AMA Nats: FF Indoor Scale
Larry Kruse
Rule change
A Nationals rule imposed by the AMA stated that "the same model cannot be entered into more than one event, except in Free Flight Indoor and Outdoor Peanut Scale events." The net effect was to eliminate the common practice of entering a single aircraft (often a Lacey or Fike) in four events: Indoor Scale, Outdoor Scale, Indoor Peanut Scale, and Outdoor Peanut Scale.
Whether the rule is good remains to be seen. It did relieve judges of the monotony of judging numerous versions of the same aircraft up to four times and eliminated opportunistic trophy‑collecting practices by a few individuals. It may also have affected the competitive balance (addressed below).
Indoor Peanut Scale — trends and Open results
Unusual models — biplanes, canards, biplane canards, and amphibian biplanes — are now frequently in the winners’ circle. The scale scoring advantages given to these types, combined with noticeable improvement in flying them, have pushed Open Peanut scores over 200 into the top three. Under current rules it may become difficult for a high‑wing monoplane to compete at the highest levels.
Open Peanut results (notable finishers):
- 1st: Jack McGillivray — Isaacs Fury biplane, 219.40 (111 scale points, 107.4 flight points).
- 2nd: Jim Miller — Voisin amphibian biplane‑canard, 130.5 scale points, average 87.85 flight points.
- 3rd: Larry Kruse — Santos Dumont 14‑bis biplane‑canard, 108 scale points, 94.1 flight points.
- 4th: Ken Groves — Fike, total score ~180 (an otherwise very good score limited by the scoring system).
Indoor Scale — Open and notable entries
In Open Scale, Dave Rees flew a large Travelair 6000 built to the Coconut Scale rules of the D.C. Maxecutters club (minimum 36 in. wingspan and minimum weight of 1 oz). Dave's orange-and-black Travelair maxed easily overhead, centered under the hanging scoreboard, and returned for picture‑perfect landings with the prop still ticking over.
Open Scale placings:
- 1st: Dave Rees — Travelair 6000.
- 2nd: Larry Kruse — Santos Dumont 14‑bis canard (1.9 points behind Rees).
- 3rd: Jim Miller — another version of the Santos Dumont.
Other notable entries:
- Paul Boyanowski — a meticulously constructed 1912 Doppeltaube (Albatross) that earned a high static score but proved difficult to trim because of large surface area and high induced drag.
- Gina Boyanowski — Piper Super Cub from Walt Mooney plans; after much trimming she achieved a fine flight of over 60 seconds.
Junior and Senior Peanut
Laceys dominated the Junior and Senior Peanut events.
- Junior: 1st — Jeff Adamisin, 113.4, besting Jeff Plassman’s low‑wing Druine Turbulent (Peck‑Polymers kit).
- Senior: 1st — Don Slusarczyk, Lacey, 121.3.
Observations
The new entry restriction appears to have encouraged greater variety in entrants and reduced duplicate entries across events. It also seems to have accelerated a shift toward more exotic configurations (biplanes, canards, amphibian biplanes) in Peanut Scale, since their higher static scores can overcome modest flight scores. As builders and flyers gain skill with these esoteric designs, expect to see more of them at the top of the results, which represents a notable turnaround from the former dominance of high‑wing monoplanes.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
