Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
TWO NEW PROCEDURES in RC Pattern were used at the 1981 Nats. First, everyone flew all five days. There were no qualifying flights, a change from the previous procedure of having three days of qualifying and two days of finals. I like and disliked it at the same time. Let me explain. From my viewpoint as a flier, it was great because we got to fly the complete pattern all five days. It is frustrating to drive all the way to the Nats and only get to fly using an abbreviated pattern for three days and then watch the top 10 qualifiers fly the complete pattern for the last two days (as it was in previous years).
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
THIS MONTH I'd like to tie up a few loose ends. In several previous columns, there have been a couple of topics which generated comments and/or questions from readers which may be of general interest. The first is the result of a letter from Gary Sutton (Ashby, NE) who had a question about dihedral. He reported, "I can fly my Sig Kadet upside down and make very gradual turns. Turning your drawing upside down, I can't see how this works."
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
THE LOSS of Lakehurst NAS as the 1982 Nats site was tragic. As I understand it, the runway which was to be used for the Radio Control events is scheduled to be used by the Navy during the period the Nats were to have been held. It seems as though the situation should have never developed as far as it did, but anyone who has dealt with a government agency knows that one part of the agency usually does not know what the other parts have planned, and vice versa. It must be very disappointing to the Lakehurst Nats promoters, like AMA District II VP John Byrne, who was delightedly looking forward to an East Coast Nats. The transfer of the Nats to Lincoln, NE will change a lot of Nats plans. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend the Nats this year. Maybe next year.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
I WANT TO SHARE with you several letters I have received from readers. Usually my letters contain questions, and I can answer most of them, but there were two letters which arrived recently with question that have me stumped. It doesn't do my ego a bit of good to admit that I don't know all the answers to questions about model aircraft aerodynamics, but it any of you can help these modelers out, it'll make me feel better.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
YOU MAY NOT have heard about it, but there are many influential people who are pushing to have the Aresti style of aerobatic judging made the standard for all classes of AMA Pattern competition. In case you aren't familiar with it, the Aresti style of judging involves the entire flight pattern from the time the airplane flies into the "judging box." This includes judging of the turnarounds at each end of the field as well as the individual maneuvers.
