Mazur’s Class II MO-1 was
86 MODEL AVIATION
Melvin Schuette prepares John “Doc” Holliday’s G-S Bearcat for
flight in Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier.
Gary Hull entered this model of the Brewster Model 340
prototype in the Profile Navy Carrier event.
Ted Kraver flew this Aloise Condor powered by a SuperTigre ST-
35 engine in the Nostalgia Profile Carrier event.
Brenda Schuette received the NCS Carol Johnson Spirit of
Volunteerism Award for her ongoing efforts at the Nationals.
CONTROL LINE
running rich in transition because of the
level attitude, and the engine flamed out
before low speed. He landed safely. John
Vlna and Ted Kraver lost control of their
Class I models on low speed and hit the
pavement.
Back in Class II, John Vlna flew his
Myrt through high and a 43 mph low. He
lined up on the deck and nearly made the
landing, but the high speed caused him to
misjudge the approach and touch down
three feet past the last arresting line. The
airplane rolled off the end of the deck and
into second place behind Mike’s.
Other competitors had difficulties with
the wind. Pete Mazur’s Class I aircraft
spun in from the top of the circle after he
lost line tension during low speed. Ted
Kraver and John Vlna also crashed before
completing their Class I low speeds. Ted
and John were more successful in Class
II, but both missed their landing attempts.
Bill Calkins was up next in Class II
with his MO-1. He completed a high of
94.4 mph and a low of 55.8 mph. He set
up for landing by cutting the throttle on
the far side of the circle and attempting to
slow the aircraft while flying downwind
toward the deck. He went around on the
first approach and tried again. That time
he managed to complete the landing and
move into first place, 90 points ahead of
Mike Greb. The differences in their
scores in Class II and Profile nearly
canceled each other; they were close for
the Ely award, so both waited to compete
in Class I.
Pete Mazur’s second attempt in Class
II ended with less than a half lap
remaining in low speed when his richrunning
engine flamed out again.
In the Class I competition between
Mike Greb and Bill Calkins, Mike’s first
attempt ended with a throttle failure that
brought him down before his low-speed
signal for an attempt, with no score. On
his second try Mike finished high and low
(94.3 and 44 mph), but his landing
approach was low and the model touched
down short of the deck with no damage.
Bill topped Mike’s high speed with
97.4 mph, but his low of more than 63
mph was not sufficient to beat Mike for
Class I or the Eugene Ely Award. Bill’s
second attempt ended with a slower high
speed, and he tried again. His third flight
ended with a flameout during low. With
first place in Class I and the lead in the
Eugene Ely competition, Mike elected not
to risk his airplane again and waived his
last go at an official flight.
With the competition looking more
like a demolition derby than Navy
Carrier, the other contestants withdrew to
fly another day with airplanes intact.
The Navy Carrier Society awards
banquet was a good opportunity to relax
after the trials of the day. Mike Greb was
crowned the overall CL Navy Carrier
champion and presented with the Eugene
Ely Award.
December 2003 87
Dick Perry flew this Grumman Guardian designed by Bill Melton
to first place in the Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier event.
Pete Mazur (L) holds Bill Calkins’ MO-1 while Bill checks the lines
on the Class II Navy Carrier model.
Navy Carrier Society President Bill Calkins (L) congratulates
Mike Greb on winning this year’s Eugene Ely Award.
John Vlna holds his Class II Nostalgia first-place plaque and
McCoy .60 he won as the best flier in the Nostalgia events.
CONTROL LINE
Each year the Navy Carrier Society
honors an outstanding volunteer whose
service to the sport enhances the
participants’ enjoyment. This year the
Carol Johnson Spirit of Volunteerism
Award went to Brenda Schuette. She has
been the CL category director at the
Nationals for many years, running the
events superbly. Thanks, Brenda, from all
of us.
Saturday, July 12, the weather was
nearly perfect for the unofficial events.
The Texas Contingent sponsored the .15
Carrier event with an Expert and a
Sportsman class. Bill Bischoff placed first
88 MODEL AVIATION
Art Johnson uses a triangle to check the attitude of Mike Greb’s Profile model.
These de Havilland Vampire models were flown by Bob Frogner (in Sportsman Profile)
and Bill Calkins (in AMA Profile). It is Bill’s newest design.
CONTROL LINE
in the Expert category, followed by
Melvin Schuette and Dale Gleason.
Melvin (a Kansan) kept the Texans from
dominating the event as they often do.
Bob Frogner won Sportsman, Dave King
was second, and Art Johnson was third.
Sig sponsored the Skyray Carrier event
and donated fuel and a Skyray kit as
prizes. Bill Bischoff won the event, with
Ted Kraver and John Vlna finishing in
second and third.
Participation in the Nostalgia Carrier
events increased this year, and
merchandise prizes were offered in
addition to plaques. John Brodak (of
Brodak Manufacturing) donated an F7F
Tigercat kit, APC donated propellers,
Frank Landry donated one of his new
Profile MO-1 kits, and Kit Logan donated
a Dumas Crusader kit.
I won the Profile event with a Melton
Guardian at 356.51 points, Art Johnson
was second flying a Cordes Spearfish, and
John Vlna was third with a Mottin XPC-1
Starjet.
Ted Kraver beat me in Class I by just
more than one-quarter of a point. Ted flew
a Domizi-designed Guardian with a Fox
.29 engine using a flapper valve for speed
control. I flew my Short Seamew with a
SuperTigre G-40 engine. Reliability was a
problem for both of us. Unfortunately a
lack of reliability was common in earlier
Carrier models, but a trait not worth
emulating, even for a Nostalgia event.
In Class II the second and third places
went to Ted Kraver and Art Johnson. Both
flew Guardians. Ted’s was built from the
Sterling kit. Art flew a Bill Johnson
design with a McCoy .60 engine equipped
with a fuel meter and exhaust slide. John
Vlna won Class II with 450.40 points,
flying his Myrt by Roland Baltes. He also
won the McCoy .60 engine that was
awarded to the flier with the most total
points in all three Nostalgia Carrier
events.
The Nationals was a good time spent
with good friends. The three days of
flying would have been impossible
without the efforts of the volunteers who
served as officials so that the rest of us
could fly. Bill Bischoff was the Navy
Carrier event director, and Art Johnson
was the center judge. Dave King served as
pit boss, and John “Doc” Holliday
computed the scores.
A host of people timed the events
during the three days, including John
Schwalbe, Melvin Schuette, Gary Hull,
Bob Frogner, Linda Gleason, and many of
the contestants at one time or another. Bill
Calkins was the center judge on Saturday,
and Pete Mazur ran the deck as event
director.
In addition to the volunteers serving at
this year’s Nationals events, the AMA staff
repaired and refinished the Navy Carrier
deck during the winter.
Thanks to all of you for making this
year’s CL Navy Carrier events possible. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 85,86,87,88
IF ONE WERE to ask any participants of this year’s Control
Line (CL) Navy Carrier Nationals competition to describe the
most memorable part of the events, the most common answer
would probably be the weather! We came closer this year than
any time in memory of having a true floating carrier deck and
flying over water.
Muncie had received 16 inches of rain in two weeks, which is
quite a change for me; I am used to getting 16 inches of rain in
two years in Albuquerque! Aside from the flooded roads that
made driving a challenge, the traditional Carrier-event location
was waterlogged and far too wet for flying.
Fortunately AMA had just completed a double paved circle
northeast of the usual Carrier venue in preparation for the CL
World Championships, to be held at the site in 2004. Carrier was
flown this year on those circles. It was nice to be able to land off
the deck without worrying about flipping over in the grass, but
the hard pavement was unforgiving Friday when the wind gusts
to 30 knots caused many inadvertent ground contacts.
Few contestants or spectators expected to need jackets in
Muncie in July, which added some discomfort to the mix. In
spite of the adverse weather, the camaraderie was outstanding;
everyone pitched in to make the best of the conditions.
Profile Carrier was flown Thursday, July 10, and the unofficial
Sportsman Profile Carrier event was flown at the same time. Ten
contestants posted official flights in Profile, and five did so in
Sportsman.
The weather started out calm, with a slight breeze developing
approximately an hour into the official competition. By 11 a.m.,
the wind was a little stronger but becoming more variable with
gusts to roughly 10 knots. With more rain threatening later in the
day, most contestants elected to complete their flights early.
A variety of models were entered this year, with the MO-1
being the more popular single design as usual. The MO-1s were
a minority this year, with only five entries of the 15 total. Even
among the MO-1s there was some variety; three different
designs were entered. The rest of the models were a good mix,
with two de Havilland Vampires, two Vought Kingfishers, two
Grumman Guardians, a Douglas Dauntless, a Brewster 340, a
Consolidated XBY-1, and a Sig Skyray.
John Vlna’s XBY-1 was one of the more interesting aircraft.
It was modeled after an obscure single-engine level bomber from
between the wars that didn’t get past initial testing. It is a highwing
airplane with proportions similar to those of the MO-1, but
it offers a welcome change of pace without deviating
significantly from the proven MO-1 configuration. I’ll include
more information on the models in my next CL Navy Carrier
column.
John Vlna was first off of the deck in Profile Carrier with his
XBY-1. His successful attempt started the competition much
better than it began last year, when no complete flights were
made during the first hour.
Mike Greb followed John’s example with the second flight of
the day and moved into first place with a 318.1 score. Mike’s 90
mph high speed was respectable, and his low time of just less
than four minutes was great with no wind to assist.
The initial trend of complete flights was not to endure; a
succession of bad luck consisting of engine and mechanical
problems started challenging the contestants. Slow engine
response, flameout, engine sag on takeoff, and line-slider
malfunctions left the leaders secure in their positions for a while.
December 2003 85
N a v y C a r r i e r
Dick Perry, 427 Live Oak Ln. N.E., Albuquerque NM 87122; E-mail: [email protected]
Bill Bischoff prepares his Sig Skyray for the Skyray Carrier event.
He captured first place in the event this year.
Mike Greb pull-tests his Class II model. He won the Eugene Ely
Award for being the outstanding Navy Carrier competitor.
CONTROL LINE
As the morning progressed, the weather
began to change and performances
improved.
Brian Silversmith flew his Kingfisher
into second place with an 83.4 mph high
speed and a 216-second low. My
Nostalgia Guardian managed a 97.2 mph
high speed (the best of the day), but the
design’s limited slow-flight capability
affected the total score potential, and I
inched ahead of John Vlna by less than
three points.
The good conditions didn’t last long,
and much of the opportunity for higher
scores was lost while equipment issues
were addressed. Tom Schaefer had the
other complete flight of the day, but low
speed kept him out of the running for a
trophy.
The wind began to change in
consistency, with gusts disrupting the
low-speed portions of the flights and
affecting landings. Dale Gleason moved
into third place with his MO-1, but lowspeed
performance and missed landings
kept other contestants from the trophies.
Bill Calkins’ efforts were adversely
affected by a loose throttle retaining
screw and a tail-high landing. Pete
Mazur’s initial attempt resulted in an
engine failure on low speed, probably
induced by a failing throttle arm that let
go completely on his second attempt and
kept him from achieving a low speed on
either flight. Gary Hull and Ted Kraver
had problems that kept them from scoring
a landing and a low speed respectively.
At the end of the day, Mike Greb was
in first place and in the lead for the
Eugene Ely Award. Only Dale Gleason
and John Vlna achieved flights in Profile
and Class I and II with which to challenge
Mike for the Ely award. Other
competitors were at a distinct
disadvantage without complete flights in
Profile.
In Sportsman, the Schwalbe family—
John, Charlie, and Rob—took on Dave
King and Bob Frogner. In the end, John
and Charlie went home with the first- and
third-place trophies, and Dave King
placed second. Bob Frogner had the best
high and low speeds, but his model
missed the arresting lines during landing
and rolled off the end of the deck and out
of the running.
Friday, July 11, started with strong
winds, and the forecast was for more of
the same throughout the day. With the
potential for complete flights severely
limited by the wind, the competition for
the Eugene Ely Award was wide open
again.
Mike Greb started the day in Class II
with a 96 mph high and a safe 44 mph
low, but his model hit the ground hard
short of the deck while attempting to land.
The tail separated, and it became airborne
again with dire consequences when it hit
the ground the second time.
Pete Mazur’s Class II MO-1 was
86 MODEL AVIATION
Melvin Schuette prepares John “Doc” Holliday’s G-S Bearcat for
flight in Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier.
Gary Hull entered this model of the Brewster Model 340
prototype in the Profile Navy Carrier event.
Ted Kraver flew this Aloise Condor powered by a SuperTigre ST-
35 engine in the Nostalgia Profile Carrier event.
Brenda Schuette received the NCS Carol Johnson Spirit of
Volunteerism Award for her ongoing efforts at the Nationals.
CONTROL LINE
running rich in transition because of the
level attitude, and the engine flamed out
before low speed. He landed safely. John
Vlna and Ted Kraver lost control of their
Class I models on low speed and hit the
pavement.
Back in Class II, John Vlna flew his
Myrt through high and a 43 mph low. He
lined up on the deck and nearly made the
landing, but the high speed caused him to
misjudge the approach and touch down
three feet past the last arresting line. The
airplane rolled off the end of the deck and
into second place behind Mike’s.
Other competitors had difficulties with
the wind. Pete Mazur’s Class I aircraft
spun in from the top of the circle after he
lost line tension during low speed. Ted
Kraver and John Vlna also crashed before
completing their Class I low speeds. Ted
and John were more successful in Class
II, but both missed their landing attempts.
Bill Calkins was up next in Class II
with his MO-1. He completed a high of
94.4 mph and a low of 55.8 mph. He set
up for landing by cutting the throttle on
the far side of the circle and attempting to
slow the aircraft while flying downwind
toward the deck. He went around on the
first approach and tried again. That time
he managed to complete the landing and
move into first place, 90 points ahead of
Mike Greb. The differences in their
scores in Class II and Profile nearly
canceled each other; they were close for
the Ely award, so both waited to compete
in Class I.
Pete Mazur’s second attempt in Class
II ended with less than a half lap
remaining in low speed when his richrunning
engine flamed out again.
In the Class I competition between
Mike Greb and Bill Calkins, Mike’s first
attempt ended with a throttle failure that
brought him down before his low-speed
signal for an attempt, with no score. On
his second try Mike finished high and low
(94.3 and 44 mph), but his landing
approach was low and the model touched
down short of the deck with no damage.
Bill topped Mike’s high speed with
97.4 mph, but his low of more than 63
mph was not sufficient to beat Mike for
Class I or the Eugene Ely Award. Bill’s
second attempt ended with a slower high
speed, and he tried again. His third flight
ended with a flameout during low. With
first place in Class I and the lead in the
Eugene Ely competition, Mike elected not
to risk his airplane again and waived his
last go at an official flight.
With the competition looking more
like a demolition derby than Navy
Carrier, the other contestants withdrew to
fly another day with airplanes intact.
The Navy Carrier Society awards
banquet was a good opportunity to relax
after the trials of the day. Mike Greb was
crowned the overall CL Navy Carrier
champion and presented with the Eugene
Ely Award.
December 2003 87
Dick Perry flew this Grumman Guardian designed by Bill Melton
to first place in the Nostalgia Profile Navy Carrier event.
Pete Mazur (L) holds Bill Calkins’ MO-1 while Bill checks the lines
on the Class II Navy Carrier model.
Navy Carrier Society President Bill Calkins (L) congratulates
Mike Greb on winning this year’s Eugene Ely Award.
John Vlna holds his Class II Nostalgia first-place plaque and
McCoy .60 he won as the best flier in the Nostalgia events.
CONTROL LINE
Each year the Navy Carrier Society
honors an outstanding volunteer whose
service to the sport enhances the
participants’ enjoyment. This year the
Carol Johnson Spirit of Volunteerism
Award went to Brenda Schuette. She has
been the CL category director at the
Nationals for many years, running the
events superbly. Thanks, Brenda, from all
of us.
Saturday, July 12, the weather was
nearly perfect for the unofficial events.
The Texas Contingent sponsored the .15
Carrier event with an Expert and a
Sportsman class. Bill Bischoff placed first
88 MODEL AVIATION
Art Johnson uses a triangle to check the attitude of Mike Greb’s Profile model.
These de Havilland Vampire models were flown by Bob Frogner (in Sportsman Profile)
and Bill Calkins (in AMA Profile). It is Bill’s newest design.
CONTROL LINE
in the Expert category, followed by
Melvin Schuette and Dale Gleason.
Melvin (a Kansan) kept the Texans from
dominating the event as they often do.
Bob Frogner won Sportsman, Dave King
was second, and Art Johnson was third.
Sig sponsored the Skyray Carrier event
and donated fuel and a Skyray kit as
prizes. Bill Bischoff won the event, with
Ted Kraver and John Vlna finishing in
second and third.
Participation in the Nostalgia Carrier
events increased this year, and
merchandise prizes were offered in
addition to plaques. John Brodak (of
Brodak Manufacturing) donated an F7F
Tigercat kit, APC donated propellers,
Frank Landry donated one of his new
Profile MO-1 kits, and Kit Logan donated
a Dumas Crusader kit.
I won the Profile event with a Melton
Guardian at 356.51 points, Art Johnson
was second flying a Cordes Spearfish, and
John Vlna was third with a Mottin XPC-1
Starjet.
Ted Kraver beat me in Class I by just
more than one-quarter of a point. Ted flew
a Domizi-designed Guardian with a Fox
.29 engine using a flapper valve for speed
control. I flew my Short Seamew with a
SuperTigre G-40 engine. Reliability was a
problem for both of us. Unfortunately a
lack of reliability was common in earlier
Carrier models, but a trait not worth
emulating, even for a Nostalgia event.
In Class II the second and third places
went to Ted Kraver and Art Johnson. Both
flew Guardians. Ted’s was built from the
Sterling kit. Art flew a Bill Johnson
design with a McCoy .60 engine equipped
with a fuel meter and exhaust slide. John
Vlna won Class II with 450.40 points,
flying his Myrt by Roland Baltes. He also
won the McCoy .60 engine that was
awarded to the flier with the most total
points in all three Nostalgia Carrier
events.
The Nationals was a good time spent
with good friends. The three days of
flying would have been impossible
without the efforts of the volunteers who
served as officials so that the rest of us
could fly. Bill Bischoff was the Navy
Carrier event director, and Art Johnson
was the center judge. Dave King served as
pit boss, and John “Doc” Holliday
computed the scores.
A host of people timed the events
during the three days, including John
Schwalbe, Melvin Schuette, Gary Hull,
Bob Frogner, Linda Gleason, and many of
the contestants at one time or another. Bill
Calkins was the center judge on Saturday,
and Pete Mazur ran the deck as event
director.
In addition to the volunteers serving at
this year’s Nationals events, the AMA staff
repaired and refinished the Navy Carrier
deck during the winter.
Thanks to all of you for making this
year’s CL Navy Carrier events possible. MA