Control Line: Speed
CL SPEED results at the 1988 CL World Championships will be the topic of my column this month. I have so much material to report on that the specifics will have to wait till next time (February 1988 issue). (Editor's note: Author Gene Hempel attended the World Championships as a team supporter. RMcM) The 1988 World Championships for Control Line was hosted by the U.S.S.R. and held at Kiev, the capital of the Soviet Ukraine. Today's Kiev has a population of more than 2.6 million, occupies an area of just under 800 sq. km, and sprawls on both banks of the Dnieper River. The city has endured through centuries, weathering every storm and rising from ashes many times to become more beautiful and prosperous. It is difficult to describe the beauty of the city's landmarks, which encompass the golden domes of the Kiev-Pechensk Lavra Monastery. One just has to visit and see for himself.
Sixth Annual B-17 Gathering & Scale Big Bird Fly-In
The sixth annual B-17 Gathering and held at Bomber Field in Monaville, Texas is history now. You probably have read in different articles in magazines concerning bow great their Fly-In was. Well, there is no comparison to the B17 gathering held at Bomber Field. You have to see for yourself, with five (5) B-17 models flying in formation. It is difficult for me to describe this occasion. Seeing is believing! Modelers from all over the United States and Canada came to compete in this Fly-In. A total of 169 pilots registered, with 245 models. The Contest Director was Carlos Ortz, along with the members of the Bomber Field organization. This group of modelers really pull together to make this Fly-In a success.
Control Line: Speed
TECHNICAL information on the FAI Speed models and engines used at the 1988 CL World Championships will be my topic this month and continuing for some time in the future. I will discuss the Russian equipment first, since they were the dominant force at the World Champs. The Russian Speed team was using three distinctly different types of engines. The exhaust timing on Kalmykov's (who was not only the defending World Champion but also won again this time) engine is 194º, with the intakes at 144º. The crankshaft timing is 28º ABDC and 68º ATDC-a total duration of 220º.
Control Line: Speed
GETTING STARTED in Speed is on the minds of many modelers who have written to me. They want to know what is necessary to get into the sport. Bill Nusz (Lancaster, CA) has offered to share his thoughts on the subject, and I feel it covers what is necessary to get started: "I suspect that most of the people reading this column are interested in Control Line Speed but are not active Speed fliers. In most cases this is due, I think, to uncertainty as to how to get started or to misconceptions about how difficult it is to fly the events. "Speed has many positive aspects that make it a very pleasant event in which to compete. First, the models last a long time, an important factor if you have limited building time. Although flying skill is a factor, Speed does not require the very long hours of practice that Stunt or Combat do. Speed does not require the practice to build teamwork that the Racing events do.
Control Line: Speed
RULES UPDATE: It appears from the results of the first round of voting on the Speed proposals that not enough of you wrote to your district Control Line Contest Board members and expressed your thoughts. This round of voting only proves that Speed is set up for the professional modeler with lots and lots of dollars. From my past experience with Speed, you need machine shop capability-or access to one-to fly Speed. Let's face reality: Nobody wants to give up his pet event for fear of losing the only accomplishment in his entire life span! As my law professor told me one day as I tried to stay awake: "Only a fool lives in the past, for he fears the future." Well, so much for the philosophizing.
