A Note From the Technical Director
Bob Underwood
Frequency Committee role and background
You may have seen notices indicating I am now serving as Frequency Committee Chairman. That is technically correct, although the term coordinator would be more accurate. I chaired the recent meeting held during the Toledo trade show. At the outset I made it very clear that I would not vote on issues, even to break a tie. In essence I acted as a moderator.
Beyond that task, I have acted in the same supporting capacity for four years: I provide support to the committee, interact with our attorney, move paperwork through, answer members' questions, and help provide guidance regarding how the committee's deliberations might affect the Academy's activities.
Recently a member phoned to ask about my technical background in Radio Control. I stated that I have none — if you have read my columns over the last four years that should be clear. That led to a question about whether I should be answering members' questions, or whether frequency bulletins should include wording such as "Contact Bob Underwood for further information." My response: I may not know every technical detail (I can probably not find a gidget pin, for example), but I can locate someone who does. I'm still learning at 57, and as far as frequency matters go I have an outstanding cadre of people from whom I can obtain information.
AMA Fun‑Fly (Dayton) — flight‑line operations and frequency lessons
The second weekend in June brought the second AMA Fun‑Fly, held in Dayton, OH — more a fly‑in than a competition, with attendees gathering to fly and socialize. The site allowed Free Flight, Control Line, and Radio Control all to operate together, which made for great fellowship.
Operational note from Reno ’88: we had used six RC flight lines with assigned frequencies at each line and created logjams on a few lines. This year in Dayton we again used six flight stations but moved them closer together (roughly 12 ft. apart). That goes against the usual recommended minimum 20 ft. separation, so here is the logic.
Frequency Committee member George Steiner has done extensive transmitter testing and work at flying sites. He chairs the subcommittee developing plans for clubs in case the FCC requires a grandfather period for old RC equipment. George found that if you spread flying stations 100 ft. or more, you must assign frequencies to each line; otherwise adjacent frequencies can end up at the extremes and produce interference potentially more dangerous than third‑order intermodulation (3IM) possibilities when stations are closer.
What happened at Dayton: over two flying days we logged 308 flights (13 hours of flying time, excluding air show time). The most used channels were RC22, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 56 — these accounted for 71.48% of the channels used. Given that, many 3IM possibilities existed.
During the 308 flights seven models crashed. On Saturday (150 flights) we had a midair and lost two models; later one crashed in a way that looked like a radio problem. We were operating a spectrum analyzer and an ICOM receiver; no outside interference was detected and models in the air did not present a clear 3IM potential.
On Sunday (158 flights) we lost four models. One was due to the pilot forgetting to turn on the receiver; another lost a wing (likely destroying the radio); the other two were unexplained but possibly radio related. In short, at most three of the 308 losses may have been radio related — a small number considering the wide variety of radio systems present (from brand‑new top‑line sets to 15‑year‑old equipment).
A few fliers reported minor "tinnies" indicating possible 3IM or outside interference — about three or four reports. Most glitches occurred with older radios that appear to have poorer third‑order intercept points. At one point there were two sets of three consecutive frequencies in the air — a clear 3IM potential — yet the six fliers completed flights and landed safely.
We introduced a modest amount of discipline that helped: traffic cones along the runway edge marked flight stations, and another set of cones about 35 ft. behind them toward the pits. Modelers started engines behind the pit cones, then taxied or carried models around to the runway and took positions at available flight stations. After landing, fliers were encouraged to taxi well clear of the cones rather than immediately returning to the flight station spot. This setup made communication easier and reduced the risk of being hit by a landing model.
Some fliers were initially uncomfortable with the closeness of stations (used to wider spacing), but others liked it for communication and safety reasons. This arrangement is not an AMA recommendation — just an experiment that worked in this case. Our success was aided by the presence of a spectrum analyzer, an ICOM, and a skilled three‑man crew in the transmitter impound: contest directors George Steiner, Dave Hill, and others. Special thanks to Dave Fogle, Bill Miller, Tim Procunier, and Ted Stickler for their patience and help on the flight line.
A transmitter was left at the event and is now at our office in Reston. If you think it's yours, please contact the office for retrieval. The transmitter description: round stick, two sticks on the front, long antenna, with a red flag on it.
Personal note
My wife and I are considering buying a new van. Our current van is seven years old with 104,299 miles and has been very reliable. It's amusing (and frustrating) to think about the product‑improver who changes things so a new model will have different issues than the one you just bought.
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1989 U.S. RC Helicopter Team Selection Finals
Horace Hagen Team Selection Committee Chairman
Team selection system and bidding
A pilot qualification system was instituted for the first time for the 1989 F3C Finals. Published in the Team Selection Program (Competition Newsletter, October 1988 Model Aviation), the system required a pilot to place in the top 50% of the FAI class at any contest with four or more entries in that class during the period January 1988 to the team finals.
The FAI F3C Team Selection Committee requested bids to host the Team Selection Finals in the June 1988 Competition Newsletter. In November a bid from the Dayton Rotary Wingmasters Club to host the finals on the weekend of June 3–4, 1989, at the Dayton City Model Flying Field (Deweese Park) was received. In January 1989 the club announced that Mark Wilson would be Contest Director. No other bids were received by the January 31, 1989 deadline.
The FAI jury, selected by the AMA Executive Council and announced April 26, 1989, was Bob Brown (AMA District III VP), Horace Hagen (U.S. member of FAI/CIAM F3C Subcommittee), and AMA President Don Lowe. Seating an FAI Jury at the U.S. team selection finals is required by the U.S. team selection program.
FAI‑approved flight line judges by the Team Selection Committee were: Mike Armadace, Bob Harris, Al Seidowski, Jerry Skinner, and Tom Unger.
The contest site was prepared June 2 and approved by the FAI jury. Of the 17 pilots who had qualified, 14 entered the competition. Flight order was randomized by a computer random number generator programmed by Decker Doggett (rather than the customary drawing of names from a hat).
Final results
- Tom Dooley — Round 1: 199.0, Round 2: 211.0, Round 3: 227.0, Round 4: 225.5 — Total: 663.5
- Tim Schoonard — Round 1: 202.5, Round 2: 199.5, Round 3: 230.0, Round 4: 220.0 — Total: 652.0
- Robert Gorham — Round 1: 223.0, Round 2: 194.0, Round 3: 217.5, Round 4: 212.0 — Total: 652.5
- Ted Schoonard — Round 1: 194.0, Round 2: 202.5, Round 3: 222.0, Round 4: 220.0 — Total: 644.5
- Clifford Hiatt — Round 1: 178.5, Round 2: 202.5, Round 3: 215.5, Round 4: 224.5 — Total: 620.5
- Wendell Atkins — Round 1: 0.0, Round 2: 199.5, Round 3: 215.0, Round 4: 214.5 — Total: 629.0
- Wayne Mann — Round 1: 192.5, Round 2: 179.5, Round 3: 218.5, Round 4: 196.5 — Total: 607.5
- Jerry Vargas — Round 1: 178.0, Round 2: 187.0, Round 3: 214.5, Round 4: 202.5 — Total: 604.0
- Mike Mas — Round 1: 190.0, Round 2: 179.5, Round 3: 209.5, Round 4: 206.0 — Total: 585.0
- Wess Suggs — Round 1: 182.5, Round 2: 181.0, Round 3: 206.0, Round 4: 198.5 — Total: 587.0
- Douglas Law — Round 1: 161.5, Round 2: 173.5, Round 3: 207.0, Round 4: 206.0 — Total: 586.5
- Dan Melnik — Round 1: 172.0, Round 2: 185.0, Round 3: 208.0, Round 4: 192.0 — Total: 585.0
- Don Chapman — Round 1: 148.0, Round 2: 139.0, Round 3: 177.5, Round 4: 129.5 — Total: 464.5
- Daniel Chapman — Round 1: 157.0, Round 2: 173.5, Round 3: 0.0, Round 4: 0.0 — Total: 330.5
Note: Each contestant is allowed to drop a single lowest score when two or more rounds are flown.
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Competition Newsletter
At the end of the second round the weather degraded and Contest Director Mark Wilson delayed the start of Round Three until a threatening storm passed. What seemed a short wait turned into a three‑hour interruption. The Sunday forecast did not look promising, so the committee chose not to argue with Mother Nature.
Round Three began at 6:00 p.m. with lighter winds. Tim Schoonard scored 230 points — the highest up to that time — and several scores rose significantly as the weather cooperated. The round finished at 8:30 p.m., just before visibility became an issue.
Round Four began about 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Rain did not materialize but a mild 90° crosswind blew. Except for Clifford Hiatt's score, fourth‑round scores were generally lower due to the crosswind. The final round carried strong pressure: it was the last chance to secure a spot on the team. Cliff Hiatt put in the best flight of the round with 226.5 points, but it wasn't high enough to make the team. Tom Dooley's 225.5 assured him a team spot.
By the end of the contest there were several ties: Tim Schoonard and Robert Gorham tied for second place; Ted Schoonard and Cliff Hiatt tied for fourth. For a Team Selection Finals, flyoffs would normally break ties, but Tim and Robert mutually decided against a flyoff. The tie between Ted and Cliff needed resolution because an alternate team member had to be established. Cliff volunteered to give the alternate slot to Ted and requested consideration for Team Manager. The three team members chose Cliff Hiatt as Team Manager.
Notable contest incidents: one pilot flew over the prohibited area and lost the flight score for that round; another pilot's caller announced the correct maneuver but the pilot performed the wrong one — an expensive mistake. There were more ties than usual, likely reflecting the high skill level; one possible solution might be moving to one‑tenth‑point scoring.
The Team Selection Finals were a success thanks to Contest Director Mark Wilson and Dayton Rotary Wingmasters club members. Flight‑line judging — always the toughest job — was handled competently. Please join in wishing the F3C Team good luck at the F3C World Championships at Fessners Naval Station in Chesapeake, VA, the week of August 26–September 2, 1989.
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Technical Director (continued)
CIAM: proposed Class F3I (Aero‑tow Soaring Models)
At the recent CIAM meeting a proposal was made (by the French) to introduce a new class provisionally, suggested as a replacement for F3H Cross‑Country Soaring. I objected to replacing the current F3H because the proposed event is not like the cross‑country flying we are used to. It was agreed instead to introduce the event as "Class F3I: Aero‑tow Soaring Models." Implementation is pending an acceptable English translation of the rules.
I can't give complete details because of poor translation and blurred text, but the gist is: the tasks are Duration and Speed. The Speed task is four laps over a 250‑meter base. Towline is aerotow only; tow release altitude is judged by altimeter telemetry in the tow plane. Gliders must be at least three meters span with a semi‑scale look (including a transparent canopy and wheel). Spot landing is on a runway‑type rectangle.
The French claim successful experience with this event and say other countries are interested. My informal poll indicated little interest in the U.S., primarily because of aerotow — many U.S. glider fields do not allow powered plane flying. We registered "not voting" on this event (not supporting it, but not objecting).
1991 F3B World Championship bid
A bid from the Netherlands for the 1991 F3B World Championship was approved. Dates: August 24 to September 1, 1991. Site: Dutch National Soaring Centre Terlet, municipality of Arnhem.
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SAM Champs (continued)
The 1989 SAM Society of Antique Modelers Championships will be held October 8–13, 1989 at the dry lake bed near Jean, NV (approx. 22 miles southwest of Reno, NV). The second annual NFFS Nostalgia Gas Championships will be held at the same site on the same dates.
For information and entry forms, contact:
- General information — Larry Jeno, Contest Manager, 4341 Flandes St., Las Vegas, NV 89121. Telephone: 1‑702‑731‑4029.
Or Phil McCarry, Assistant Contest Manager, 532 College Dr., #212, Henderson, NV 89015. Telephone: 1‑702‑564‑6663.
- SAM Free Flight — Contest Director Jim Persson, 3747 Gettysburg Ct., Pleasanton, CA 94566. Telephone: 1‑415‑846‑3999.
- SAM RC — Contest Director Don Bekins, 85 Bellview, Belvedere, CA 94920. Telephone: 1‑415‑435‑1535.
- NFFS Nostalgia Gas — Ralph Prey, 4859 W. 97th St., Inglewood, CA 90301. Telephone: 1‑213‑671‑8695. If writing for information, include a business‑size SASE with two stamps.
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'90 Pacific Control Line Champs Set for New Zealand
The Control Line fliers of the New Zealand Model Aeronautical Association invite CL fliers from all nations to the first Pacific Control Line Championships, February 4–5, 1990. The contest site will be the National Control Line Site, Clareville, Carterton, New Zealand (North Island). Events: F/A/B/C/D (Speed, Aerobatics, Team Race, and Combat). The meet will be held on the same days and site as the third Pacific Free Flight Championships.
Since that is a long trip for a two‑day meet, visiting modelers are encouraged to consider attending:
- NZ National Championships at Wigram, Christchurch (South Island) — December 28, 1989–January 3, 1990, and
- Waikato C/L Championship at Hamilton (North Island) — February 10–11, 1990.
For further information contact the NZMAA Control Line Technical Committee Secretary:
- David L. Sanderson, 16 Roto Street, Te Kauwhata, New Zealand.
You will also need to contact your nearest NZ consulate/embassy or a travel agent for travel details. North American modelers could escape the winter doldrums by going "down under."
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National Records
The following new National Records were processed during June 1989.
Indoor Category
- Easy B Senior — 10:35.1214 — Don Slusarczyk — 5/7/89
Outdoor Free Flight
- CO2 Power Senior — 2605 — Jeff Wittman — 5/29/89
Outdoor Free Flight Category
- 1/2A Gas Open — 7:301 — Terry Thorkildsen — 5/27/89
- Autogyro Open — 5:31 — Jean Andrews — 5/27/89
Outdoor Free Flight Category III
- Electric Power Class B Open — 4:31 — Curt Sanford — 5/7/89
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Corrections
1989 FAI Sporting Code Now Available
At the March 1989 FAI/CIAM Plenary meeting in Paris, votes were taken to amend several parts of the 1989 edition of the FAI Sporting Code. A list of amendments concerns Sections 4, 4a, and 4b of the Sporting Code and is available to interested modelers. Some changes are effective immediately; others take effect January 1, 1990.
Send a self‑addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to the Competition Department, AMA HQ for a copy of the changes.
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SAM Champs News
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Free Flight World Championships Summary
The 1989 Free Flight World Championships were held May 22–29 at La Cruz Airfield, La Cruz, Cordoba Province, Argentina. Results summarized below; a complete listing of official results will appear in a future issue.
F1A A‑2 Towline Glider
- 1. Lepp, USSR
- 2. T. Rojadiev, Bulgaria
- 3. P. Sahi, Finland
- 14. R. Elder, USA
- 16. J. Parker, USA
- 55. M. Gewain, USA
- Total entrants: 76
- Ranking by nation: 1 USSR, 2 Finland, 3 Austria, 9 USA
- Twenty‑seven nations entered teams in the event.
F1B Wakefield Rubber
- 1. E. Cofalik, Poland
- 2. Andriukov, USSR
- 3. R. Hofsass, Germany
- 4. R. White, USA (defending World Champion)
- 14. J. Quinn, USA
- 48. J. Brown, USA
- 59. W. Ghio, USA
- Total entrants: 74
- Ranking by nation: 1 PR China, 2 Poland, 3 USSR, 15 USA
- Twenty‑six nations entered teams in the event.
F1C Power
- 1. S. Korban, USSR
- 2. R. Archer, USA
- 3. E. Verbitski, USSR (defending World Champion)
- 26. D. Galbreath, USA
- 37. K. Phair, USA
- Total entrants: 48
- Ranking by nation: 1 USSR, 2 PR China, 3 Poland
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
