Control Line: Combat
I'D JUST mailed off my last column when I received pictures and a short report on the MACA Nationals from Bud Bodzioch. It was too late for that month and the AMA Nationals soon followed. So, the following columns will include some pictures of the winners and their equipment. I think it would be a good idea to promote the "Championship Trail" where we have a series of high-quality AAA meets that a great number of competitors would attend. The AMA Nationals events are, of course, the grand-daddy of them all, include the MACA Nats, Winston-Salem and Bill Allen's Aero Challenge as top draft choices. The Texas State meet held in Houston or the Dallas Southwesterns, Bladder Grabber and possibly King Orange Internats.
Control Line: Combat
I ACTUALLY did what I said I was going to do last column, some "scientific testing." I had several offers for the loan of hot-air-powered wind tunnels but decided to go with my trusty camera, a height pole and an expendable airplane or two. The camera makes a permanent film record of the proceedings, the expendable airplane is nice because you can just "crash it" when you finish a testing sequence. The height pole is not really necessary if you use the film dimensions to figure everything. At 52 feet my camera with 58-mm lens covers an area 30 feet by 20 feet. You can mark any convenient building or curb with 1-foot increments using a magic marker. This master slide or negative is then projected on your enlarger baseboard or dining room wall where you transfer the grid. All this fun and games may make you forget model airplanes and take up photography as a full-time occupation.
Control Line: Combat
THERE are a lot of ways to go competing in combat events and two of the feature models this month are at opposite ends of the sophistication spectrum. The Monoboom FAI is probably the most complicated of all the combat designs, while the Tantrum FAI is about the simplest thing around. The Monoboom family of models designed by Mike Hoffelt compromises nothing in the pursuit of maximum performance. To use one of these models with anything less than the most potent motor available and with conservative flying style is an exercise in missing the point.
Control Line: Combat
A FEW MONTHS AGO I proposed a new event called Speed Pattern. The idea behind the event was to be a way of directly comparing the performance of combat models and piloting skills. It appears that a lot of other people had the same idea and many of them, including MA's Gene Hempel, Rich Porter, the Northwest Terror, and many combat fans expressed their views. Gene called as soon as he got the magazine. Seems many of the Texas Speed fliers had discussed just such an event. They favored having a fixed landing gear on the model and a more simplified pattern. Their idea was to start timing from the moment of launch, as is done in Proto Speed events, with the added feature of being able to fly the event over asphalt since the planes would have wheels. Gene also thought that it would be a good idea to limit the power package to suction only.
Control Line: Combat
I'VE had quite a few requests lately to say something about 1/2A Combat. The models are cheaper and less fragile than the larger models and the event is flown all around the country and as an unofficial event at the Nationals. I haven't had a lot of experience with the 1/2As, but I'll pass on what I've learned from people like Rich Lopez, Dan Rutherford, Dale Kirn, etc. Dan Rutherford sent me an entire model complete with engine and tank about three years ago. Used to have people lined up to see if they could fly it for an entire flight. He prefers, as I do, to have a very sensitive model which makes it all the more fun to fly. I could see from his model why I'd had trouble every time I tried a 1/2A in the past. You have to think small in terms of the accessories. Lightweight leadouts, a handle designed for a 1/2 A, and above all, you have to use steel lines if you want to have any feel for the model. Here are the basics:
