Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
ONCE in a while, there are subjects in my columns which touch a nerve among readers, and I receive all sorts of responses. Such was the case with two recent subjects: fuel foaming and control hinging techniques. Many people wrote to say that they had tried using a large Sullivan filter under the engine to alleviate fuel foaming effects and that it had worked for them, too. Still others wrote to say that they haven't been able to find the old-style large Sullivan filter. Well, no wonder; Sullivan doesn't sell them anymore! I found that out when I tried to order more of them. It appeared that I'd have to come up with another solution to the fuel foaming problem when I got a letter from Joe Sullivan (Richardson, TX).
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
WHEN you read this, my report on the RC Aerobatics World Championships will be elsewhere in this issue; but as I write, I'm still more than a week away from the opening ceremonies. You can imagine how excited I am about having the World Championships right here in my own backyard! Pensacola is only about 50 miles away, and I'll be able to commute to the competition from home. It'll be a lot more convenient and cheaper than driving hundreds of miles, staying in a motel and eating in restaurants (my Scottish ancestry asserting itself). I look forward to renewing acqaintances with the foreign competitors and meeting new ones. The competition should be great and I can't wait for it to get started!
RC Aerobatics World Championships
HANNO PRETTNER (Austria) won the 13th World Championships for Radio Control aerobatic model aircraft in Pensacola, FL on October 10-15. He was in first place after each of four qualifying flights, and he proceeded to extend his lead over the other six fliers in the finals. The United States won the team competition with Dave Brown finishing 3rd, Steve Helms 7th, and Tony Frackowiak (who barely missed the finals) 8th. The pre-event favorite, Japan, led during most of the competition only to fade under a late rush by the U.S. team.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
NEW RULES. The biggest news as far as Pattern competition is concerned is the new rules we will be operating under in 1984 and 1985 as a result of the RC Contest Board vote. Surprisingly, the Board voted to add an FAI Master class while retaining an AMA Master class. The new AMA Master class will be based on the 1982-83 FAI Master class. Twelve maneuvers (except takeoff and landing) with a total K Factor of 45 will be selected from the 1982-83 FAI list, plus several new maneuvers. Some K Factors will be changed, but there should be little apparent difference because most contests have been using the FAI list, lately.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
IT'S NEWSLETTER MONTH, an opportunity to share a gem which was gleaned from among the newsletters I received from clubs across the country. In addition, there are a couple of updates on the effects of lightning on an RC receiver. Let's begin with a slightly-edited maneuver description by an unknown author which appeared in the newsletter of the Thundervolts (Schenectady, NY). It goes like this: "Although the Figure 9 is one of the more popular maneuvers performed by RC fliers, it is most often poorly executed. I have even witnessed instances where the most vital portion of the maneuver, the partial loop, had been completely omitted from an otherwise spectacular performance.
