Control Line: Speed
Formula 40 Speed a Natural Airframe Design: Let's quickly review the rules applicable to the design of the airframe. We have no wing loading or power loading or cross sectional requirements to contend with. Our model shall have a fixed landing gear with a minimum of one wheel and no single-line control systems are allowed. That's all! A word to the wise. Rat Fliers, the 1975 National Speed Director was very lenient in regards to using rat lines in Formula 40 Speed. This was great because at that time Formula 40 Speed was a provisional event-in 1976 this is not the case. The 1976 Event Director may take a dim view on lengthening short lines with line connectors, even if they are of the safe variety.
Control Line: Speed
Formula 40 Speed-A Natural In the March edition of Model Aviation, we started an in-depth discussion of Formula 40 Speed. If you missed the March and May editions and you are interested in learning what we think we know about competing in Formula 40 Speed, you might want to beg, borrow or steal the above two mentioned copies of M/A, so that this column will make sense to you. We have so far discussed AMA rules and Phill and Dub's rules which are applicable to Formula 40 Speed in specific and to airframe design in general. In this edition, we will attempt to complete our designs and get back to our normal format of discussing Speed in general.
Control Line: Speed
Formula 40 Speed-a Natural Engines, performance, props, and fuel-where do I start? Well, I said we would discuss high performance production 40's, fuel and props, so here goes. There are three production 40's that in my opinion lend themselves well to Formula 40 Speed: the K&B 6.5cc ABC 40, the Supertigre X-40 and the OPS 40. These three engines all have two things in common-they are all rear exhaust and they all have ABC piston and cylinder assemblies. There are other high performance production 40's available, but for one reason or another, I think we would do well to choose our engine from the above three.
Nats Control Line: Racing
DAYTON, OHIO is obviously a good place to be in the hottest part of summer. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a beautiful facility and just the right size for a Control Line and Radio Control Nationals. Dayton is closer to the center of our population than Lake Charles and the 1976 Nationals was the biggest I have seen since the Navy was co-hosting with us. It did seem a little strange to pull up to the hangar on Sunday evening and see all the Racing people hard at it, since it is usually Monday or Tuesday before Control Line contestants start to put their game faces on-not so in 1976!
Nats Control Line: Speed
THE 1976 NATIONALS is now part of model aviation history, but I'm sure that everyone able to be in Dayton the first week of August will feel that this "chapter" was indeed an exciting and enjoyable one for many people. The location was ideal as far as Speed and Racing were concerned. The weather was great, which resulted in several new Speed records and some good low times in Racing and, except for the rains on Friday and resulting cooler weather which caused many to seek shelter, we couldn't have asked for more from Mother Nature!
