The grace of a well-equipped flight stand
It seems as though every time I go to a contest, I forget to take something I need. Earlier this year I went to a contest and had no way of charging my airplanes. Luckily there always seems to be someone at the field who will let you borrow equipment.
To me, the most important tool to have when you start out in Combat is a good flight stand. Most of the time, you can carry everything you need in it. I have seen all kinds of stands, from milk crates to card tables. One of the most popular is the rolling toolbox.
They can be purchased from any home-improvement store for $30–$50. It is a good idea to get one that has storage on top as well as internal storage. This will help when at a contest, since you will have easy access to streamers and propellers.
Flight-stand essentials
- Rolling toolbox (top storage + internal storage recommended)
- Flight-stand top that holds the model firmly
- A place to hold the glow igniter
- Battery with a power panel (see below)
- Replacement propellers and streamers
Building the stand
Once you have the box you’re going to use, you will need to make a stand on top of it. I use 3/4-inch OD (outside diameter) PVC, which holds up well. I have seen other people use 1/2-inch PVC, but it seems to flex a little more. I like it not to move when I am running up the engine to full power.
Using PVC connectors, you can build the top stand up to the height that is easiest for you. I have also built in a place to hold the glow igniter off to the side. It is important that the stand holds your models in place when you are running up your engines. You will need to make a curve at the top that will go over the wing.
An important factor in building the stand is to make sure you can remove the top part of it for easy transport. I use screw-on connectors, which allow the top section to be removed and placed inside the box.
Battery and power
Another thing you may want in a flight stand is a battery with a power panel. This comes in handy, since you are normally set up at the flightline—not at your car, where most people charge their airplanes. It is important to cover the connections and protect the battery, because other items in the box may hit or seep onto it. I have seen instances in which something crosses over the connections, and all you see is smoke.
Rule changes and RCCA updates
As we get ready to start a new Combat season, it is a good time to look at what changes have been made to make the activity look better than ever. This past year, the Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA) Rules Committee voted for some changes that should help in planning for your events.
Major changes include:
- Addition of Slow Survivable Combat (SSC) as a rule-book event. SSC has become the most-often-flown Combat category in recent years; incorporating it into the rule book will help it become better known. It will be flown on the first few days of this year’s Nats.
- Increase of the engine-displacement requirement in rule 2610 from 0.26 to 0.30 cu. in., to match Open B.
- Removal of the 1/2A Open and 2105 events, since they have not been flown in the past five years.
This should be a great year of Combat. Make sure you get updated score sheets and rule books from the RCCA website before you attend your first event.
Dixie Nationals — contest report
Last year I went to many contests. It was the first time I flew in more than SSC. It was really nice to see other events and meet many of the people I talk to online in person. One of the last competitions I went to was the Dixie Nationals in Andersonville, Georgia. It was hosted by Hodges Hobbies; Mac Hodges Field is one of the best flying sites I have visited. It is also nice to have such a good hobby shop right on the field.
The CD was Chris Handegard, who lives in southern Florida. The two-day event included SSC, Open B, and 2548 Scale Combat classes.
We started with Open B on Saturday, with eight rounds. Six pilots showed up to compete in the category; that allowed for more time between rounds, since everyone flew in every round. In the end, Stan “Dreaded Skull” Erwin came away the winner with 1,800 points. We finished Open B earlier than planned. And since we had only four pilots for 2548 Scale Combat, we were able to finish all eight rounds before sunset.
I started out with a few problems with my Hat Trick Zero and ended up switching to my P-51, also made by Hat Trick, in the third round. I normally have problems with the P-51, because they seldom fly as well as Zeros. Most people tend to fly Zeros since they are easy to build.
After the switch I had a good contest, including a four-cut round with just four airplanes in the air. I ended up in second place by 300 points behind Chris Handegard.
The next morning we started with SSC. It was a bit warmer than the night before, which had gotten down into the 30s. This was a more competitive event, with several great pilots, but in the end Chris Handegard came away the winner again.
Hosting and running events
Sometimes the smaller events can be just as fun as a big contest. Chris has always done a great job of hosting competitions, and his traveling from Florida to put on the event in Georgia is a real accomplishment.
Many people think you have to hold a big event or a contest at your home field, but that is not always true. It is also a good idea to have the right people helping you when you get to a contest.
Most CDs tend not to want to fly, since they are taking on most of the burden to make sure the contest runs smoothly. Don Pruitt, a member of my club, has always been the CD for events at our club. Since Chris wanted to fly in the contest, Don volunteered his time to come down with his wife and help. If you are trying to start a new event, it is sometimes important to get others involved so you will enjoy the day when the contest arrives.
Another thing I have noticed with Chris’s events is that he seems to work hard to get prizes that may entice people to come. He has been excellent at getting items donated by hobby shops and other companies.
I hope everyone has had a good winter getting everything built so we can start another year of Combat.
Sources
- Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA)
- www.rccombat.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
