File: 02grissom.lt1.doc
[Headline: Year-end recap]
We are starting another year of RC Combat and it looks to be a great one.
This past year we saw the Texas fliers begin flying Limited B, making this category one of the more popular Combat events in the country. The Texas pilots held the top spot in points for the third consecutive year. When it comes to top pilots this year, we only have to look at Dane McGee from Greenville, Texas. He was last year’s top pilot in Scale and Open.
We saw an increase in events this past year, so that looks to be good heading into 2015. A new event growing in popularity is Gnat Combat. It was flown at many gatherings this past year. Gnat Combat was also flown for the first time at the 2014 Nats.
There will likely be an increase in participation this year because the airplanes are easy to build and it is a great way to get more people involved in Combat.
Last year was the 10th anniversary of 2948 Scale Combat and it is flown by many clubs across the country. There are still no kits on the market for this class, but I have seen many new designs being developed by the fliers in Texas. If you have never had a go at Scale, you should give it a try. It is a great way to recreate World War II-style Combat.
Duel at Davenport
One of the biggest events this past year was also one of the Davenport R/C Society’s first events. The Duel at Davenport took place in Davenport, Iowa, on September 20-21, at the club’s flying site. Twenty pilots from across the north, including Canada, attended.
Dirk Oosting, who ran his first event, put on a good show that included a visit from a local television station. The weather was definitely a factor with high winds and rain on the first day. The wind on the second day reached speeds of 35 mph!
The field is located on a sod farm, which makes for a great flyover area. Slow Survivable Combat (SSC), Gnat, and Limited B were flown. In SSC, Andy Runte was the top pilot with a score of 2,752. In Gnat, Bill Geipel won with a score of 1,525. In the final contest, Limited B, William Drumm III won with a score of 1,588.
This looks to be a great gathering and I hope the club continues to hold it in the future.
Facebook Communications
I am always looking for new ideas and solutions to problems that I have had. Last year, Dane McGee came up with a great way to communicate with other Combat pilots by using a Facebook group as a way to convey ideas and event reports. The group can be found by doing a search on Facebook for “RC Combat.”
Loose Servos
A problem that many Combat pilots have is that servos can become loose in the holes on the wings if they are not screwed down using a piece of wood. Many pilots use a Dremel-type tool to cut out a hole, and then glue the servo into the foam wing. They try to tighten it so that the servo does not move.
After a number of flights, the servo hole can become enlarged. The servo moves, resulting in sluggish controls. One solution I found was to use glue to fill the hole then place the servo back in the hole using a plastic wrap to protect the servo from the glue.
The glue will expand to the size of the servo, but you can still remove the servo if necessary.
Check Those Batteries
We only have a short time until the start of the Combat season, so this is a good time to check your batteries. Many people forget to check them throughout the winter and end up having problems.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you have some after-run oil in the engines during the winter and that you spin the propeller well to make sure the oil gets into the engine.
I hope to see everyone later this year. If you are planning to attend the RC Combat Nats, it is always a good idea to get your reservations in early. Hotel rooms are sometimes limited.[dingbat]
SOURCES:
Radio Control Combat Association (RCCA)
www.rccombat.com
AMA Nats
www.modelaircraft.org/events
