CONTROL LINE: Navy Carrier
Dick Perry 7005 Del Oso Court NE, Albuquerque NM 87109-2930
Introduction
What makes a true championship aeromodeling event? There has been much discussion about that question, but little decided. If a Nationals is a gathering of modelers in a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie—sharing experience, helping youngsters, and doing their best—then the 1995 National Control Line Championships in Richland, Washington (July 12–15) was truly worthy of the name. If a Nationals is a competition to select the best modeler in the country, the Carrier events at this Nats also served that role well. The competition for the Eugene Ely Award was the closest in my recollection, and Pete Mazur proved to be a worthy National Champion.
Attendance and regional representation
Attendance was lower than usual, largely due to the site location. The closest Carrier competitor was Jim Schneider, who drove 670 miles each way from Livermore, California. Still, the Northwest was represented by two young modelers from Pasco, Washington—Euan Edmonds (Junior) and Todd Ryan (Senior)—who, with their fathers, were excellent ambassadors for the region.
Flying site and conditions
The Navy Carrier site was one of the most attractive we've had: a deck located in a city park next to the Columbia River, with dense, close-cut grass, pavilions, picnic tables and convenient parking. A nearby motel served as AMA headquarters. Although Richland is in a high-desert region, irrigation from the Columbia kept the grass lush. Sprinklers, however, came on promptly at 7:00 a.m. despite requests to turn them off; traffic cones over heads and some standing water added a bit of nautical realism to the Carrier theme.
Organization and volunteers
Joe Just, president of the Navy Carrier Society, organized the Carrier events and served as Carrier Event Director. Many volunteers made the event possible:
- Kevin Seaton — center judge (all three classes)
- Bill Tucker — pull-tests
- Alan Olsen — pull-tests, timer for unofficial event
- John King — stopwatches, ran pull-tests, Spirit of Sportsmanship work
- Rick Magnuson — score tallying
- Triston Rhodes — scoresheets
- Bev Wisniewski — Nationals Event Director
- Brenda Schuette — Control Line Category Director; presentation and planning for 1996 Nats
- Mac Ryan — built trophies for .15 Carrier event
- Numerous flight-circle scorekeepers and other helpers
Thanks go to all the volunteers for a well-run competition.
Profile Carrier
Processing took place Wednesday evening. Two profile models drew attention: Gilbert Ruiz’s Grumman A-6 Intruder (notable for realistic operation of flaps and outboard speed brakes and excellent scale finish) and Fred Cronenwett’s Supermarine Seafire (a Royal Navy Spitfire variant), equipped with electronic throttle control. Fred’s Seafire was built to Garden State Circle Burners rules and its fuselage thickness rendered it ineligible for Profile Scale under AMA rules, but he was allowed to fly it in Profile Carrier.
Open class
Wind was light at first but built steadily. Bill Melton flew his Nelson-powered Guardian (first published in Model Builder in 1976) early and, despite disappointment with his low-speed time due to wind, completed the flight with a perfect 100-point landing and took an early lead.
Pete Mazur’s MO-1 posted the best high speed of the day (93.6 mph) in one flight, but his low speed on that attempt was faster than Bill’s, leaving him 26 points behind Bill at one stage. Gilbert Ruiz benefited from his A-6’s high wing loading and achieved full flights with two 100-point landings, securing third place in Open. Several other Open contestants suffered engine problems or control difficulties in the gusty conditions; some were unable to complete landings.
Pete’s final Open Profile flight nearly overcame Bill Melton’s lead—his low-speed laps were very competitive—but with only a quarter lap to go the wind pushed him into the ground, ending the flight. Bill Melton moved into the second day with a 26-point lead in the race for the Eugene Ely Award.
Senior and Junior
- Junior: Euan Edmonds overcame engine problems to fly conservatively in his final attempt and won Junior Profile Carrier.
- Senior: Ryan Calkins (Sugar Grove, Illinois) and Todd Ryan battled in Senior Profile. Ryan Calkins flew conservatively and, after a second official flight with a good low speed and a perfect landing, took first in Senior. Todd Ryan had good high speed but suffered an early water landing on one attempt and a poor engine run on another.
Classes I and II and the Eugene Ely Award
Classes I and II were largely a contest among variants of the Martin MO-1, with one notable exception: Bill Calkins’ new Class II Hawker Sea Fury. Bill designed the Sea Fury with CAD software; it is O.S. .65-powered, using a SuperTigre G-4500 carburetor and original butterfly exhaust valve. The Sea Fury performed beautifully and Bill’s scores improved as he gained experience.
Bill Melton and Pete Mazur were the principal contenders for the Eugene Ely Award because both had competed in Profile plus other classes. With Bill’s profile lead, Pete faced a challenge to catch up.
Class I
Weather on Friday was calm, favoring models with light wing loading for low speed. Bill Melton posted a solid Class I score early (415 points), with Pete close behind. Bill briefly moved ahead on a counter flight, but Pete’s final Class I flight (K&B .40S) produced the best high speed of the day at 107.5 mph and the best low-speed time, edging Bill out by fewer than eight points. Bill Calkins finished third in Class I with consistent flights.
Some competitors had mechanical or equipment problems: one entrant required multiple flights to sort an over-lean engine, another lost a score due to marking the wrong engine size, and Jim Schneider crashed after changing to a more sensitive control handle.
Class II
Class II focused attention on Bill Calkins’ Sea Fury and the continuing close race between Bill Melton and Pete Mazur for the overall Ely Award. Pete’s first Class II flight with a Webra Speed 61 MO-1 resulted in a high score (439.5). The standings between Bill and Pete remained tight, with less than 20 points separating them heading into final attempts.
Ultimately Pete Mazur accumulated the highest total score across the three official classes and was awarded the Eugene Ely Award.
Unofficial and auxiliary events
On Saturday the Navy Carrier Society sponsored several unofficial events for those not in the official Nats Carrier contests:
- Sportsman Profile Carrier (open to non-official competitors):
- Alan Olsen — Brodak Bearcat with Fox engine
- Charlie Edmonds — son’s Hellcat
- John King — Hellcat
- Skyway Profile Carrier (Skyway .35 model only):
- Melvin Schuette
- D.J. Parr (son of Melvin)
- Art Johnson
- .15 Carrier (sponsored by Mac Ryan):
- Melvin Schuette
- Art Johnson
- Alan Olsen
- Junior and Senior results:
- Junior winner: Euan Edmonds
- Senior winner: Todd Ryan
Awards, dinner and rules
The annual Navy Carrier Society dinner on Friday night was a success. Rules for the 1996 contest season were discussed, including a proposal to allow cancellation of events for weather. Brenda Schuette presented plans for the 1996 Nats to be held in Muncie at the National Flying Site, July 8–13, 1996.
Highlights and special awards:
- Eugene Ely Award (overall Carrier champion): Pete Mazur (this was his ninth Ely Award).
- Navy Carrier Society Rookie of the Year: Gilbert Ruiz (for his original-design A-6 Intruder in Profile Carrier).
- Spirit of Sportsmanship Award (honoring Carol Johnson): John King, for giving up his opportunities to fly so he could run pull tests both days.
Closing
Nationals Event Director Bev Wisniewski and Control Line Category Director Brenda Schuette did a commendable job with the resources available. Thanks to them and all the volunteers for making the Control Line Nats possible.
See you in Muncie for the biggest Carrier Nationals since Dayton in 1976—don’t miss it!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
