Control Line: Combat
NASA and Honda factory teams sweep Nationals! Well, not really, but if the trend to a more professional standard of competition continues and there is an escalation in number and amount of cash prizes, we may see some real "factory teams." As it stands, many of the manufacturers sponsor a good number of competition fliers but generally they had the name before the sponsorship. What if a big company like Honda decided there was enough prestige in winning various model airplane events to invest the time and capital in developing a winning team? Most of us aren't really that good to compete against full-on teams. Honda and NASA could team up and make some killer speed models, free flights, or whatever.
Control Line: Combat
I KNOW some of you may get a little bored with the pictures of Californians in this column. The people always seem to be wearing T-Shirts, regardless of the time of year, and are sporting great tans. Bud Bodzioch sent a couple of pictures of what it's like in other parts of the country just to make us see what we're "missing." Bud is seen in one picture holding a plane while John Frank warms the engine with a torch. Another picture sent by Bud shows the very interesting conversion of a G-21 Tigre into a diesel. The head is made by Al Kelly and comes complete with fake glowplug. According to Bud, the Tigre still uses the usual 9-6 or 8-8 prop and pulls the plane much the same as a 35 glow. The only other "large" diesel I've seen was a 29 built by Dennis Schauer for Slow Rat (one-ounce rules).
Control Line: Combat
THE MACA 1978 Top Twenty Combat Pilots compiled by Mike Strieter: 1) Richard Stubblefield, 2) Paul Curtis, 3) Jordan Segal, 4) Bud Bodzioch, Warren Sanders, 6) Bob Burch, John Frank, 8) Steve Sacco, 9) Neal Rose, Mack Henry, 11) Marvin Denny. 12) Dave Collins, 13) Mike Guthomson, 14) George Cleveland, 15) Phil Cartier, 16) Eric Taylor, 17) Forest Atkins, 18) Joe Ambrose, Paul Smith, 20) Mike Bilotta, Kelly Henocq. Mike does a terrific job every year putting the list together. The top finishers in Slow, Fast, and FAI Combat are listed in the April 1979 issue of the MACA Newsletter. Richard Stubblefield took top spot in both Fast and Slow Combat. Jordan Segal was MACA's top FAI pilot.
Control Line: Combat
ONE of the things I've enjoyed about flying models has been going to out-of-town contests. It's a great opportunity to see old friends, meet new people, and generally see what's going on in the rest of the world. I flew down to Houston for the Texas State Championships over the Memorial Day holidays. A line out of the theme song of a recent James Bond thriller sums it up best, "Nobody does it better." The level of competition was at the 99th percentile. Where else in the country would you find Nationals winners like Buckstaff, Stubblefield and Guthomson, along with FAI team member George Cleveland, all fighting it out in the semi round? Besides some stiff competition I had an opportunity to view some of the hardware up close. Of particular interest to Slow Combat pilots is Sherwood Buckstaff's model featuring inboard fuel system and a working carburetor. The barrel valve on the carb stays closed to a very small area, while the model is on the ground, and opens only after the model is released and sufficient centrifugal force causes the swing weight to open the carb. This same force also gives positive pressure to the fuel system so it is possible to hold a good needle even with a .300 or larger venturi. The same swing-weight system is used on many of the AMA Slow Rats.
AMA Nats Lincoln '79: CL Combat
EVERYBODY was a winner at this year's Nationals. A few guys took home trophies but everyone took home pleasant memories of probably the best run Nationals in recent times. The weather, flying site, contest management and participation was excellent. The site can really make or break a meet. At Lincoln there was plenty of grass available for practice circles and the two official arenas. The weather cooperated and provided lots of sunshine, only a little drizzle on one day and a bit too much wind for comfortable flying on another. With such good conditions you might expect a super contest and that's exactly what happened.
