AMA NATS: CL Navy Carrier
By Pete Mazur
The top competitors dominated the 1987 Nats, producing some of the highest-ever scores in Profile Carrier. There were no startling new designs or techniques — just steady refinement of the art and plenty of practice. Below are the event highlights, class results, equipment notes, and post-event items.
Profile Carrier — Open Class
- Summary: Many entries used about 350 sq. in. wing area (well above the 300 sq. in. minimum), ~15% thick airfoils, and weights mostly between 2½ and 3 lb. The K&B .58 was the most common engine, often with O.S. carburetors.
Top finishers (Open):
- Bill Melton — 343.0 points
- Aircraft: Original Guardian (larger, thicker wing; external line slider)
- Low speed: 275.2 sec (best low of the day)
- High speed: 19.6 sec (best high of the day)
- Engine: TWA .36
- LeRoy Cordes — 319.8 points
- Aircraft: Fairey Spearfish (popular design; several modified versions entered)
- High speed: 21.4 sec
- Low speed: 268.0 sec
- Engine: Tune .36
- Peter Mazur — 316.1 points
- Aircraft: Modified Spearfish
- High speed: 20.2 sec
- Low speed: 235.5 sec
- Engine: Tune-Hill plain-bearing .36
- Marc Warshana — 316.1 points
- Aircraft: Original Wildcat with effective split flaps
- High speed: 20.9 sec
- Low speed: 243.5 sec
- Engine: Reworked Super Tigre S-36
- Bill Calkins — 282.6 points
- Aircraft: Fairey Fulmar (original)
- High speed: 21.6 sec
- Low speed: 192.2 sec
- Engine: K&B .58
Notes:
- No Junior entries in Profile this year. Senior Jane Johnson successfully flew a K&B .58–powered Sterling Hellcat; Profile entered that same airplane and engine to win the Senior Class the next day.
Class I
- Conditions: Winds increased during the day from about 10 mph to 30 mph, making conditions difficult late in the day.
Top finishers:
- Pete Mazur — 379.8 points
- Aircraft: Original MO-1, built-up 37-in. wing
- High speed: 17.2 sec
- Low speed: 129.9 sec (best low of the day)
- Engine: K&B .40S
- Carl "Tommy" Schaefer — 378.7 points
- Aircraft: Smaller MO-1, 33-in. thin wing
- High speed: 15.9 sec (fastest high of the day)
- Low speed: 105.1 sec
- Engine: K&B .65
- Bill Melton — 367.7 points
- Aircraft: Original 36-in. Guardian (thicker wing than Sterling kit)
- High speed: 17.3 sec
- Low speed: 109.2 sec
- Engine: O.S. .40VRP
- Roy Fellows — (placed 4th)
- Aircraft: AD-4 Skyraider (modified Japanese kit)
- Engine: Fox .40
- High speed: 25.7 sec
- Low speed: 57.1 sec
- Landing: 100 points
- Brett Smith — (placed 5th)
- Aircraft: 38-in. MO-1 with foam wing (Gerber-style)
- High speed: 22.8 sec
- Low speed: 52.8 sec
- Engine: K&B .40RR with Irvine carburetor (suction feed)
- Landing: 0 points (resulted in 5th place)
Class II
- Conditions: Winds were strong from early morning (around 25 mph) and increased as the day progressed.
Top finishers:
- Carl "Tommy" Schaefer — 351.6 points
- Aircraft: 34-in. Kingfisher (smallest Class II model entered)
- High speed: 17.0 sec
- Low speed: 27.5 sec
- Engine: O.S. .45 (marine conversion)
- Bill Melton — 350.7 points
- Aircraft: Original 43-in. Guardian (one of the largest models entered)
- High speed: 16.6 sec
- Low speed: 70.3 sec
- Engine: Rossi .65 (rear-exhaust)
- Leon Ryktarsky — 333.8 points
- Aircraft: Brewster XSBA-1 (prototype; four similar Brewsters entered at this Nats)
- High speed: 17.2 sec
- Low speed: 58.3 sec
- Engine: O.S. .61
- Bill Calkins — 324.7 points
- Aircraft: Original 44-in. MO-1
- High speed: 17.8 sec
- Low speed: 42.4 sec
- Engine: O.S. .65DF
- Landing: 100 points
- Dave Engel — (just behind Calkins)
- Aircraft: 40-in. Guardian
- High speed: 18.2 sec
- Low speed: 49.0 sec
- Engine: Modified O.S. .65RSR
- Landing: 95 points
Equipment and Observations
- Model sizes and configurations were varied; no single size preference emerged for Classes I and II.
- Fuel: Winners used 60–75% nitro mixes.
- Ignition/plugs: Fox RC plug remains popular.
- Props: Contestants used a range of propellers. Class II props were still heavily represented by the 10x8 Rev-Up, but Power Prop, Top Flite, Master Airscrew, and Kelly props were also used.
Awards and Officials
- Eugene Bly Award (highest total score for all three Carrier classes): Bill Melton (1987 Champion).
- Carrier officials thanked by contestants:
- John Holliday — Contest Director
- Melvin Schuette — Circle Judge
- Carolyn Cordes and Cora Higley — Timers
- Brenda Schuette — Scorekeeper
- Dave Judd — Pit Boss
Unofficial .15-Class Carrier (Saturday)
- Rules: Similar to AMA Profile Carrier with differences — no scale points, no moving surfaces except elevator, no lugs, and any high speed over 70 mph scored as 70 mph (to discourage extreme engines).
- Entries: Six.
Top finishers:
- Melvin Schuette — Curtiss high-wing monoplane, OPS .15 (only pilot to make a landing)
- Mike Anderson — Cox .15–powered model
- Gerry Deneau — Original Cox .15–powered Dauntless
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
