CL Navy Carrier
MOORED in the middle of a grassy field was where we found the Carrier deck at the 1989 Nats. In the past, it has been in the middle of a concrete area. The past concern that a model with an engine flameout would land in the grass and tumble itself to destruction has diminished as more competitors build larger models for better low-speed flight-a characteristic which also makes for better behavior when landing in a grass field. The adjacent trees also provided the spectators with welcome shade from the hot desert sun.
1982 AMA Nats: CL Navy Carrier
FLYING conditions at the Lincoln Nats were less than optimum for the Navy Carrier events: Thursday brought heat, humidity, and low barometric pressure requiring a lot of engine returning and resulting in lower than usual high speeds for Class 1 and 2 models. The deck used for all official flying, borrowed from Nebraska Carrier fliers, was just barely legal with the arresting lines at the center of the deck no more than 1/4-in. off the deck. Fast approaches typically resulted in a bounce into the "ocean." (Most other decks stretch legality the other way with 1/2-in. or more arresting line clearance at deck center.)
Reno 1984 Nats: CL Carrier
RENO'S high temperature and high altitude during Nats week resulted in some problems for those contestants used to altitudes where air is available: engines had to be returned and flying techniques, especially for the low speed, had to be practiced. Winds were calm each morning, but reached 20 mph in the afternoon and were blowing from the stern of the deck each day of Carrier competition. The tailwind, combined with the thin air, resulted in many airplanes touching the "ocean" on takeoff or landing. Either the distance or the anticipated problems with the high altitude kept the entries down from the Midwest and East. Total turnout was less than one-third of last year's, with 11 in Class 1, eight in Class 2, and 14, including one Junior and one Senior, in Profile.
1986 Nats: CL Navy Carrier
HOT and humid every day. The weather at the Nats produced a characteristic pattern of 10 mph winds until 11:00 a.m. or so followed by calm the rest of the day. The CL Carrier contestants generally delayed their flights until the wind dropped and had nearly ideal wind conditions for all classes. This "sandbagging" might have been a problem at a busier contest, but not at this year's Lake Charles Nats where the entry was disappointingly low. In Profile there were 13 contestants who processed models, including four Seniors. Class I had six contestants, and Class II had eight. Two Seniors entered Class I and three entered Class II.
AMA Nats: CL Navy Carrier
THE TOP GUNS were out in force at the 1987 Nats as indicated by the highest-ever scores in Profile Carrier. The best previous flight in this class at any other Nats would only have scored fifth this year. There were no startling new designs or techniques, just the steady refinement of the art-and practice, practice, practice. Bill Melton, last year's winner, won again. The original Guardian he used had a larger, thicker wing than his previous designs, lower aspect ratio, and an external line slider which brings the lead-outs back to the trailing edge of the wing for the low-speed flight. These improvements resulted in the best low speed of the day at 275.2 seconds, and the high power output of Bill's TWA .36 resulted in the best high speed as well, at 19.6 seconds. His winning score of 343.0 was all the more remarkable because of the occasional gusts of wind which disturbed low-speed flights throughout the day.
