Control Line: Aerobatics
Ted Fancher 158 Flying Cloud Isle Foster City, CA 94404
PAMPA LIVES!
I am pleased to announce that after a number of months of internal restructuring — during which the survival of our Control Line Stunt special interest organization was sometimes in doubt — PAMPA (the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association) has successfully aligned many longtime leaders and some new ones into a hardworking, talented group who will bring PAMPA back into the forefront of special interest groups.
Officers and key personnel:
- Tom Dixon, President — Atlanta, GA. An outstanding competitor and accomplished businessman whose modeling knowledge and administrative acumen will steer the group forward.
- Ed Robbert, Treasurer.
- Bob McDonald, Vice‑President.
- Mike Pratt, Secretary and Membership Chairman.
- Windy Urtnowski, Newsletter Editor.
Previously the positions of newsletter editor and treasurer were combined; this change separates those duties. Windy has done an outstanding job with Pro‑Stunt News, but the workload became overwhelming and the publication grew sporadic, raising concerns about the organization's viability. Timely communication via the newsletter is critical — for many members it is the primary reason for belonging.
Newsletter revival and mailings
Through the efforts of Mike Pratt (product engineer for Sig Corporation) and Bob Hunt (editor of Flying Models magazine at Carstens Publications), Windy is now receiving professional help with typing, printing, collating, labeling and mailing. These time‑consuming tasks are being handled professionally and at very reasonable cost by these organizations.
If you are on the mailing list and have not received the revitalized Pro‑Stunt News, please contact Windy with your correct address. If you are not on the list and would like to receive it, send your name and mailing address to:
- Windy Urtnowski, Editor — P.O. Box 506, Montezuma, IA 50171
Members: if you change your address, notify:
- Mike Pratt, Secretary — P.O. Box 506, Montezuma, IA 50171
Administrative contacts:
- Tom Dixon, President — 1938 Peachtree St., Suite 601, Atlanta, GA 30309
- Bob McDonald, Vice‑President — 28746 Westfield, Livonia, MI 48150
Membership changes and how to join:
- PAMPA membership will move to a January‑to‑December calendar year format (replacing the prior 12‑month rolling cycle). This should simplify recordkeeping and eliminate confusion about lapsed memberships.
- To join (nearly 400 current members), fill out the application form and send $15 to: Mike Pratt, Secretary — P.O. Box 506, Montezuma, IA 50171
Submissions:
- Send items of interest for Pro‑Stunt News to Windy Urtnowski, Editor — 9 Union Ave., Little Ferry, NJ 07643
Museum exhibit initiative
PAMPA member Scott Richlen (5133 Bradford Dr., Annandale, VA 22003) is leading a movement to develop an exhibit of stunt aircraft for the Model Aircraft Museum at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, IN. Tom Dixon has appointed Scott and PAMPA founder Wynn Paul of Lexington, KY, as chairmen to communicate with the society, locate, and arrange transportation for historically significant stunt models. Contact Scott for details.
Featured Models, Workshop Notes, and Resources
Notable competition models
- Anatoly Kolesnikov (current CLPA World Champion) — An extremely colorful original design (red/white/blue/yellow/black) reminiscent of a full‑scale aerobatic machine. Powered by a custom‑made engine of approximately 40 cu. in. displacement.
- Klaus Maikis (European CLPA champion, New Ulm, FRG) — Built a very attractive practice Stunter powered by a radially‑mounted PAW 35 diesel. The little plane is configured along the lines of an imitation: the fuselage swells in width forward of the high point and the wing airfoil allows a much stronger fuse‑to‑wing joint. Big two‑piece wing. Maikis is an artist/designer/tradesman whose beautifully formed and crafted planes are always among the most attractive contest entries in Europe. European CLPA fliers often build models to disassemble for ease of transport.
Model specifications (example M35 Stunter):
- Wingspan: 54"
- Wing area: 615 sq. in.
- Fuselage length: 44"
- Typical power: M35 Stunter powered by Supertigre 60 (other examples noted above)
Filler tubes may require making the fuel tank a specific size or shape; the extra effort usually results in a better‑looking model.
Workshop hint
From Bob Furr (Orbiting Eagles Newsletter, Omaha, NE): carbide disks in a Dremel or similar tool can be used for cutting things such as music wire. Disks can shatter; treating the disk with fast‑setting cyanoacrylate (super glue) will strengthen it after treatment. Careful use and safety glasses are essential when cutting anything.
Scale Model Research (SMR)
Scale Model Research has added several hundred new items to its catalog — Foto‑Paaks, three‑view drawings and other data useful for scale modelers. SMR's latest catalog (about 40 pages) lists over 1,800 Foto‑Paaks and boasts an inventory of over 50,000 photos covering antiques, Golden Age, military, civilian, helicopters, aerobatic, experimental, sailplanes, racing planes and aircraft engines. The 3 x 5 photos show the details modelers want (landing gear, instrumentation, hinge details, paint schemes, markings). SMR also offers enlargement of specific photos (fee based) and a research service for information beyond the catalog.
To obtain the SMR catalog and full service details, send $3.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
