Control Line: Combat
I'D JUST mailed off my last column when I received pictures and a short report on the MACA Nationals from Bud Bodzioch. It was too late for that month and the AMA Nationals soon followed. So, the following columns will include some pictures of the winners and their equipment. I think it would be a good idea to promote the "Championship Trail" where we have a series of high-quality AAA meets that a great number of competitors would attend. The AMA Nationals events are, of course, the grand-daddy of them all, include the MACA Nats, Winston-Salem and Bill Allen's Aero Challenge as top draft choices. The Texas State meet held in Houston or the Dallas Southwesterns, Bladder Grabber and possibly King Orange Internats.
Control Line: Combat
I ACTUALLY did what I said I was going to do last column, some "scientific testing." I had several offers for the loan of hot-air-powered wind tunnels but decided to go with my trusty camera, a height pole and an expendable airplane or two. The camera makes a permanent film record of the proceedings, the expendable airplane is nice because you can just "crash it" when you finish a testing sequence. The height pole is not really necessary if you use the film dimensions to figure everything. At 52 feet my camera with 58-mm lens covers an area 30 feet by 20 feet. You can mark any convenient building or curb with 1-foot increments using a magic marker. This master slide or negative is then projected on your enlarger baseboard or dining room wall where you transfer the grid. All this fun and games may make you forget model airplanes and take up photography as a full-time occupation.
Control Line: Combat
THERE are a lot of ways to go competing in combat events and two of the feature models this month are at opposite ends of the sophistication spectrum. The Monoboom FAI is probably the most complicated of all the combat designs, while the Tantrum FAI is about the simplest thing around. The Monoboom family of models designed by Mike Hoffelt compromises nothing in the pursuit of maximum performance. To use one of these models with anything less than the most potent motor available and with conservative flying style is an exercise in missing the point.
Control Line: Combat
THE COMBAT WORLD was challenged by Sherwood Buckstaff a couple months ago and in the following issue of the MACA Newsletter there was a torrent of comment. The best of the lot follows, written by Rich Brasher, Redwood City. There is a Texan named Sherwood B. Who at the Nats will compete with me. But he'll have no chance, I'll just do a dance And kill him with simplicity. The rest of the comments are in the March 1977 issue of the MACA N/L. In all fairness to Sherwood Buckstaff I must remind you that he has won the last two Nats Fast Combat events, and another Texan, Dick Stubblefield, won the year before.
Control Line: Combat
HAVE YOU been flying more combat lately but enjoying it less? Does the thought of losing one of your high-performance monsters make you lose sleep at night? Well, my friends, the one-design contest just might be your answer. A group of us decided to build Voodoos for a little friendly combat. Each contestant would bring a maximum of two models and the only modifications allowed would be to wing tips and type of boom assembly. Everyone agreed to use mild fuel and engines. The result, some super 100-mph combat! Sure, the planes weren't as breathtaking as the 125-mph variety but the matches were a lot better and lasted longer.
