Control Line: Speed
Last column I told you how to build a simpIe, lightweight dolly for 21 Sport Speed because some would-be Speed fliers are intimidated by the thought of such a "tricky" item. Another frightening thing for beginners is flying a pylon. It's not that difficult! I'll give you a few hints and suggestions to allow you to quickly overcome your fears and become an accomplished Speed flier in no time flat. I've shown several modelers how to obtain a good pylon technique. Few of them have had any problems. First, start with a two-line model. After you're accomplished at that, monoline is a lot easier. Take a look at the photo of Bill Hughes standing in takeoff position, his left hand on the pylon, right hand holding the handle, and eyes on the air plane. That's the most important point - keep your eyes on the airplane! After your pit crew releases the model, lead it a little to keep the lines tight, give it a little up elevator to lift it out of the dolly, and keep hold of the pylon. Keep your eyes on the airplane and walk around the pylon until you get the model flying. Once you've leveled off and the airplane is flying nice and smooth, just let your right hand come around and settle in the fork, but don 't look down at the pylon! If you do, the model usually goes "splat" into the ground!
Control Line: Speed
Another column is due, here it is springtime and the flying season is upon us. It's time to get my Speed jobs ready and a bunch of props filed down, balanced, and polished. The first Speed contest in the Midwest will be Memorial Day weekend in Sugar Grove, IL. Our club, the Treetown Modelaires, has hosted this show for many years, and we have most of the Control Line events including Record Ratio Speed. I haven't had many photos for this column, so I should be able to take a few at this meet and at the Indianapolis contest a week later.
Control Line: Speed
C'MON, let's fly .21 Sport Speed! It's fun, it's easy, and it's great competition. So, get off the couch, quit talking about it, and do it! If you have been looking for an event that you and your kids or grandkids can compete in together, this is it. It is easy to be competitive in this event. One of the easiest, as a matter of fact. The airplanes are not difficult to build, they are easy to fly, and good engines are readily available relatively inexpensively. If you are going to get a youngster flying, then help him build a profile job as a starter. They are allowed in competition. And don't come up with the old excuse that you need a machine shop to fly Speed! These .21 engines are usually ready to go, you don't need to make, modify, or chrome parts, and you don't need any big "secrets." You've been talking about getting back into Speed flying or thinking about starting long enough. Let's do it! (If you aren't interested in Speed, then why are you reading this column?)
Control Line: Speed
Who says Control Line Speed is dead? Go back and read the '89 Nats Speed write-up in the November 1989 issue of Model Aviation if you think we have faded away! Most types of Control Line flying are booming all over the country, with many new fliers as well as previous modelers coming back into competition. There have been too many negative comments, negative attitudes, and negative people who would like to see us Control Liners go away! With this column we will try to reverse this trend and bring you up-to-date information on Speed flying, Speed equipment, and state-of-the-art techniques. I expect to receive data from various individuals, so if you want some specific tips or have questions, do not hesitate to write to me. Speed certainly wasn't dead at the Cold Cash Speed Bash in Dayton, OH last September. There were 25 of us entrants who fielded 55 airplanes and made about 130 flights/attempts during the two days of hot and heavy competition. This traditional contest has been sponsored by the Dayton Buzzin Buzzards for many years, and continues to be the best Speed contest in the Midwest. The weather report was threatening, so we put up 90 flights on Saturday!
AMA Nats: CL Speed
SPEED turnout at the '88 Nats was quite good with 128 event entries. Junior and Senior entrants were scarce, but this was true in all events. The site was far from perfect, but filling the holes with plaster made it usable. Flying began on Monday-not with a roar, but with the screech of hot 1/2A engines. Turnout was excellent with 40 entrants in 1/2A Speed and 1/2A Profile Proto. Forty-three official flights were completed, and flying continued right up to 5:00 p.m.
