Control Line Navy Carrier
TOPICS for this month include the offerings of Brodak's Control Line Aviation Supplies and Service, a preview of the Carrier revival at Whittier Narrows, a means of adapting the Fox Combat Special to use other carburetors, and an update on the Magnum .36 engine. Ooops! Mike Keville of Mesa, Arizona, wrote from Kuwait City, where he is working on a government contract. He was the first to point out the grievous error in my April column. The model that I (in a fit of late-night deadline chasing) thoughtlessly misidentified as a Dauntless is obviously not the SBD but the earlier Douglas TBD Devastator. I promise to do better next time.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
Another new address: Observant readers will have already noticed the new address in the heading of this column. The Air Force has transferred me once again-this time to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm looking forward to knowing the control line modelers in New Mexico and to renewing an old acquaintance with Bill Melton in Las Cruces. The elevation (the highest metropolitan area in the United States-it even beats the mile-high city of Denver by a few feet) is not conducive to engine development or performance testing, but the visibility is a major improvement over my recent home in southern California.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
MOVING NEWS: As I write this, the move I mentioned in my last column has occurred. Susan and I are installed in our Albuquerque home. I can't say we've really moved in, because I've been traveling for the Air Force for three of the four weeks since the actual move-in date. Susan has done wonders in my absence, transforming jumbled rooms into a home and turning packed boxes into of piles cardboard in the garage. Maybe in a week or two, I'll even have some of my modeling paraphernalia unpacked and sorted.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
NATIONALS CARRIER: As I write this, I haven't had a chance to read Joe Just's description of the 1993 Nationals Navy Carrier activities, but having talked to him and others who attended the Nationals, it certainly sounded like a super year. You've already seen the close scores that separated many of the contestants. Quite a few modelers achieved personal best scores; Pete Mazur even set a new record in Class I. In my last column, I promised a look at the equipment used in the last Nationals. This is it! High speeds were up from last year in all classes, and as a whole were better than in any of the last four years. Bill Melton and Pete Mazur topped 90 mph in Profile. Four Class I models went more than 100 mph. Bill Melton achieved a 107.1 using a SuperTigre X .40, followed by Joe Dzialo, Peter Mazur, and Brian Silversmith in the 102s. In Class II, John Castiglioni, Bill Melton, and Pete Mazur topped 105 mph.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
CORRECTION: In the February issue, I incorrectly listed Jim Kirby as the winner of the Rookie of the Year Award at the 1993 National Championships, Navy Carrier Society. The real Rookie of the Year was Terry Kirby, Jim's brother. Sorry about the error, Terry. Hope to see you-and your brother-in Lubbock next summer. Nationals: The National Aeromodeling Championships at Lubbock, Texas has been publicized extensively, so I'll not repeat location and schedule information. With its relatively central location, Lubbock should provide reasonable access to a large number of Carrier modelers.
