Radio Control: Aerobatics
EVERY AIRPLANE I build, I try something new. My most recent airplane is no exception. While fabricating the wing and stabilizer skins I decided to try two things I hadn't done before. The first new thing I tried was to cut the sheet balsa on a piece of glass. I'd heard earlier that a lot of people use a piece of plate glass when they cut MonoKote because it makes the MonoKote easier to cut. I tried that, and it does work. So, when I was ready to cut the 1/16 sheet balsa for the wing and stabilizer skins, I decided to try cutting it on plate glass. That works great, too.
'91 All American Nationals: RC Aerobatics
THE HOT ONE is how we'll probably remember the 1991 AMA Nationals. It was almost a war of heat attrition. More about that later, but first some results. FAI featured Chip Hyde, David von Linsowe, and Bill Cunningham in the same order they placed during the Team Selection Finals three weeks earlier. A total of 203 contestants competed in RC Pattern at this year's Nationals. The entries were 46 Sportsman, 27 Advanced, 36 Expert, 21 Master, and 77 FAI. As was the case last year, FAI entries far outnumbered the other events.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
ANY DOUBT regarding two-stroke versus four-stroke engine preference for top-level competition was settled during the FAI F3A Team Selection Finals at Duke Field on Eglin AFB, Florida on June 25 through 29. Of the top eleven fliers who qualified for the Finals, eight flew four-stroke engines. In the Finals, Y.S. 1.20 outnumbered O.S. 1.20 seven to one. Chip Hyde, David Von Linsowe, and Bill Cunningham won the top three spots and will be going to the World Championships in October. Tony Frackowiak will be first alternate.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
THE RESULTS of the rules change vote are in, and there was only one surprise. My proposal to replace the Procedure Turn with the 1/2 Reverse Cuban Eight in the Novice class failed six to five (needed seven to pass). I can't understand why there was any opposition to the proposal. The Procedure Turn is a dinosaur from the old days. It's a maneuver that is difficult to perform because it can't be seen very well, but it is also difficult to judge for the same reason.
Radio Control: Aerobatics
AS CONTEST DIRECTOR (CD) for the F3A Team Selection Finals, I am deep into making plans for the contest which will be held at Duke Field, Eglin AFB, Florida on June 25-30. Also participating in the planning in an informal capacity, because he will also be a competitor in the event, is John Fuqua. John is an active CD who has directed my club's annual contest for the past four years, with me as his assistant. Between us we have either directed or assisted in directing more than thirty Pattern contests. So we know what to do and when to do it for Pattern contests.
