Control Line: Aerobatics
THE READERS SPEAK. As promised, this month's column will be devoted to input from readers on the questions of the builder-of-the-model rule (BOM), appearance points, and using skill classes at the Nats instead of the historical age classes. The response to the request for input has been gratifying. It has been less than four weeks since the December issue hit your mailboxes, and I have thus far received 13 very thoughtful and insightful letters from all over the United States. The exceptional thing about the responses is that they come from a variety of levels of expertise.
Control Line: Aerobatics
AS PROMISED, this month's column will consist primarily of the writer's feelings regarding proposed amendments to three fundamental aspects of the Precision Aerobatics event; elimination or modification of the Builder of the Model rule (BOM), reduction or elimination of appearance points, and the use of skill-group classifications at the Nats in lieu of the historical age classes. Movements for change along these lines have arisen fairly often throughout the long years of my involvement with Stunt, especially relative to BOM and appearance points. Because such changes require substantial effort to become approved parts of the AMA rule book, the proposals usually died of their own weight.
Control Line: Aerobatics
WELL, Stunt fans, by now you should all have written to me with your feelings on Appearance Points, the Builder of the Model Rule, and Skill Classes at the Nats. If you haven't done so, stop reading and do it now! Next month, as promised, I'm going to expound at length on my opinions, and I hope you will all contribute material for the following column (March). It's your event, so let's hear from you. This month, I intend to comment on a variety of subjects. None of them at length and in no particular order, but just as grist for the old thought processes.
Control Line: Aerobatics
WELCOME BACK, Stunt fans. Contrary to rumors which circulated throughout the Nats at Chicopee, yours truly has no intention of giving up his prestigious and lucrative position as contributing editor for Stunt to Model Aviation. You guys will just have to find some other way to get rid of me. While personal circumstances made it impossible for me to attend the Nats this year (my first miss since 1974), I am, nonetheless, still active and intend to continue to contribute until such time as I run out of opinions (a situation unlikely to develop in the forseeable future!).
Control Line: Aerobatics
OKAY, when last we spoke we were reasonably happy with the way our new ship was turning. It grooved nicely in level flight and was controllable and positive in the glide. "However," you say, "line tension isn't all it should be, especially at 45º and above." What to do? It's good that you noticed tension is less above level flight. That's a natural function of gravity, and it's going to be a fact of life no matter what we do. However, we can do some things to minimize the loss. Line tension in level flight is primarily a function of airplane weight and speed. Increase either, and line tension will increase. The third most important factor is horsepower. Increase it, and line tension will also increase.
