Free Flight: Outdoor
AT LAST! The day for the start of the Outdoor AMA Nats in Lubbock, Texas. We really flew out of the airport at Abernathy, about 20 miles from the main Nats site. To insure our getting as much flying time as possible, the start time was changed from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. We would still quit at 4 p.m. The Abernathy airport has a 4000-foot runway, plenty of overrun at both ends, and good terrain for chase bikes. The airport is surrounded on three sides by cotton fields and on one side by a small golf course. This was to the west of the airport, and at no time did the wind blow toward it. The cotton fields are excellent for chasing models. The rows are far enough apart for safe walking and if you were to look down the rows you could see your model from several hundred feet away. It did get muddy in spots, though.
I985 NATS: FF Power
THE NATS FREE FLIGHT events got off to a terrific start as far as organization and weather went. The organization kept up the good work, but the weather got worse before it got better again. Except for one planned move, the gypsies of the 1983 Nats had a permanent home. The northeast corner of the field became the Free Flight area, and it remained that way until the end on Saturday. The model-eating trees surrounding Westover AFB got a few models, but for the most part the trees went hungry. To aid in the recovery of tree-stuck models, the Air Force Fire Department came to the rescue with ladders and a cherry picker-a welcome helping hand. Our hats are off to the Air Force!
I985 NATS: FF Outdoor Rubber
THE RUBBER EVENTS also had their ups and downs as far as the weather was concerned. The modelers who finished the seven rounds of Wakefield flying can attest to this. In the 3rd round the rain moved in, and wet was the word for the day. The wind came up on Thursday and Friday, but Saturday was the kind of day we all dream about; beautiful thermal air and little drift. George Perryman, as usual, was the man to beat in most Rubber events, but the more northern part of the East Coast is known for its Rubber fliers, and they won more than their fair share of the hardware. As mentioned above, Wakefield was one wet event. To make it even more interesting, the winner, Joe Macay of Southfield, MI, had all max flights plus a flyoff flight. His is one consistent model. The rest of the field was left in Joe's wake (no pun intended), including such stalwarts as Martin Richardson, Bob Sifleet, and Jack Minassian; they also maxed out but were beaten in the flyoff.
I985 NATS: FF Outdoor Glider
WITH WEATHER going from clear skies and little wind to wind and more wind, the Glider fliers faced a real challenge throughout the week. For the most part, the A-1 and A-2 modelers had good runways and a clear field to tow on. It always puzzles me, though, that with acres of open field, some guys have to tow into the pits and even into the parking areas-must be lift there. Attendance was down a bit from the 1983 visit to Westover, but the fliers more than made up for it with their enthusiasm and drive. The lack of Juniors and Seniors was evident in the Glider events, with Outdoor Hand Launch showing the most improvement of all.
