ASSAULT on Paintball Hill
Duane Sanders
Event overview
The first-ever Paintball Bomb Drop Competition, presented by Model Aviation Products Team M.A.P., was a smashing success at the Clearlake Modelers Club fall fun-fly. The club, famed for its annual float-fly over Mother's Day weekend at Clearlake, California, added special attractions for this fun-fly: free hot dogs and drinks for the kids, hands-on flying opportunities, and plenty of free—no entry fee—fun-flying.
The action centerstage featured the nearly indestructible U.S. AirCore family of trainer bombers flown by Team M.A.P., while paintball flak was delivered by sharp-shooting gunners from Paintball Hill in Pope Valley. Paintball Hill owner Gary Bennett commanded the shooters, and Glenn Palmer, noted in the paintball world for custom airguns and equipment, manned his heavy-hitting three-barreled grinder Gatling gun.
Preparations and setting
Fliers and paintball shooters began arriving at the Clearlake Modelers Club—S-Bar-S ranch—flying field on Friday night. The club held its monthly meeting, finalized details for the next day's event, and sat under a bright full moon anticipating the new attraction they had been planning for three months.
September 12, 1992, dawned bright and clear. Event chairman Ray Carmen was busy watering the runway and flying field, setting up the PA system, and making final touches. Early arrivals were greeted by deer standing in the field or scampering into the brush along the half-mile dirt road leading to the football-field-size flying site.
Tables and benches, a large sunscreen shade area, and comfortable pit space directly behind the flight line awaited participants. A pilots' meeting was called at 9 a.m. sharp to prepare for the first fun-flying. Meanwhile, the paintball shooters, commanded by Gary Bennett, were making ready the first bomb-drop event scheduled for 10 a.m., and Glenn Palmer was setting up his grinder Gatling gun.
Bomb-drop competition
Ray Carmen explained the rules to the crowd. Team M.A.P. bomber pilots would make repeated runs at a five-ring ground target while Paintball Hill gunners attempted to score hits on the aircraft with paintballs. The bombardiers on the aircraft released bright orange paintball "bombs" from MAP bomb-drop units strapped to the planes.
The bomber pilots (in launch order) were:
- Ron Trammel
- Tony Lee (14, the youngest member of Team M.A.P.)
- Jack Reifers
- Edwin "Ed" Seim
- Jim Chrisman
Highlights from the runs:
- Ron Trammel came in fast and low on a direct line at the target. Paintballs streaked toward the incoming red, white, and blue bomber. The bombardier released a paintball bomb that splatted in the three-ring with precision.
- Tony Lee's first pass was on a perfect approach. After taking heavy flak, his engine quit at the critical moment. Trying to clear the top of the eight-foot target, Tony's multisplattered airplane smashed into the four-ring, hung there like a sleeping bat, and earned the nickname "Kamikaze Lee!" Glenn Palmer opened up the grinder and pelted the plane with a barrage of paint.
- Jack Reifers came through nearly untouched—shooters were distracted by Tony's crash—and his bomb struck just off the five ring.
- Edwin Seim drew heavy flak. His evasive flying upset his bombardier and resulted in a clean miss on the target.
- Jim Chrisman used a high approach, swept low past the gunners when they opened up, and hit almost directly in the center of the target—probably the best run of the round.
After 15 passes by the five bombers, the score stood at eight scorable hits on the target and 29 paint hits on the aircraft. Ray Carmen signaled the shooters to cease fire, and Team M.A.P. landed their planes to cheers from the crowd. The bombers were returned to the pit area, cleaned, refueled, and readied for later events.
Hands-on training and other activities
After the bomb-drop rounds, Ray Carmen announced hands-on training sessions. Anyone wanting to fly could sign up and be assigned an instructor and airplane. Trainees flew using a buddy-box and training cord system.
Training pilots and instructors included:
- Tony Lee
- Ron Trammel
- Bob Parker
- Harry Leacock
- Dar Walker
- Jim Chrisman
- Jim Braddock
- Wally Rinker
- Ray Carmen
The training went well overall, with one unfortunate incident: two students allowed their airplanes into the same airspace at the same time, producing a midair collision. Pieces of the two airplanes rained to earth like falling leaves across the flying field, eliciting audible "oohs" from many who had never witnessed such a spectacle.
Throughout the day, anyone who wanted to try a paintball gun had the opportunity, and fun-flying continued for all who brought airplanes.
Results and acknowledgments
Good food, good fun, and good friends made the 1992 Clearlake Modelers fun-for-all a memorable event. The hard work and efforts of Clearlake Modelers Club members and committee chairs made the event possible; their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
Special thanks and recognition:
- Team M.A.P. fliers for an excellent presentation of a new fun-fly spectacle.
- U.S. AirCore for airplanes, parts, videotapes, and thousands of paintballs furnished to Paintball Hill shooters.
- Gary Bennett, Glenn Palmer, and the Paintball Hill shooters and supporters for their vital role.
- Hazel Sig of Sig Manufacturing Company for prizes donated for shooters and fliers in the Bomb Drop Competition.
- Betty Fox of Fox Manufacturing for support in keeping participants flying.
- Photographers Bernard Wilde and Don Cross, and the support team, for documenting the event and helping everyone remember the day.
We all look forward to next year's event.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
