AMA Nats 1983: CL Navy Carrier
AFTER many years in other ports, the USS Smallfry was once again docked on the East Coast. The facilities this year were outstanding, with large practice areas, smooth flying circles, and enthusiastic support from the Air Force and the community. The Carrier circles were located right by the entry gate and spectator parking areas, thus ensuring plenty of spectators throughout the competition. There were 41 models processed for Class I and II, and 31 for Profile. The Junior participation was particularly encouraging, with three entries processed in each of the Scale classes, and six fliers in Profile. The number of contestants provided good competition without putting an undue strain on the officials. A single deck could be used each day with few delays and very little waiting for a flight.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
OCTOBER's mystery airplane was a one-of-a-kind level bomber manufactured in 1932 by Consolidated and based on their Fleetster civil transport. Modifications included bomb bay doors, a hatch aft of the wing for the gunner, and flotation gear under the wings. However, the Navy found little utility in carrier-based level bombers, preferring the accuracy and penetration achievable with dive bombers for attacking surface ships. As a result, the Consolidated XBY-1 (Bu. No. 8921) never advanced past the testing stage.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
THE UNIDENTIFIED CARRIER AIRCRAFT in my January column was an unsuccessful competitor against the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft of the British Royal Navy. The Blackburn Y.A.5 shared a common awkwardness of form with the Gannet, almost as if the specification to which they were built required it. The particular variant illustrated was the first of four configurations. With a modified vertical stabilizer and rudder, it became the Y.A.7. The outer wing panels were modified and swept back and a third crew member position added on the second prototype, the Y.A.8.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
THE RULES CYCLE is beginning again. Its first major event is the submission of proposed changes, which must be accomplished before September 1, 1984. Many proposals result from new ideas which have found local acceptance either as a common practice in running AMA events, or as a new event flown at local contests as an additional event. In many cases, these proposals are defeated on the initial ballot, not because they lack merit, but because there is no experience with the proposed change outside of the area in which it originated and there is no real opportunity to discuss the change adequately in the short time before the initial CLCB ballot.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
MYSTERY AIRCRAFT. Congratulations to David Broude, who was selected as winner from among the many who correctly identified the Arado Ar-96 that appeared in the March issue. This month's mystery aircraft should provide a little more challenge-good luck. The aircraft in the May issue was the prototype of a dive bomber which saw service with the U.S. Navy as the Buccaneer and with the Fleet Air Arm (British Royal Navy) as the Bermuda. Designed in the mid-1930s from the XSBA-1 (produced by the Naval Aircraft Factory as the SBN-1), the Brewster XSB2A-1 was larger and was to have a power-operated turret for self-defense, though that feature was not carried over to the production aircraft.
