2008 Control Line World Championships
The 2008 Control Line World Championships in Landres, France, featured top teams competing in Speed, Aerobatics, Team Race, and Combat categories. The event highlighted impressive performances, with Spain's Luis Parramon winning F2A Speed, the US team excelling in F2B Aerobatics, and Moldova's Stanislav Culacichin claiming the F2D Combat title. Despite some organizational challenges, the championships were well-received, showcasing skill and sportsmanship among competitors from around the globe.
Control Line: Combat
UNFORTUNATELY Doc Passen has had to cancel his 1/2A Money Meet which had been scheduled for the Labor Day weekend. Doc has a lot of business obligations both professionally and in modeling that were very pressing-too pressing to allow him to run the 1/2A meet. Besides his normal line of CL kits which have been selling quite well, there is now a series of RC Combat planes which are meant to be used the way we fly CL Combat. The RC market is so much bigger that if they follow his instructions with respect to flying style (mix it up, and no 200-ft. streamers!), he should be able to retire soon just on the profit from kit production.
AMA Nats: CL Combat
ONCE again the Combat fliers got the prime real estate at the National Combat Championships. Where other events were off in other parts of the region, the Combat fliers enjoyed the greatest exposure to the spectators with an excellent flying site near the AMA Nats HQ and concessions. There was enough practice area for dozens of circles, although very few fliers did much practicing because of the intense heat and humidity. Temperatures were generally in the high eighties, with several days well into the 90º range with very high humidity, too. It wasn't as bad as two years ago in Lake Charles where new record temperatures were set, but it took about 10-15 mph off top speeds, which actually made for better matches although being hard on engines and contestant endurance. Except for a few raindrops on one day, the temperature and humidity were the only detracting factors, as the wind remained at a very low level.
Control Line: Combat
MACA's Top Twenty for 1987 were recently listed in the March issue of the society's newsletter. The results were compiled by Pat Willcox from the 68 contests held throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. Points were awarded on the basis of three times the number of rounds flown for first placers; two times the number of rounds flown for second-placers; and one times the number of rounds flown for third-placers. Double- or triple-elimination contests did not receive extra points, as the number of rounds is determined by the number of contestants in each event. Only MACA (Miniature Aircraft Combat Association) members with 1987 or current memberships were rated, with points from 1/2A, Slow, FAI, and Fast Combat being added together for the overall champion. If you're doing really well this contest season and care about MACA and the Top Twenty system, you should send in your $15 to become a member and get the newsletter-and possible glory and fame in the Top Twenty for 1988. Send your check to Mike Urban, 316 Spring Ave., Glen Elyn, IL 60137.
CL World Champs: Speed F2A
THE ONE QUESTION on everyone's mind before Speed got under way was whether one of the Soviets would break the 300-kilometers-per-hour barrier in official F2A competition. It was put to rest soon enough when current Speed World Champion Alexander Kalmykov clocked off 301.76 kph on his first run. Of the 35 entrants, the slowest time was 241.29 kph, which would have been quite a respectable score 10 years ago. As another indication of how things have changed, the once-dominant Hungarians, who swept the 1984 Championships in the U.S.A. and were third in 1986, were relegated to fourth and fifth places this year.
