Top Gun Invitational-2011/08

Author: Stan Alexander

Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28

The Scale extravaganza celebrates its "big" reputation

“BIG,” “BIGGER,” and “huge” describe Top Gun—the models and the competition, as well as the good times people have, the vendor area, and the flying site.

The 23rd annual invitational took place April 27 to May 1 at a new site on the grounds of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The event was held at the grass Paradise Field. Frank Tiano Enterprises (FTE) has put a lot of work into the venue; you can see the evidence in the turf, smoother surface, built-in irrigation system, and concrete staging areas for the five flight stations.

Top Gun is an international contest, with competitors traveling from as far as Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia. There are models of aircraft from all eras of aviation, including World War I, World War II, Golden Age, and the modern jet age.

This event is the best of Scale competition, featuring an air show, Top Gun Hussies, vendors, hobby supplies, a large Tent City in the pit area, the Red Bull Girls, motor homes by the score, and some outstanding models. Aircraft were flown, bought, sold, and simply shown off for spectators and prospective buyers. Top Gun wears many hats—successfully. You won’t see 60-size models at this event. Remember “big,” “bigger,” “huge”! The airplanes at this contest comprise carbon-fiber kits, fiberglass, and jets with huge wingspans. WW II models are now almost expected to be 1/4 scale, usually spanning more than 100 inches, and WW I models are typically 1/3 scale. The Moki 250cc radial seems to be the engine of choice for WW II entries—especially the big P-47s.

There are six competition classes at this invitational. Below is a rundown of the contest and the winners, with Mr. Top Gun saved for last.

Pro-Am Sportsman

Top Gun competition starts here. This class gives those who haven’t won or placed higher than 15th at any Top Gun class event the opportunity to work up to Expert or Masters.

1st: Greg Foushi — 1/3-scale Lavochkin La-7, 110-inch span, powered by a Moki 250 radial engine, swinging a Bolly 30 x 16 three-blade propeller. Model and retracts from a ScaleWings kit. Greg won with his final flight on Sunday afternoon.
2nd: Reinol Gonzalez — MiG-15, electric-ducted-fan (EDF) jet from Bob Violett Models (BVM).
3rd: Jorge Escalona — F9F-8 Cougar, powered by an Airworld turbine.

Pro-Am Pro

This is the next step up from Pro-Am Sportsman and features even more competitors. If you have won the Sport class, you’re ready for this.

1st: Curtis Switzer — scratch-built Curtiss B-2 Condor, 168-inch wingspan, powered by two Saito 1.80 four-stroke engines; featured a bomb drop during the flight routine. Curtis built the huge airplane in a two-car garage, using the whole structure.
2nd: Rob Lynch — BVM MiG-15, powered by an electric ducted fan; retracts and hardware from BVM.
3rd: Marco Benincasa — FeiBao T-33 kit, 109-inch span, ~50 pounds, powered by an evoJet 160 turbine with FeiBao retracts.

Unlimited

This division is static-judged using the same guidelines as Masters and Expert, but there is no builder-of-the-model rule. Each entry consists of a minimum of three team members and a maximum of six, including the pilot (only one pilot allowed). All team members must dress in team colors.

1st: David Hayes — Rockwell Thrush (a former Top Gun winner), put on a full show and sprayed the fields for lovebugs during the week.
2nd: Kyle Goodwine / Goodwine Aerosports — F4F Wildcat, powered by a Moki 150 radial.
3rd: Allied Scale Squadron and Greg Tracey — Hawker Sea Hurricane.

Team

Builder Glenn Torrance and pilot Tom Kosewski competed with a prototype kit of a Glenn Torrance Models 1/3-scale Fokker D.VII. The model was extremely realistic in finish and details and behaved well in the air. It featured Glenn's printed lozenge fabric for an authentic look.

Powered by a Desert Aircraft DA-85 engine, the D.VII looked neither too fast in the wind nor lacking power. Tom used good throttle management.

1st: Glenn Torrance (builder) / Tom Kosewski (pilot) — 1/3-scale Fokker D.VII, powered by a DA-85.
2nd: Mike Selby (builder) / Ray Johns (pilot) — unique F-111 Aardvark bomber, 101-inch span. The gear gave them problems at one point, but they managed a close score.
3rd: Bernie Boland (pilot) / Olen Rutherford (builder) — Beechcraft D-18 twin. The top three represented three different eras of aviation.

Expert

1st: Jack Diaz — BVM F-86 Sabre jet, 80-inch span, painted with PPG, powered by a JetCat P160 turbine. Jack won the $1,000 prize and was understandably nervous on Sunday as he realized he might place high.
2nd: Lee Rice — 1/5-scale F4U-4 Corsair, 93-inch span, finished as a WWII naval-carrier fighter, powered by a Fuji 86 twin. The Corsair looked great in flight and when landed with segmented flaps and gear deployed.
3rd: Tom Smith — Jerry Bates–designed Hawker Sea Fury, 101-inch span, powered by a Moki 215 radial.

Masters

This class is where modelers draw their own plans, cut their own wood, make molds, and build and finish their models. It features some of the most unique aircraft.

1st: David Wigley — own-design 1/5-scale Westland Wyvern, 100-inch span, 51 pounds, powered by a BME 100 engine swinging a 24 x 12 propeller. A squeaker win for David.
2nd: Bob Violett — North American F-86 Sabre, 80-inch span; Bob is a longtime competitor, designer, and BVM owner.
3rd: Dave Johnson — 1/3-scale Albatros D.Va (WWI German fighter), powered by a Fuji 64 engine and controlled by a Futaba 2.4 GHz system. Dave uses many techniques including dust and dirt to weather his vintage models.

Mr. Top Gun

Mr. Top Gun was David Wigley with his Westland Wyvern. The unique counter-rotating propeller system works on this model: the front propeller freewheels and the back propeller provides the thrust for flight. David has earned this honor before; he received the trophy, well wishes, and cash at the final awards ceremony. The scoring margin between David and Jack Diaz was only 0.255 point—one of the closest margins seen.