Control Line: Combat
A SUBJECT OF conversation on the Internet revolves around the notion of allowing electric starters in the 1/2A event. Some pilots have spoken of allowing these devices in all of the Combat events. There are many opinions on the subject, ranging from full to limited use, to use at the discretion of the event director. At the root of this talk is the frustration of trying to get 1/2A engines started during contests, or for that matter, during practice sessions, and the desire of some to have actual flying ability determine the outcome of each match. When I began model-flying, there was the builder-of-the-model rule: in order to compete, you had to build your own models. Those who drew up the rule no doubt believed that this hobby's goal was the development of all-around modelers, who were creative and innovative. The competitions were mere forums to test one's ideas and inventions.
Control Line: Combat
AMA'S 1994 NATS AT LUBBOCK, TEXAS had one of the largest Control Line Combat turnouts in recent years. Slow Combat had 29 entries; FAI had 13; 1/2A had 21; and Fast had 32. All events were flown with a full double-elimination format. Combat Event Director Larry Driskill must be given lots of credit for the pre-contest field preparation that entailed watering the field months in advance to achieve an acceptable level of growth and firmness. The adjacent fields were quite hard and were strewn with rocks. Lubbock (which boasts an international airport and the famous Texas Tech University) is about 3,000 feet above sea level. It can be quite hot, with little or no humidity-although it did rain briefly on Thursday for the finish of 1/2A Combat. The winds can blow hard: 15-20 mph.
Control Line: Combat
THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR participation in Combat competition has greatly diminished from what it was during its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s. We used to see throngs of young people building and flying their own creations at weekend practice fields and at formal contests. Some of the Juniors and Seniors of that era are still flying-us. We had plenty of support for our activities, even if we were not fortunate enough to have a father or close relative who could supply technical advice and financial help. This help came in the form of local clubs that could usually be found just by walking into a hobby shop. It was easy to join, especially if you could talk a friend or a neighbor into accompanying you.
Control Line: World Championships
The US team and most of its supporters left San Francisco on Saturday, October 15 and arrived in Shanghai late Sunday evening after a long, tiring 13 1/2-hour flight on an Air China 747. We were met at the Shanghai airport by Mr. Huang of the Aero Sports Federation of China, the host organization for the Control Line World Championships. Mr. Huang had arranged with the local authorities to get us quickly through customs and into waiting buses to carry us to our hotel. Imagine a normal-size bus being skillfully driven down a street closely likened to an alley in most US cities. Even at 1 a.m., the streets were occupied by people, bicycles, and construction crews. There were very few street lights, and virtually no traffic-control devices (and those were generally ignored). Other vehicles, most without headlights turned on, all seemed to aim at the same small piece of the narrow road now occupied by our bus. For this group of tired-but-excited Americans the ride to the hotel was wild, yet we arrived safely and without incident.
Control Line Combat
IN MY LAST COLUMN, I mentioned that I had been experimenting with one of the new Fox Mark VII Combat Specials. This month I have some concrete data that you might find of interest. The engine that I have been running is from the batch that was available at the 1994 AMA National Championships in Lubbock, Texas. John Lowery of Fox Manufacturing had worked long and hard to get the Mark VII ready for its debut at the Nats. Betty Fox was also quite pleased that she could introduce a new and improved version of the Combat Special with so many people looking on. Rumors had been flying all over the place (long before the Nats) that there was a new, more-powerful Fox Combat Special being developed at the Arkansas factory.
