Control Line: Aerobatics
DUE to the curse of publishing lead time, by the time you read this epistle you will most likely know the results not only of the 1988 Virginia Nats but also of the Kiev, Russia CL World Championships. Unfortunately, as I write it is late June, and my new ship for the Nats ain't done, the old ship needs a really good engine, and the old reflexes just don't seem to be what they used to be when I do find the time to go practice. I just received an engine from Tom Lay at T&L Specialties which he guarantees is a monster, and I'd really much rather be out running it. However, duty calls, so stand clear for another month of Stunt stuff.
Control Line: Aerobatics
GET SET . . . As you read this month's column your team representing the United States in the 1988 Control Line World Championships is entering the final stages of its preparation. The championships (under the auspices of the Federation Aeronautique International, the international rules-making and record keeping body for all aviation) will be held in Kiev, Russia in early August. At last count 32 countries were known to be fielding teams, not only in Stunt but also in the other FAI Control Line classes of Combat, Team Race, Speed, and (for the first time in a common championship milieu) Scale.
Control Line: Aerobatics
"HELP!" That was the nature of the phone call I received from a Stunt flier the other day. He was seeking help on one of Precision Aerobatic's most vexing problems. His Stunt ship, which was "perfect in most every way," had an apparently incurable tendency to hunt. Now this type of hunting has nothing to do with red hats, cold feet, and antlers above the fireplace mantel. No, when a Stunter goes hunting you're more apt to want to shoot the plane! Hunting is the frustrating condition wherein the ship cannot be made to settle into a nice, flat groove in level flight. It is always climbing just a little or diving just a little. This condition usually deteriorates in the wind, and (if severe enough) may make level flight a very exciting maneuver indeed!
Control Line: Aerobatics
HI, GANG. You'll recall that a few months back I did a series of columns discussing my modification of the Sig Twister. I've received several positive letters from fliers indicating their desire to see more of that type of article. This is evidence that the majority of my readers are neither rank beginners nor top-five Nats fliers. Rather, they are competent pilots who are looking for information and projects with which they can improve their existing skills and enhance their competitive standing amongst their peers. To do this they are in search of good-flying, attractive aircraft-ones which don't require a year to build (and/or repair), yet provide better performance than the available commercial kits.
Control Line: Aerobatics
HOWDY, guys and gals. Welcome back to yet another few doses of Stunt stuff. I've had a number of interesting items come across the desk lately, and now might be a good time to pass them on to you. I guess the first thing to do is list some new products that promise to be very helpful. First, Craftsman Models, Inc., 1311 E. 161st. Street, Westfield, IN 46074, sent me an example of a really great device for simplifying the task of handling that cumbersome Stunter while under construction. This is what is commonly referred to as a "third hand." It is a finely crafted device of threaded steel and aluminum which can be bolted directly to your building bench or, better yet, to a movable stand.
