AMA Nats Lincoln '79: FF Rubber
WAKEFIELD was the first rubber event flown, and the flying conditions were by far the best encountered during the Nats. However, the first round was to dash the hopes of most of the contenders. Half-A models being flown seemed to indicate the existence of bouyant early morning air, but only Joe Macay and Joe Kubina, last year's Mulvihill winner, maxed the first round. As it turned out, that was the contest. There were many position changes from second place on down during the day, but Macay made no mistakes, and after blowing two motors preparing for his last flight, Joe put the event away with a beautiful max. Both Macay and the second-place finisher, Chris Matsuno, were flying variations of John Gard's Monarch, and the conditions of the day were ideally suited for these high aspect ratio/long-motor-run models. Macay used a power combination of 16 strands of 3/16 FAI Rubber and a 22D × 30P prop, giving a 50-55 second motor run. His model did not have as high an initial climb rate as many of the other Wakes, but often outclimbed models in the same thermal, because the long prop run allowed his model to continue to gain altitude after the other models had folded their props and were only gliding in the thermal.
AMA Nats Lincoln '79: FF Glider
FIRST event off was A-1 Glider on Tuesday. Because of a rather confusing situation in which the Nats entry form indicated that AMA A-1 rules would be in effect, while the contestant instructions indicated that FAI A-1 rules would be in effect, it was decided to fly both events separately. Contestants were required to declare whether they wished to compete under AMA or FAI rules, and models were required to conform accordingly. Conditions were overcast to partly cloudly, relatively cool, and somewhat breezy. Maxes were set at two minutes for both classes. Flying strategy was generally to wait for lift on the ground, then tow up and release quickly. A few circle-tow models were seen, with Bill Jenkins flying his original design to second place in FAI. With the probable adoption of the FAI rules and deletion of the AMA rules (such a proposal is presently being considered by the Free Flight Contest Board), a trend toward more sophisticated, full-function circle-tow A-1 models seems likely. However, this seems in direct contradiction with the CIAM's establishment of A-1 as a beginner's event.
FF Rubber
TWO in a row for Joe. Following the pattern of recent Nats, Wakefield was the first Rubber event flown. A good competition seemed in store, with four past Nats winners in attendance. An international flavor was added by the participation of a large Canadian contingent, including 1979 World Champs team members Jack MacGillivray and Paul Roberts. A member of the Mexican '79 WC team, Raul Alvarez de la Cadena, also competed. In addition, Henry Cole, who had been in semi-retirement from competitive flying, came to the Nats as an inductee into the Free Flight Hall of Fame. He was looking to repeat his '59 Nats win, a feat which would also qualify him for the 1981 U.S. FF Team Finals at Taft.
FF Glider
THE FIRST glider event flown was A-1, as has been the case at the last several Nats. While this event may be looked upon by some as a tune-up event for A-2, don't kid yourself. The FAI A-1 rules now in use (220 grams-7.7 oz.-minimum weight) have made the event more difficult to fly, even with the 2-min. maxes. A-1 models have never been easy to tow, and the additional weight has not helped. It is quite difficult to get full line extension without lift or a 10-second sprinter's speed. A number of fliers were also caught by surprise to find that the rules now require towlines to be pull-tested to the 2 kilogram FAI standard, and much cutting and re-tying of lines was in order.
