CONTROL LINE SPEED
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR CL SPEED AIRPLANES GO FASTER
By John Moll | jl172@sbcglobal.net
HAVE YOU given much thought to getting started in flying Control Line (CL) Speed? How do you make your airplanes go faster? I’ll give a few simple hints here in this column. It will take you a few changes here and there to get your equipment up to the speeds that are competitive. I have even struggled to get some of my airplanes to go faster. That’s okay, though; I still have fun going to contests and competing. When I go to contests, I can ask for help, and most Speed fliers are more than happy to assist.
Getting Started
Let’s begin with an event that’s easy: Fox 35 Stunt Speed. The engines are easy to find at swap meets or on eBay. The event is timed from a standing start, so acceleration is important. Build your airplane strong and lightweight. You can use any design of airplane—and I mean any—for this event.
I have found that the Fox engines all need to have the bottom of the engine mounts milled flat and parallel. When you are mounting it on your airplane, the crankcase will not twist. That causes the engine to lose rpm, so there is less speed. I’ve included some pictures of my engines and how they are mounted on my Fox airplanes. The aluminum plates make for a solid and flat mounting area. All three of my airplanes have this.
There are small internal things you can do to a Fox 35 Stunt engine to get some extra power out of it, such as changing the timing of the exhaust or fitting the engine so that it’s loose and runs free. This is where going to Speed contests and asking, “How do I get more speed out of my airplane?” comes in handy.
The Fuel Tank
Because this event must run on suction, the best tank for the best performance is a coffin tank. You’ll only need approximately 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of fuel. That will give you enough to start it, set the needle, and run for those 14 laps. When you are setting the needle, you must try several different settings to find out where your airplane takes off and runs the best. The engine will unload in the air, so take that into consideration. This is where you put in several flights and find out what runs best for you.
Flying Your Airplane
We have found that a nice, smooth takeoff with the elevator at neutral, slowly getting the airplane up to level, and flying it right there for 14 laps works the best. Try not to go up and down because you just travel farther. Remember: You want the shortest flight possible. Oh, and no whipping. You can lead the airplane a bit, but just for takeoff. All of the events are flown between 4- and 7-feet high. With Fox 35 Stunt Speed, you won’t have to fly from the pylon, and that makes it easy to get started flying in the event.
When you get your airplane done and ready to test, take a couple of flying friends out to the circle and start testing what works best for your airplane. Bring along several different propellers of different diameters and pitches. You should also bring a stopwatch so that you can see which combination works best for you. Record your times and keep records! See what works best with the weather on the day that you are flying. You will need to do this for any of the 15 different Speed events. Test, test, test!
Good luck and keep trying to get faster on each flight. When you enter a contest, you are given four attempts to get three official flights. Your best speed is your final score. This is where you can try different adjustments for the best performance.
NASS
Now that you have found the right combination, you’ll want to go to a contest and compete against other fliers. On the North American Speed Society (NASS) Special Interest Group website, which can be found in “Sources,” there is a list of Speed contests around the country. Most of them are
Times, an electronic newsletter that is published twice a year. It includes results and reports written about contests that have been held here in the US and overseas.
In the back of the publication, there is a section called, “Parts, Props, and Shops.” There, you can find help from several vendors to find items that you might not be able to make yourself. You can also find parts, wheels, lines, and more from MBS Model Supply, which is owned by Melvin Schuette. The company has an online catalog to look over; the website link and contact information are in “Sources.”
F2A World Championships
I want to congratulate four fliers who went to Perth, Western Australia, and competed in the 2026 FAI F2 World Championships for Control Line Model Aircraft.
The F2A team included Alex Valishev, Bill Hughes, and Patrick Hemple. Their three combined scores helped the team win first place for the F2A team trophy. This is the third time that Team USA has won first place, having previously won in 2022 and 2024.
Dave Rigotti competed in F2G (Electric Speed) and placed third in the Team category. This was the first year that the F2G class flew in the world championships.
held annually on the same weekend every year. Go and compete, talk to other Speed fliers, learn, and have fun. You might not win or place, but you will make new friends, and that’s what modeling is all about!
When you join NASS, one of the perks is that you will be given access to Speed
SOURCES:
NASS
clspeed.org
2026 FAI F2 World Championships for Control Line Model Aircraft
2026clwc.org
MBS Model Supply
(785) 221-7042
mbsmodelsupply.com
