Control Line: Combat
Charlie Johnson
I'd just mailed off my last column when I received pictures and a short report on the MACA Nationals from Bud Bodzioch. It was too late for that month and the AMA Nationals soon followed. So, the following columns will include some pictures of the winners and their equipment.
I think it would be a good idea to promote a "Championship Trail" — a series of high-quality AAA meets that a great number of competitors would attend. The AMA Nationals events are, of course, the granddaddy of them all; I would include the MACA Nats, Winston-Salem, and Bill Allen's Aero Challenge as top choices. Other meets that belong on the trail include the Texas State meet (Houston) or the Dallas Southwesterns, the Bladder Grabber, and possibly the King Orange Internats.
Contests and prizes
While I'm on the subject of contests, there's one you should have attended: the Bladder Grabber held in Seattle. First prize was $3,000 worth of sophisticated stereo components, second prize a $1,500 pool table, and more stereo components down the line. The meet was held shortly after I sent in this column, so I couldn't report the winners, but rumor has it that both Howard Rush and Rich Brasher are making room in their homes for new stereos.
International Nationals
If you'd like to travel a little farther you could attend the Mexican Nationals in Mexico City. We're all wondering what combat planes fly like at 5,000 feet — loop radius must increase to two feet.
The meet that really caught my attention is the Australian Nationals at Goulburn (near Sydney), December 30 through January 4, 1980. It's summertime down there, not too different from Southern California, but a real treat for fliers in the frozen-finger belt. Airfare equals about 15 Combat Specials — $745 round trip to Sydney. Accommodations will be really inexpensive at the university dorms. I'm really tempted to go, but it will mean not eating for a couple of months in order to save up the money.
Corrections and apologies
I'd like to apologize to Eddie Thomas after I renamed him in my Nationals coverage. Eddie appeared in a picture with Dick Stubblefield and I mistakenly gave him a new last name. Eddie is a top-notch combat flier from the Fort Worth area and one of the prime movers in keeping things going in that vicinity.
Measuring turn radius
Judging by some recent literature, I'm led to believe that combat planes can turn some pretty small loops. Where did they get the information? Farmer's Almanac! As far as I know there is no one who has actually measured the turning ability of a combat model. Generally, the figures are computed using all sorts of equations and scientific garble, most of which is suspect.
A good camera with a four-frames-per-second motor drive and a height pole are all that's needed — and lots of film. Assuming a good model will fly 60–100 loops per minute there should be no problem at all. I'm tempted to use slides because I could then project a true four-foot-radius loop on my living room wall. Just remember, if you let me do it first then I will be the authority.
Engines and fuel
Rich Lopez had three Cox engines set up by Roger Theobald that he ran in San Diego and also at the Team Trials. Roger used Rossi pistons rather than the failure-prone Cox item. I've seen several Cox pistons lose their crown (including mine), which does little for performance or your faith in their reliability.
If you have a Cox and want a Rossi piston you should be able to get lots of them from speed fliers or the Goodyear boys. It doesn't matter if it's slightly burned down since it is oversize and can be made to fit the Cox with any fit you desire.
I also talked to Ron Young about his Cox engine service. Ron's engines have been very successful in Quarter Midget, and he's looking for a chance to break into the combat market. We used one of Ron's motors at the AMA Nationals and it ran very well on 20% nitro, although it would have preferred 50% (ditto for Theobald's engine). All the fast Foxes use a heavy load of nitro, but with the skyrocketing cost of nitro I'm wondering if it isn't counter-productive to promote nitro guzzlers.
Contest format suggestion
Under the category of things to try, I'd like to suggest that at the next Nationals we fly either full double eliminations or at least a first-round loser's bracket, as in FAI. I know a lot of guys who came a long way only to lose in round one. The first-round winners will have a break in the action and the losers (if they want to) fly each other, with the winners going into the second round with a win just like the guys that won their first match. Just remember, under current rules half the contestants get only one flight. Try the AMA optional matching system at your local meets and let your feelings be known before next year's Nats.
Rules interpretations and judging
A MACA committee has been formed to develop rules interpretations to be used as a supplement to the official AMA rules. Currently, interpretations often vary with the number of entrants. Often the spirit of the rule is overlooked and a technicality becomes someone's downfall. Rules were designed to promote safe and fair competition, not as a means to disqualify someone or give an unfair advantage.
As an example, look at the rule requiring level flight while the second plane is down — for safety, right? I've seen people DQ'd because they took off crosswind (or with a poor launch) and maneuvered to save the plane; the second pilot was still on the ground so there was no intention by the DQ'd pilot to get into a bad position.
Another thing is timer/stopwatch error. How about a reflight on any match decided by three or five points? There are a lot of gray areas that need to be cleared up by this committee. Just when you think you have every possible situation wired, someone comes along with a new one. One very competent pilot reasoned that the rule about one lap to get inside the pilot's circle meant one lap "around the circle by the pilot." Never thought of that one before. I figure if I'm ahead on points I may never complete my lap around the pilot's circle, and since the opposing pilot is not allowed to attack me until I get in the circle, he'll never be able to get a cut. Well, it could have worked that way if the event director reasoned the same way.
Join MACA
If there is still someone out there who hasn't joined MACA, let me put in a plug. Send $6.00 to:
- MACA Treasurer Jordan Segal
- 8314 West Oak Ave.
- Niles, IL 60648
The MACA Newsletter has taken on the old Competition Newsletter format. Pictures, too.
Charlie Johnson 3716 Ingraham St. San Diego, CA 92109
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
