Radio Control Scale
Jeff Iroy, 758 New Holland Ave., Lancaster PA 17602
Following a day of static judging for fidelity to full-scale aircraft and four rounds of precise flying during a two-day weekend, Jeff Defey, Terry Nitsch, Joe Lewis, Bob Violett, Larry Folk, the George Maiorana/Dave Pinegar team, and Steve Sauger won their respective classes in the AMA Radio Control (RC) Scale events and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) F4C Team Selection Trials at the 2001 National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats).
The flying portion of the RC Scale events was held July 7–8 at AMA's International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana—surely the world's boldest and most expansive haven for model fliers and their sport/hobby.
Static judging for the Nats and the F4C Team Selection Trials took place Friday, July 6 at the spacious Horizon Convention Center in Muncie. It is directly across the street from the Roberts Faidon Hotel, where many of the contestants, officials, press representatives, and AMA visitors often stay.
Six AMA RC Scale rule-book events are typically offered to competitors at the Nats. They are:
- Designer scale, where the pilot is the designer and builder, and the model must be built from the original design
- Kit scale, where the pilot is the builder, and the model may be built from a plan or kit
- Sportsman scale, where the pilot is the builder of a model from a plan or kit, and the contestant has not yet achieved a total of 300 advancement points
- Team scale, where the pilot is not... may originate from a kit, plan, or an original design.
F4C FAI Team Selection determines three fliers, team managers, and alternate fliers who will represent the United States in international RC Scale competition.
The RC Scale events at the FAI World Championships are held in different countries each year.
The 2002 events, for which this selection of six team members applied, will be held in Canada. FAI World Championships are held every two years, and Poland has been chosen to host these events in 2004.
Scale events are judged by a combination of static score, where each contestant's model is compared to contestant-supplied documentation of a full-scale, man-carrying aircraft. The primary categories are accuracy of outline, craftsmanship, and color-and-markings.
Following static judging, the model must be flown in front of a panel of flight judges, performing five mandatory and five optional maneuvers in a manner that correctly emulates the performance of the same full-scale aircraft.
All this may sound a bit stuffy, but it's an alluring challenge and a great deal of fun for the people who compete in this event, and it's a most entertaining spectacle for those who officiate or watch the pilots and their models from the wings.
If you have never attended a National Aeromodelling Championships, more often just called the Nats, you have missed one of aeromodeling's most inspiring demonstrations of skill and dedication. No continuing primary-article text on this page — the page contains only photos and captions. Static judging at the Horizon Convention Center began Friday morning and continued until late that afternoon.
Panels of judges examined each of these models with great care, making every effort to apply their marks fairly and accurately, rewarding modelers with appropriate point values for their skills in creating the illusion of full-scale aircraft in some reduced scale.
The two opening rounds of flight were held Saturday, and the final two rounds were Sunday.
Many wondered if there would be any flight rounds at all; thunderstorms had threatened all day Friday, and had really begun to pelt the Muncie area solidly by late evening.
The storm continued through the night and into Saturday morning. As the contestants and officials were considering the consequences of relentless pounding rain, the thunderstorm gradually subsided and the sky was reasonably clear by 11 a.m., when Round One began.
Despite the late start, a wet runway and pit area, and a less-than-inviting crosswind, airplane after airplane performed admirably in front of their respective judging stands.
The first round was completed in good time, and most of Round Two was completed by the late afternoon's return of the rainstorm.
Static scores are posted after contestants complete a round of flying. Technically, if an entrant fails to score at least one flight point, the static score becomes zero and the modeler finishes the meet with no score.
At the close of the first round, static leaders were Martin Hendrickson (of Illinois) in Expert Scale with 97.5 points, Joe Lewis (of Ohio) in Sportsman with 87.5, and Jeff Foley (of North Carolina) in Designer Scale with a 97.0.
George Maiorana and Dave Pinegar (of Michigan) topped the static pile with an outstanding 98.5 points in Team Scale, and the FAI Team Selection static leader was Bob Benjamin (of Washington state).
The National Association of Scale Aeromodellers' (NASA's) annual banquet was held Saturday evening at the Horizon Convention Center. The food was plentiful—and good—and most of the political narrative was delivered with merciful brevity.
Awards were presented to several contestants for personal achievement, including high static score and pilots' choice for best aircraft in the meet.
Camaraderie at the dinner exemplifies the friendly, competitive, and sportsmanlike spirit of the Nats.
Watching the steady rainfall Saturday evening, no one could predict what the weather would bring Sunday—least of all The Weather Channel on cable television, which often predicts with a level of accuracy that parallels the Titanic's safety record.
Sunday morning brought a little sunshine and a temporary halt to the rain. The contest ran as far as Round Three without major setbacks from the weather, but things began to get dicey toward the middle of the fourth round. NASA President Stan Alexander was on the site throughout the contest and had these comments about the close of the flying rounds.
"It was really bad, with lightning strikes all around the field," he said. "From the AMA weather link and the data that was coming in, we were announcing that people should get to their cars. We were fortunate to miss the thick hail that was predicted to come out of this one, although the high wind really did a job on the awards ceremony."
The wind blew tents over as it approached the flying site late Sunday afternoon, and the close of the event was somewhat chaotic.
"We had 60-mile-an-hour winds at the site on Sunday evening," said Stan. "Several tents were lost, and even a pop-up camper blew over. We were all surprised that we got the fourth round in."
For the most part, Muncie weather has been very hospitable toward RC Scale at the Nats. This is the first really bad storm the contest has experienced in a number of years, and all the RC Scale events were still completed without serious mishap.
At the close of Sunday's fourth round, AMA had its national champions and the FAI had its US team members for 2002. The first-, second-, and third-place winners are:
Designer Scale: Jeff Foley, Bob Vidett, and Bob Underwood
Large Scale: Terry Niesch, Greg Hahn, and Martin Hendrickson
Team Scale: George Maiorana and Dave Pinegar, Mark Frankel and Mike Barbee, and Dale and Jeremy Arvin
FAI Team Selection: Bob Vidett, Tom Dodgen, and Jeremy Arvin
Novice Scale: Larry Folk, James Mahoney, and Steve Eagle
Pylon Scale: Steve Saugier, Hal Parent, and Bob Benjamin
The RC Scale events at the 2001 National Aeromodeling Championships are the result of dozens of AMA volunteers who donated hundreds of working hours in pursuit of a flawless contest.
The Scale community owes its thanks to these many dedicated volunteers:
- RC Event Director: Dale Arvin
- Judges and judges' supporting personnel: Jim Rediske, Ed Clayman, Melba Baker, Raymond Martin, Ed Terry, Don Bartlett, Bill Brucken, Charlie Baker, Earl Dever, Bill Stewart, Christina Martin, Jeff Grant, Ron Howard, Robert Bartlett, Hal Parent, Gary Parent, George Kite, Al Culver, and Carol Culver.
- Scorekeepers: Rae Underwood, Mary Arvin, Paulette Chyman, Bonnie Rediske, Lisa Groche, Carol Logan, Eric, Michelle Rediske, and Fran Graves.
- Movers and shakers: Ron and Jane Morgan, Wayne Yeager, and AMA President Dave Brown, for their help, wisdom, and organizational skills throughout the event.
RC Scale at the Nats has something to offer every Scale modeler.
From the competitive intensity of Designer Scale to the laid-back, low-key thrill of a flier's first contest in Novice Fun Scale, few modeling experiences can equal the fun, inspiration, and excitement of the AMA Nats.
Build it straight and fly safely. We'll do this again.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
