'81 AMA Texas Nats: CL Aerobatics
Wynn Paul
Overview
TEN YEARS is a long time for an impatient, talented flier to wait to win the Nationals. When you have already won the Nationals four previous times and the world title twice, it becomes even more difficult to settle for seconds and thirds — which is what Bill Werwage had experienced since last winning Precision Aerobatics in 1971. At the Texas Nationals he pulled together his knowledge and skills at the right time to beat an outstanding field.
Event Director Bill Howe and assistant Lee Lorio assembled an experienced crew; a total of 43 workers contributed to running the Stunt event. Aerobatics was allotted four circles. Weather was hot and windy as predicted, and although some circles had loose gravel, the flying areas were serviceable.
Walker Cup Finals
On Walker Cup finals day each of the five finalists led the scoring at one time or another. The final standings were:
- 1st — Bill Werwage (Lakewood, OH)
- 2nd — Ted Fancher (Foster City, CA)
- 3rd — Les McDonald (Miami, FL)
- 4th — Wynn Paul (Lexington, KY)
- 5th — Kirk Mullinix (Bellflower, CA)
David Hemstrought (spectator) recorded lap times of the five finalists:
- Werwage — 5.4
- Fancher — 5.0
- McDonald — 5.2
- Paul — 5.7
- Mullinix — 5.0
Open Competition
- Fifty-two Open contestants flew in the Nationals.
- Open qualifications used four circles with 13 fliers each; five qualified from each circle, so 20 finalists (about 38% of entrants) advanced to the finals.
- Wind increased for the second round on each qualification day; many chose to fly in the breeze to try to make the cut.
- After qualifications, only one first-time qualifier was in the field of 20. The field included three past or present World Champions and six former Nationals Champions.
Tuesday Night Appearance Judging
- A surprise: Gene Martine’s Mariner (Jacksonville, FL) received a perfect appearance score of 20 points. The Mariner is a tan, metallic-brown/green/red improved replica of his 1980 Mariner.
- Another surprise: the pilots’ meeting lasted only 10 minutes and no one asked about how to score a landing.
Friday Finals and Top 20
Friday brought almost perfect conditions. The 20 finalists were split into two groups and each group flew one pattern before two judging panels. The top five moved on to the Walker Cup finals Saturday.
A notable upset: veteran Bob Gieseke was edged out of the Walker finals by newcomer Kirk Mullinix, with scores of 1057.5 to 1049.0. Bob had a new foam-winged Nobler with a chromed-sleeve Fox .35.
Rounding out the top twenty finalists (beyond the Walker five):
- Jim Casale
- Dennis Adamisin
- David Fitzgerald
- Paul Walker
- Frank McMillan
- Stan Powell
- Remel Cooper
- Keith Trostle
- Gary McClellan
- Bob McDonald
- Dennis Harkai
- Jack Sheeks
- Rich LeRoy
- Jim Armour
Bill Werwage’s USA-1 — Plane and Equipment
Bill Werwage flew the number two version of his USA-1 airplane, completed in 1972. Key details:
- Wing: 62-inch I-beam, 730 sq. in. area
- Weight: 53 oz
- Control system: Werwage’s patented 7-to-1 ratio with two pushrods off the bell-crank (same basic idea used on his Ares in 1958)
- History: Used to win the 1972 World Championships; retired, then returned to USA-1 configuration for the 1980 Worlds (finished third). He built another USA-1 for 1981 but chose the nine-year-old plane in July flyoffs.
Engine and fuel:
- Basically a stock Supertigre .46 with a somewhat lighter connecting rod (replaced the night before the finals)
- Compression lowered with a .032-in gasket under the stock head
- Prefers the older "T" crankshaft rather than the full-circle crank
- .285 venturi with a .15" taper in the opening
- Mike Mustain uniflow with .003-in gap
- Duke's 10% nitro fuel
- Bob Paul muffler drilled out
Propeller and trimming:
- Started with a Top Flite 13 x 5-1/2 prop cut down to 11-1/2 x 5-1/2
- Werwage is a meticulous prop technician — he trims by notching blade centers with a Dremel and uses his own prop balancer; he and Les McDonald are well known for detailed prop discussions
- Flown on solid lines measuring 68 feet from handle to the middle of the airplane
Seniors and Juniors
- Seniors: With David Fitzgerald graduated to the Open ranks last year, the remaining Seniors battled. Jeff Anderson (Stockton, CA), a second-year participant, won narrowly over Andy Harissiadis and Dan McClellan.
- Jeff Anderson flew a Ted Fancher-designed Citation II with a 58-inch foam wing and an ST .46 engine with a Vic Garner ring. He will study aeronautics at Delta College in Stockton, CA.
- Juniors: Only one Junior entered — Jim McClellan. He flew with the Seniors and posted a score that would have placed him fourth among them.
- Jim flew a two-year-old stock kit Nobler (MonoKote finish on wings, Hobbypoxy paint on fuselage and tail) powered by an OS Max .35.
Half-A Stunt
- Very low entry count.
- Wynn Paul won the Open Half-A Stunt with a miniature Bob Gialdini Olympic Mark V, outpointing Gene Martine and David Fitzgerald; only four Open entries participated.
- The only other Junior and Senior entry in Half-A was Jim McClellan.
Controversies and Protests
- Richard Byron lodged two official protests against the management and administration of the event as run by PAMPA. He took exception to the qualification procedure, the final standings listings of all competitors, and the method of flying more than two official flights. The event was run according to the published format; results of the protests will be reported later.
- At least two competitors disputed appearance point awards and argued with event directors.
Judges and Staff
Judges (including Junior, Senior, and Half-A):
- Art Adamisin
- Dennis Adamisin
- Mike Belitz
- David Fitzgerald
- Bob Hunt
- Don Jorda
- Fred Miles
- Dan McClellan
- Rolland McDonald
- Robert McDonald
- Joe Reinhard
- Ed Robbert
- Lanny Shorts
- Bill Zimmer
Scoring Boss Lady:
- Shereen Fancher, assisted by Suzi Howe and Joyce Shorts
Pit bosses:
- Ron Merrill
- Bill Savage
PAMPA Banquet and Awards
- Approximately 80 people attended the PAMPA banquet, including Art Schroeder (Model Airplane News) and Bob Hunt (Flying Models).
- George Aldrich presented a new perpetual award named in honor of the late Rene Mechin to Senior winner Jeff Anderson.
- PAMPA Concours d'Elegance (voted by the pilots) for most beautiful Stunt airplane went to Ted Fancher’s Intimidation in a close vote over Gene Martine’s Mariner.
Closing
The Walker Cup went to the new 1981 Champion, Bill Werwage.
SAFE FLYING IS NO ACCIDENT.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
