CL Combat
Control Line Combat at the Nats saw high participation with 20 in Fast Combat and 18 in the Speed Limit event. Innovations included dropping Slow Combat and changing event order. Iskandar Taib took third in Fast Combat after 11 matches. The competition featured strong performances from Juniors and showcased varied airplane designs. Overall, the weather was manageable, and the event was well-organized, with gratitude extended to volunteers.
CL Combat
Iskandar Taib reports on the CL Combat Nationals (July 10-14), noting low turnout and challenges faced in organizing events and judging.
Caudimordax
AMERICAN COMBAT design philosophy has traditionally favored speed over turning ability. Note the large sums of money spent on Hoffelts and custom Foxes, many of which are bolted onto 300- to 400-sq.-in. airplanes weighing 21 oz. What these engines share, besides their enormous power output, is their weight. Most of them weigh in at about 91/2 oz. Caudimordax is a design that takes another approach. A high rate of turn and small turning radius are given top priority, and these qualities are achieved by using a light engine and a high aspect ratio wing.
Control Line: Combat
MUNCIE is surrounded by several hotbeds of Combat activity, so we had high hopes for a good turnout for the Control Line Combat portion of the 1996 National Aeromodeling Championships. Unfortunately, few who lived nearby chose to attend. More Texas fliers showed up than from any other state, and they took home the lion's share of the prizes. The Amarillo-Lubbock area was best represented, with Larry Driskill, Gary Minor, his sons Cary and Andy, and Bobby and Andy Mears. They also brought Don McPherson and his son (who spent long hours helping judge matches), and '60s Combat legend Riley Wooten, who was often seen pitting for the Mearses.
Control Line: Combat
THE NATS COMBAT facilities were greatly improved this year; the Academy had graded and seeded a huge rectangle of ground 200 meters north of last year's site. The grass wasn't quite ready when I saw it the first time at the AMA Open House, but it had improved by the time of the Nats. It still needs another year or two to reach its prime, but there will be a very nice set of Combat circles. Combat had the choice of any two of nine circles, so Event Director Roy Glenn chose the two in the southwest corner of the rectangle. Attendance was disappointing this year, mainly because of the team trials, which were soon after the Nats. Some Detroit-area and Texas fliers were preparing for the trials, and could not attend. Hopefully, word of the new site will attract more fliers next year.
