Brodak Fly-In
Camaraderie and Good Flying at Annual CL Event
Control-line (CL) fliers made their yearly trip to paradise for the Brodak Fly-In. Weather was perfect June 18–20 at Carmichaels, PA — blue skies, a light breeze, and cool temperatures that made flying comfortable. Best of all was the camaraderie; expert pilots mingled with beginners, willing to offer a helping hand or an encouraging word.
A fine example occurred when novice 14-year-old Ryan Naus’s Buster had a too-close encounter with the turf that left the model in pieces. The dejected young pilot would have had his trip end, but John Brodak’s workshop experts, led by Windy Urtnowski, rebuilt and recovered Ryan’s airplane so he could compete.
Highlights
- Dates: June 18–20, Carmichaels, PA
- Weather: blue skies, light breeze, cool temperatures
- Notable assistance: Ryan Naus’s Buster rebuilt by Brodak workshop
Combat
Combat was flown Friday with speeds limited to seven seconds between two laps; a 200-point penalty was assessed for midair collisions. This kept the attrition rate in check and allowed less-sophisticated airplanes to compete against high-performance models. Matches were exciting and hotly contested, entertaining spectators and keeping the adrenaline flowing.
Top contenders put on hard-fought displays of determination. Gil Reedy and Henry Nelson staged an exciting duel. Ten-year-old Thomas Hardison captured much attention by standing toe-to-toe and going streamer-to-streamer against veterans like Nelson and Cartier. Thomas didn’t win every match, but he showed a bright future.
Fox Racing and Clown Racing
Fox Racing and Clown Racing produced some close finishes. The models that kept running won races; engines that had trouble in past years kept running and took victories. Attendance for Carrier, Fox Racing, and Clown Racing was disappointing this year, prompting a rumor that some events might be dropped next year. John Brodak assured everyone it was just a rumor and that the events would be part of the Brodak Fly-In 2000. Variety is one of the attractions of the Fly-In, and it would be a shame to see popular events dropped because of lack of interest.
Notable: Thomas Hardison’s airplane was particularly fast and consistent; he took home a top trophy in Fox Racing.
Show Planes and Demonstrations
The Bi-Slob was a big crowd-pleaser. This somewhat odd-looking biplane, with flaps on both wings, will turn on a dime and nearly turn around its own axis. Pilots were able to make the Bi-Slob hover, back down vertically until the tail touched the ground, neutralize the controls, then climb back up and repeat its gyrations. Dan Banjock flew the Bi-Slob laying down, keeping it overhead for a series of inside and outside loops — a fun airplane to watch.
Dan also flew a huge, twice-size Rite-Streak with an 84-inch wingspan. The model needs four-stroke power; the line tension certainly tests a pilot’s strength and endurance. Throttle control is necessary to provide a rest between series maneuvers. To give an idea of size, a full 3-by-36-inch sheet of balsa was used to create two ribs.
Precision Aerobatics, Fun Scale, and PAMPA Stunt
Precision Aerobatics events drew only a few entrants, but Fun Scale was well received. Fun Scale appeals to those who like to model full-scale airplanes without the fine detail required by a full Scale event. There has been a trend toward semi-scale models in Precision Aerobatics, and a few showed up in the Fun Scale circle.
One interesting model was a British Mosquito twin-engine entry featuring radio-activated retracts for more realistic flights. The Mosquito, along with Alan Knight's Chipmunk and Andy Lee's P-38, also flew in PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association) Stunt.
PAMPA Stunt was flown on Sunday with the largest turnout — 93 entrants in four classes: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. Classes were separated for Profile Precision Aerobatics and Old-Time Stunt as well. PAMPA also included a Beginner class, perfect for those who want to try CL competition without attempting complex maneuvers; the Beginner pattern is simpler and there are no appearance points. Eligibility is based on experience, not age.
Results (PAMPA Expert)
- Windy Urtnowski — Strega — 523.5 points (1st)
- Dan Banjock — Stiletto — 518 points (2nd)
The Expert class showcased superb pilot skill and beautifully built airplanes. Maneuvers flown close to the ground make CL Stunt easy to see and thrilling to watch.
Profile, Old-Time Stunt, and Scale Tradition
Profile Precision Aerobatics accommodates both easy-to-build airplanes and more exotic entries. Jeff Kemp’s Gee Bee R-2, with its red-and-white paint scheme and broad fuselage, placed second in its event. Familiar designs such as Twisters, Tanguers, Prowlers, and the venerable Ringmaster were well represented.
Old-Time Stunt is a nostalgic crowd favorite, especially for modelers who began before the 1950s. Classics like the Dragon, Jamison Special, El Diablo, Boxcar, Oriental, Skylark, Smoothie, Tucker Special, and Jack Sunderland's Hawker Hunter brought back memories. At least one ignition-powered airplane was flown — Bob Zambelli flew a Screwball with an Anderson Spitfire ignition engine, delivering the distinctive growl of old power plants.
The beauty and risk of flying finely finished profile and scale models contribute to the excitement and crowd appeal of these events.
Social Events and Closing
After two full days of flying, John and Buzz Brodak provided a complimentary buffet on Saturday evening, giving pilots and spectators a chance to relax and socialize while a few diehards continued flying.
There was once a rumor that Control Line was dead, but anyone who spent Father's Day weekend in Carmichaels knows that CL is alive and well. The constant sound of engines reverberating from five circles proved that CL is a growing facet of the hobby. Thanks to people such as John and Buzz Brodak, Control Line will continue to thrive into the next century.
See you at the Brodak Fly-In 2000!
Bill Harding 4782 Unity Line Rd. New Waterford, OH 44445 E-mail: N8SDW@msn.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
