114 MODEL AVIATION
RealFlight G5 combat
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Combat Don Grissom
Also included in this column:
• Air Combat America
promotes the hobby
Above: The Air Combat America group puts
on demonstrations during the Roar and Soar
event at Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in
Polk City, Florida.
Right: Team members take in Kermit Weeks’
beautiful P-51 finished in Tuskegee Airmen
colors. This is “Ina the Macon Belle,” flown by
Lee Archer.
Below: April 2007 Combat Team (L-R): Chris
Handegard, Craig Buttery, Brian Boots, Jeff
Benko, Eric Laukien, Daniel Warner, and
Glenn Gelatt.
DO YOU EVER notice how many times it
seems to rain when you want to fly? This past
winter it seemed as though each weekend was
too windy, raining, or even snowing. One
thing you might learn about Combat pilots is
that they’re willing to fly in some bad
weather.
It was a nice change when I picked up the
new RealFlight G5 flight simulator from
Great Planes. I have played with the other
versions, but when I saw that combat is
available on the latest edition, I could not wait
to get started.
There are three versions of combat on G5,
but the best and closest to real RC Combat is
the streamer cutting. There are two versions
that we fly on this simulator. One uses the
Multiplex ParkMaster 3D, which gives a feel
like Slow Survivable Combat. This allows for
05sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 3/24/10 2:07 PM Page 114
a much smaller arena in which to work.
You start by taking off from the runway.
As soon as your airplane is in the air, you
begin your attack by trying to cut the
streamers off of the other pilots’ aircraft.
Every time you get a cut, you get 100
points. The person who gets cut resets on the
runway and has to take off again.
If you crash, you can hit the reset button;
that will cost you 25 points. The rounds last
approximately 10 minutes and can be a lot of
fun. Even with only two players, you can
learn a lot about how to chase another pilot.
I have also flown with the P-51 Mustang,
which is similar to 2548 or 2610 Combat.
This can be enjoyable but requires slightly
more skill to keep up. Most beginners will
feel more comfortable with the ParkMaster.
Although the simulator will never take the
place of flying real RC Combat, it is a good
alternative for rainy days. It is also good for
those who want to learn more about RC
Combat.
Many people ask me how to promote an
event. Most of the time it seems as though
people want to fly Combat but don’t know
how to get it going in their areas.
Chris Handegard of West Palm Beach,
Florida, is one of the best at promoting
Combat. He sent me some advice about how
to do it, which follows.
RC enthusiasts have written and said much
throughout the years about promoting
Combat. A fair portion of those helpful
suggestions has reached me.
RC Combat requires an investment of
effort and a willingness to stick to it when the
going gets tough, and the event usually
requires a flying site at which to stage
contests. It can be difficult to keep the interest
alive with a healthy group participating and
the essential support of clubs at whose sites
these competitions are often held.
Various static displays during the year,
such as the booth that RC Combat Association
President Bob Loescher runs, feature models,
videos, and literature. Representatives at the
Toledo Weak Signals show in Ohio in April
answer questions and promote Combat
interest. You might have seen something
similar at a local fair or mall, and Combat
enthusiasts visit schools and other
organizations.
When Frank Tiano, a major RC event
promoter and RC modeling icon, expressed
interest in sponsoring a Combat team late in
2007, a long-standing pipe dream of fielding a
dedicated Combat show team began to take
shape.
During the last 15 years or so at the
prestigious annual Top Gun Invitational Scale
contest in Lakeland, Florida, an informal
group of Combat pilots gathered to put on a
demonstration. It was well received by large
audiences during the noontime air show,
which was a highlight of the event.
Pilots came from many locations, and
sometimes as far away as neighboring
Georgia. Often 12 or more aircraft went up at
once. We enjoyed the thrill of being part of
the extravaganza and were delighted with the
crowd’s response to streamer cuts and
spectacular midair collisions!
Top Gun, a high-profile event, was a
fitting venue at which to showcase a Combat
team. Air Combat America was born, and the
first official show for the group was Top Gun,
in April 2007. In addition to the team debut,
we flew at several other RC events across the
state, from Cape Coral to Fort Lauderdale in
the following year.
Using long 60- to 70-foot, 2-inch-wide,
brightly colored crepe paper streamers is a
good way to add visual impact to the
demonstrations. It also increases distance
between models and, in theory, decreases
midairs.
We still tried to simultaneously occupy the
same airspace on occasion, but the team
continued to get better at cleaning the
streamers off of one another’s aircraft while
suffering from few collisions. That skill can
definitely benefit the competition pilot.
You might be asking yourself how seven
or eight pilots keep track of RC airplanes that
look alike as they twist and turn insanely
around each other in a Combat show. Cover
the bottoms with radically different color
schemes, and never take your eyes off of your
model.
As the 2008 Top Gun neared, Air Combat
America gained a pilot for the eighth model:
John Harding, aka “Buzzard.” Unfortunately,
because life intervened, we lost our fourth pilot.
Shown holding his airplane is Mark
Laukien: young Eric Laukien’s dad. Although
Mark doesn’t fly on the team, he is always
there to support and launch for his son, since,
at that time, the number-five model was bigger
than Eric was!
The team continued to put on Combat
demos at local and regional RC events in
2008, and normally the majority of the eightman
team participated. One such event was an
AMA jamboree in Fort Lauderdale, which fell
on a date on which I had a prior commitment
that I could not break for the sake of a team
demonstration.
Without skipping a beat, Air Combat
America Co-Captain Craig Buttery stepped up
and reorganized things to make the
demonstration possible. The team consists of a
great bunch of guys, and it has been a pleasure
to put on shows with them!
When 2009 rolled around, we lost another
member. Eric “the Termite” grew up and put
RC Combat down for the time being. His
natural talent as a model aircraft pilot coupled
with good Combat instincts put him on the
winner’s podium several times. I will not be
surprised to see him come back to it later.
We gained a replacement in Chris
Martindale, who held the number-two airplane
at Top Gun. Attrition was taking a toll on the
airframes, and one had to be permanently
retired.
The team also flew for the second year at
Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in the Roar
and Soar event in Polk City, Florida. The fullscale
aircraft that were displayed and flown,
RC models of all types, and an appreciative
audience made for an exciting setting as we
flew multiple shows each day.
Air Combat America would not be
possible without the generous support of
Frank Tiano and Frank Tiano Enterprises,
Peter Goldsmith of JR and Horizon Hobby,
Jan Scharnell of Air Scharnell Avengers
(formerly TeamSeaholm), and ZAP
adhesives. These wonderful people provide
equipment and funding. We team members
hope you thank them when you hear any
mention of our group.
If you find yourself among the spectators
at an event we are a part of, we hope the bug
bites you. Give it a whirl and see what you’ve
been missing!
The Air Combat America mission
statement is to promote Combat activity by
presenting it to the public. “Activity” in this
sense means officially sanctioned AMA
Combat contests. Flying in demonstrations
and showboating is fun, but the real deal is
competition, which is also the problem.
Most Combat contests I have attended
don’t draw many spectators. Our aim is to put
this modeling discipline where it isn’t and get
those who might not otherwise see what
Combat looks like interested enough to try it.
Closing out 2009, Air Combat America
had the opportunity to put on a show at the
Orlando-area Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s year-end Tangerine air
show. Since it took place December 27, in the
midst of people’s holiday plans, I was the
only team member who could attend.
When it comes to Combat promotion and
competition, don’t give up! Quitters make
lousy targets. There’s no guarantee that any
effort will produce more participation. If you
do nothing to promote your hobby, there will
probably be little or no growth; at worst, there
will be a continuing decline in turnout.
Contests with decreasing numbers have
less appeal than those with enthusiastic
competitors who demonstrate, with their
actions, how much they enjoy Combat and
wish for more of the same in the future. Suit
up and show up.
The Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s expressed interest in hosting
a contest was not solely the result of a single
demonstration. Now a Combat competition is
scheduled there for August 2010.
This club’s field is favorable for Combat. A
large, open flying area slopes down and away
from the flightline, so your aircraft can dive and
maintain flight below foot level while dodging
scattered small trees.
I hope to see you there, and don’t forget to
frequently check your six o’clock for bandits!
So where are the pictures of spectacular
midair crashes and models with streamers
chasing each other? Go to the RC Combat
Association’s Web site. It contains numerous
event debriefs and many photos of competition
action from across the country.
This column is about what it takes to
promote Combat: people. Thanks to everyone
who is responsible for the success of Air
Combat America; we’re entering our fourth
season and still going strong!
This is your personal invitation to get
involved in the hobby and have fun with us.
Then see if you don’t agree that a round of
Combat is the most exciting five minutes of RC
you can experience! MA
Sources:
RealFlight
(800) 637-7660
www.realflight.com
RC Combat Association
www.rccombat.net
Top Gun
(863) 607-6611
www.franktiano.com/TopGunFrameset.htm
Fantasy of Flight
(863) 984-3500
www.fantasyofflight.com
Air Scharnell Avengers
(303) 617-9777
www.airscharnell.com
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
ZAP adhesives
www.zapglue.com
Remote Control Association of Central Florida
www.rcacf.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/05
Page Numbers: 114,115,116
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/05
Page Numbers: 114,115,116
114 MODEL AVIATION
RealFlight G5 combat
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Combat Don Grissom
Also included in this column:
• Air Combat America
promotes the hobby
Above: The Air Combat America group puts
on demonstrations during the Roar and Soar
event at Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in
Polk City, Florida.
Right: Team members take in Kermit Weeks’
beautiful P-51 finished in Tuskegee Airmen
colors. This is “Ina the Macon Belle,” flown by
Lee Archer.
Below: April 2007 Combat Team (L-R): Chris
Handegard, Craig Buttery, Brian Boots, Jeff
Benko, Eric Laukien, Daniel Warner, and
Glenn Gelatt.
DO YOU EVER notice how many times it
seems to rain when you want to fly? This past
winter it seemed as though each weekend was
too windy, raining, or even snowing. One
thing you might learn about Combat pilots is
that they’re willing to fly in some bad
weather.
It was a nice change when I picked up the
new RealFlight G5 flight simulator from
Great Planes. I have played with the other
versions, but when I saw that combat is
available on the latest edition, I could not wait
to get started.
There are three versions of combat on G5,
but the best and closest to real RC Combat is
the streamer cutting. There are two versions
that we fly on this simulator. One uses the
Multiplex ParkMaster 3D, which gives a feel
like Slow Survivable Combat. This allows for
05sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 3/24/10 2:07 PM Page 114
a much smaller arena in which to work.
You start by taking off from the runway.
As soon as your airplane is in the air, you
begin your attack by trying to cut the
streamers off of the other pilots’ aircraft.
Every time you get a cut, you get 100
points. The person who gets cut resets on the
runway and has to take off again.
If you crash, you can hit the reset button;
that will cost you 25 points. The rounds last
approximately 10 minutes and can be a lot of
fun. Even with only two players, you can
learn a lot about how to chase another pilot.
I have also flown with the P-51 Mustang,
which is similar to 2548 or 2610 Combat.
This can be enjoyable but requires slightly
more skill to keep up. Most beginners will
feel more comfortable with the ParkMaster.
Although the simulator will never take the
place of flying real RC Combat, it is a good
alternative for rainy days. It is also good for
those who want to learn more about RC
Combat.
Many people ask me how to promote an
event. Most of the time it seems as though
people want to fly Combat but don’t know
how to get it going in their areas.
Chris Handegard of West Palm Beach,
Florida, is one of the best at promoting
Combat. He sent me some advice about how
to do it, which follows.
RC enthusiasts have written and said much
throughout the years about promoting
Combat. A fair portion of those helpful
suggestions has reached me.
RC Combat requires an investment of
effort and a willingness to stick to it when the
going gets tough, and the event usually
requires a flying site at which to stage
contests. It can be difficult to keep the interest
alive with a healthy group participating and
the essential support of clubs at whose sites
these competitions are often held.
Various static displays during the year,
such as the booth that RC Combat Association
President Bob Loescher runs, feature models,
videos, and literature. Representatives at the
Toledo Weak Signals show in Ohio in April
answer questions and promote Combat
interest. You might have seen something
similar at a local fair or mall, and Combat
enthusiasts visit schools and other
organizations.
When Frank Tiano, a major RC event
promoter and RC modeling icon, expressed
interest in sponsoring a Combat team late in
2007, a long-standing pipe dream of fielding a
dedicated Combat show team began to take
shape.
During the last 15 years or so at the
prestigious annual Top Gun Invitational Scale
contest in Lakeland, Florida, an informal
group of Combat pilots gathered to put on a
demonstration. It was well received by large
audiences during the noontime air show,
which was a highlight of the event.
Pilots came from many locations, and
sometimes as far away as neighboring
Georgia. Often 12 or more aircraft went up at
once. We enjoyed the thrill of being part of
the extravaganza and were delighted with the
crowd’s response to streamer cuts and
spectacular midair collisions!
Top Gun, a high-profile event, was a
fitting venue at which to showcase a Combat
team. Air Combat America was born, and the
first official show for the group was Top Gun,
in April 2007. In addition to the team debut,
we flew at several other RC events across the
state, from Cape Coral to Fort Lauderdale in
the following year.
Using long 60- to 70-foot, 2-inch-wide,
brightly colored crepe paper streamers is a
good way to add visual impact to the
demonstrations. It also increases distance
between models and, in theory, decreases
midairs.
We still tried to simultaneously occupy the
same airspace on occasion, but the team
continued to get better at cleaning the
streamers off of one another’s aircraft while
suffering from few collisions. That skill can
definitely benefit the competition pilot.
You might be asking yourself how seven
or eight pilots keep track of RC airplanes that
look alike as they twist and turn insanely
around each other in a Combat show. Cover
the bottoms with radically different color
schemes, and never take your eyes off of your
model.
As the 2008 Top Gun neared, Air Combat
America gained a pilot for the eighth model:
John Harding, aka “Buzzard.” Unfortunately,
because life intervened, we lost our fourth pilot.
Shown holding his airplane is Mark
Laukien: young Eric Laukien’s dad. Although
Mark doesn’t fly on the team, he is always
there to support and launch for his son, since,
at that time, the number-five model was bigger
than Eric was!
The team continued to put on Combat
demos at local and regional RC events in
2008, and normally the majority of the eightman
team participated. One such event was an
AMA jamboree in Fort Lauderdale, which fell
on a date on which I had a prior commitment
that I could not break for the sake of a team
demonstration.
Without skipping a beat, Air Combat
America Co-Captain Craig Buttery stepped up
and reorganized things to make the
demonstration possible. The team consists of a
great bunch of guys, and it has been a pleasure
to put on shows with them!
When 2009 rolled around, we lost another
member. Eric “the Termite” grew up and put
RC Combat down for the time being. His
natural talent as a model aircraft pilot coupled
with good Combat instincts put him on the
winner’s podium several times. I will not be
surprised to see him come back to it later.
We gained a replacement in Chris
Martindale, who held the number-two airplane
at Top Gun. Attrition was taking a toll on the
airframes, and one had to be permanently
retired.
The team also flew for the second year at
Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in the Roar
and Soar event in Polk City, Florida. The fullscale
aircraft that were displayed and flown,
RC models of all types, and an appreciative
audience made for an exciting setting as we
flew multiple shows each day.
Air Combat America would not be
possible without the generous support of
Frank Tiano and Frank Tiano Enterprises,
Peter Goldsmith of JR and Horizon Hobby,
Jan Scharnell of Air Scharnell Avengers
(formerly TeamSeaholm), and ZAP
adhesives. These wonderful people provide
equipment and funding. We team members
hope you thank them when you hear any
mention of our group.
If you find yourself among the spectators
at an event we are a part of, we hope the bug
bites you. Give it a whirl and see what you’ve
been missing!
The Air Combat America mission
statement is to promote Combat activity by
presenting it to the public. “Activity” in this
sense means officially sanctioned AMA
Combat contests. Flying in demonstrations
and showboating is fun, but the real deal is
competition, which is also the problem.
Most Combat contests I have attended
don’t draw many spectators. Our aim is to put
this modeling discipline where it isn’t and get
those who might not otherwise see what
Combat looks like interested enough to try it.
Closing out 2009, Air Combat America
had the opportunity to put on a show at the
Orlando-area Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s year-end Tangerine air
show. Since it took place December 27, in the
midst of people’s holiday plans, I was the
only team member who could attend.
When it comes to Combat promotion and
competition, don’t give up! Quitters make
lousy targets. There’s no guarantee that any
effort will produce more participation. If you
do nothing to promote your hobby, there will
probably be little or no growth; at worst, there
will be a continuing decline in turnout.
Contests with decreasing numbers have
less appeal than those with enthusiastic
competitors who demonstrate, with their
actions, how much they enjoy Combat and
wish for more of the same in the future. Suit
up and show up.
The Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s expressed interest in hosting
a contest was not solely the result of a single
demonstration. Now a Combat competition is
scheduled there for August 2010.
This club’s field is favorable for Combat. A
large, open flying area slopes down and away
from the flightline, so your aircraft can dive and
maintain flight below foot level while dodging
scattered small trees.
I hope to see you there, and don’t forget to
frequently check your six o’clock for bandits!
So where are the pictures of spectacular
midair crashes and models with streamers
chasing each other? Go to the RC Combat
Association’s Web site. It contains numerous
event debriefs and many photos of competition
action from across the country.
This column is about what it takes to
promote Combat: people. Thanks to everyone
who is responsible for the success of Air
Combat America; we’re entering our fourth
season and still going strong!
This is your personal invitation to get
involved in the hobby and have fun with us.
Then see if you don’t agree that a round of
Combat is the most exciting five minutes of RC
you can experience! MA
Sources:
RealFlight
(800) 637-7660
www.realflight.com
RC Combat Association
www.rccombat.net
Top Gun
(863) 607-6611
www.franktiano.com/TopGunFrameset.htm
Fantasy of Flight
(863) 984-3500
www.fantasyofflight.com
Air Scharnell Avengers
(303) 617-9777
www.airscharnell.com
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
ZAP adhesives
www.zapglue.com
Remote Control Association of Central Florida
www.rcacf.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/05
Page Numbers: 114,115,116
114 MODEL AVIATION
RealFlight G5 combat
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Combat Don Grissom
Also included in this column:
• Air Combat America
promotes the hobby
Above: The Air Combat America group puts
on demonstrations during the Roar and Soar
event at Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in
Polk City, Florida.
Right: Team members take in Kermit Weeks’
beautiful P-51 finished in Tuskegee Airmen
colors. This is “Ina the Macon Belle,” flown by
Lee Archer.
Below: April 2007 Combat Team (L-R): Chris
Handegard, Craig Buttery, Brian Boots, Jeff
Benko, Eric Laukien, Daniel Warner, and
Glenn Gelatt.
DO YOU EVER notice how many times it
seems to rain when you want to fly? This past
winter it seemed as though each weekend was
too windy, raining, or even snowing. One
thing you might learn about Combat pilots is
that they’re willing to fly in some bad
weather.
It was a nice change when I picked up the
new RealFlight G5 flight simulator from
Great Planes. I have played with the other
versions, but when I saw that combat is
available on the latest edition, I could not wait
to get started.
There are three versions of combat on G5,
but the best and closest to real RC Combat is
the streamer cutting. There are two versions
that we fly on this simulator. One uses the
Multiplex ParkMaster 3D, which gives a feel
like Slow Survivable Combat. This allows for
05sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 3/24/10 2:07 PM Page 114
a much smaller arena in which to work.
You start by taking off from the runway.
As soon as your airplane is in the air, you
begin your attack by trying to cut the
streamers off of the other pilots’ aircraft.
Every time you get a cut, you get 100
points. The person who gets cut resets on the
runway and has to take off again.
If you crash, you can hit the reset button;
that will cost you 25 points. The rounds last
approximately 10 minutes and can be a lot of
fun. Even with only two players, you can
learn a lot about how to chase another pilot.
I have also flown with the P-51 Mustang,
which is similar to 2548 or 2610 Combat.
This can be enjoyable but requires slightly
more skill to keep up. Most beginners will
feel more comfortable with the ParkMaster.
Although the simulator will never take the
place of flying real RC Combat, it is a good
alternative for rainy days. It is also good for
those who want to learn more about RC
Combat.
Many people ask me how to promote an
event. Most of the time it seems as though
people want to fly Combat but don’t know
how to get it going in their areas.
Chris Handegard of West Palm Beach,
Florida, is one of the best at promoting
Combat. He sent me some advice about how
to do it, which follows.
RC enthusiasts have written and said much
throughout the years about promoting
Combat. A fair portion of those helpful
suggestions has reached me.
RC Combat requires an investment of
effort and a willingness to stick to it when the
going gets tough, and the event usually
requires a flying site at which to stage
contests. It can be difficult to keep the interest
alive with a healthy group participating and
the essential support of clubs at whose sites
these competitions are often held.
Various static displays during the year,
such as the booth that RC Combat Association
President Bob Loescher runs, feature models,
videos, and literature. Representatives at the
Toledo Weak Signals show in Ohio in April
answer questions and promote Combat
interest. You might have seen something
similar at a local fair or mall, and Combat
enthusiasts visit schools and other
organizations.
When Frank Tiano, a major RC event
promoter and RC modeling icon, expressed
interest in sponsoring a Combat team late in
2007, a long-standing pipe dream of fielding a
dedicated Combat show team began to take
shape.
During the last 15 years or so at the
prestigious annual Top Gun Invitational Scale
contest in Lakeland, Florida, an informal
group of Combat pilots gathered to put on a
demonstration. It was well received by large
audiences during the noontime air show,
which was a highlight of the event.
Pilots came from many locations, and
sometimes as far away as neighboring
Georgia. Often 12 or more aircraft went up at
once. We enjoyed the thrill of being part of
the extravaganza and were delighted with the
crowd’s response to streamer cuts and
spectacular midair collisions!
Top Gun, a high-profile event, was a
fitting venue at which to showcase a Combat
team. Air Combat America was born, and the
first official show for the group was Top Gun,
in April 2007. In addition to the team debut,
we flew at several other RC events across the
state, from Cape Coral to Fort Lauderdale in
the following year.
Using long 60- to 70-foot, 2-inch-wide,
brightly colored crepe paper streamers is a
good way to add visual impact to the
demonstrations. It also increases distance
between models and, in theory, decreases
midairs.
We still tried to simultaneously occupy the
same airspace on occasion, but the team
continued to get better at cleaning the
streamers off of one another’s aircraft while
suffering from few collisions. That skill can
definitely benefit the competition pilot.
You might be asking yourself how seven
or eight pilots keep track of RC airplanes that
look alike as they twist and turn insanely
around each other in a Combat show. Cover
the bottoms with radically different color
schemes, and never take your eyes off of your
model.
As the 2008 Top Gun neared, Air Combat
America gained a pilot for the eighth model:
John Harding, aka “Buzzard.” Unfortunately,
because life intervened, we lost our fourth pilot.
Shown holding his airplane is Mark
Laukien: young Eric Laukien’s dad. Although
Mark doesn’t fly on the team, he is always
there to support and launch for his son, since,
at that time, the number-five model was bigger
than Eric was!
The team continued to put on Combat
demos at local and regional RC events in
2008, and normally the majority of the eightman
team participated. One such event was an
AMA jamboree in Fort Lauderdale, which fell
on a date on which I had a prior commitment
that I could not break for the sake of a team
demonstration.
Without skipping a beat, Air Combat
America Co-Captain Craig Buttery stepped up
and reorganized things to make the
demonstration possible. The team consists of a
great bunch of guys, and it has been a pleasure
to put on shows with them!
When 2009 rolled around, we lost another
member. Eric “the Termite” grew up and put
RC Combat down for the time being. His
natural talent as a model aircraft pilot coupled
with good Combat instincts put him on the
winner’s podium several times. I will not be
surprised to see him come back to it later.
We gained a replacement in Chris
Martindale, who held the number-two airplane
at Top Gun. Attrition was taking a toll on the
airframes, and one had to be permanently
retired.
The team also flew for the second year at
Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight in the Roar
and Soar event in Polk City, Florida. The fullscale
aircraft that were displayed and flown,
RC models of all types, and an appreciative
audience made for an exciting setting as we
flew multiple shows each day.
Air Combat America would not be
possible without the generous support of
Frank Tiano and Frank Tiano Enterprises,
Peter Goldsmith of JR and Horizon Hobby,
Jan Scharnell of Air Scharnell Avengers
(formerly TeamSeaholm), and ZAP
adhesives. These wonderful people provide
equipment and funding. We team members
hope you thank them when you hear any
mention of our group.
If you find yourself among the spectators
at an event we are a part of, we hope the bug
bites you. Give it a whirl and see what you’ve
been missing!
The Air Combat America mission
statement is to promote Combat activity by
presenting it to the public. “Activity” in this
sense means officially sanctioned AMA
Combat contests. Flying in demonstrations
and showboating is fun, but the real deal is
competition, which is also the problem.
Most Combat contests I have attended
don’t draw many spectators. Our aim is to put
this modeling discipline where it isn’t and get
those who might not otherwise see what
Combat looks like interested enough to try it.
Closing out 2009, Air Combat America
had the opportunity to put on a show at the
Orlando-area Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s year-end Tangerine air
show. Since it took place December 27, in the
midst of people’s holiday plans, I was the
only team member who could attend.
When it comes to Combat promotion and
competition, don’t give up! Quitters make
lousy targets. There’s no guarantee that any
effort will produce more participation. If you
do nothing to promote your hobby, there will
probably be little or no growth; at worst, there
will be a continuing decline in turnout.
Contests with decreasing numbers have
less appeal than those with enthusiastic
competitors who demonstrate, with their
actions, how much they enjoy Combat and
wish for more of the same in the future. Suit
up and show up.
The Remote Control Association of
Central Florida’s expressed interest in hosting
a contest was not solely the result of a single
demonstration. Now a Combat competition is
scheduled there for August 2010.
This club’s field is favorable for Combat. A
large, open flying area slopes down and away
from the flightline, so your aircraft can dive and
maintain flight below foot level while dodging
scattered small trees.
I hope to see you there, and don’t forget to
frequently check your six o’clock for bandits!
So where are the pictures of spectacular
midair crashes and models with streamers
chasing each other? Go to the RC Combat
Association’s Web site. It contains numerous
event debriefs and many photos of competition
action from across the country.
This column is about what it takes to
promote Combat: people. Thanks to everyone
who is responsible for the success of Air
Combat America; we’re entering our fourth
season and still going strong!
This is your personal invitation to get
involved in the hobby and have fun with us.
Then see if you don’t agree that a round of
Combat is the most exciting five minutes of RC
you can experience! MA
Sources:
RealFlight
(800) 637-7660
www.realflight.com
RC Combat Association
www.rccombat.net
Top Gun
(863) 607-6611
www.franktiano.com/TopGunFrameset.htm
Fantasy of Flight
(863) 984-3500
www.fantasyofflight.com
Air Scharnell Avengers
(303) 617-9777
www.airscharnell.com
Horizon Hobby
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
ZAP adhesives
www.zapglue.com
Remote Control Association of Central Florida
www.rcacf.com
