Radio Control: Aerobatics
THE BIG NEWS is about the vote on FAI F3A rules. The unlimited engine displacement proposal passed. Weight and noise limits will stay the same, at five kilograms (11 pounds) and 96 dB, respectively. The model must fit in a two-meter-by-two-meter box (that's a square about 78 3/4 inches on a side). One interesting thing is that the proposal to change the box limit from 60º to 75º never even came up for a vote. The new rules will not go into effect until 1996, so we are in for an interesting period. Many people will be coming up with different aircraft/powerplant designs. It will be a lot like it was when the turnaround style of flying was first brought in. Biplanes? Who knows?
Pattern World
The 1995 F3A World Championships (WC) held in Kasaoka, Japan August 25-31 was a great success for the Japanese by virtually any measure. The contest management produced a magnificent event and the Japanese fliers won the individual and team championships. This WC was the first ever held in Japan. The contest management, headed up by
Radio Control: Aerobatics
LET ME CORRECT a couple of errors I discovered in the Tournament of Champions coverage (March issue). The caption for a picture involving Steve Stricker read, "Steve Stricker is interviewed with his Extra 300S. Kit is by Ohio R/C (Geoff Combs)." Yes, the Extra 300S in the picture was produced by Geoff Combs, but Geoff's company is AeroSport Products 91066 Millford Drive, Pickerington OH 43147; Tel.: [614] 837-7058). Sorry about the brain fade when I wrote the caption. By the way, the matrix for the TOC shows that Colin Campbell flew Geoff Combs' Extra 300S. It should be noted that it wasn't Geoff's wing design on the airplane when it exploded during vertical down snap rolls early in the competition.
Radio Control Aerobatics
AS I MENTIONED in the May 1995 column, back in the 1960s and early 1970s Pattern contest reports throughout the Midwest would include descriptions of Emil Zutz' exploits. Emil was never reported as a winner, but he often did very well. It was amazing how many times his name appeared. It was especially amazing since Emil Zuts didn't exist. It was all an elaborate prank perpetrated by the contest reporters. Why did they do it? I don't know. Just for the heck of it, I guess. So who posed for the picture of Emil Zutz in the May column? It was me, of course. Why? Just for the heck of it. I'm sure that many of the people who know me from the contest circuit were wondering what I was up to. I'm writing this column a month before the prank will appear in print. In the time between publication of the two columns I expect to receive a few notes and telephone calls asking me what's going on.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
DID YOU ENJOY the Tournament of Champions (TOC) coverage last month? I hope so. It was my first time at the event, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope it won't be the last. The reason the TOC's future is uncertain is that, although all past TOC events were sponsored by Circus-Circus Enterprises, that will not be the case in the future. The event's sparkplug, William G. (Mr. Bill) Bennett, stepped down from heading Circus-Circus Enterprises; as a result, their sponsorship ended. However, at the awards banquet Mr. Bill made reference to future TOC events. Only time will tell. If you enjoyed the written coverage of the event, you'll love the video. Propwash Video Productions (2973 Berman, Las Vegas NV 89109; Tel.: [800] 355-7333) has produced a five-hour-and-forty-minute video! It was recorded in Super Long Play, so some loss in color and image quality resulted, but it still looks great. Available for only $19.95 plus $3.25 handling, it's a real bargain.
