Control Line: Navy Carrier
Author
Dick Perry 480 Wright Dr. Rome, NY 13440
Synopsis
This month's column covers special events and awards for Navy Carrier fliers at the Nats this summer. It also reviews the .15 Carrier event at last summer's Nats and offers building ideas for .15 Carrier and Sportsman Carrier.
NATS Special Events
There will be two special events for Navy Carrier fliers at the Nats this summer—Sportsman Carrier and .15 Carrier. The Sportsman Carrier event will be a Profile Carrier event (using the normal AMA Profile Carrier rules), but entry will be restricted to modelers who did not enter the regular Nats Carrier events. The Navy Carrier Society is sponsoring the event to encourage Nats participation by modelers who enjoy flying Carrier but are less interested in the all-out competition of the Nats. It allows friendly competition among fliers who fly mainly for fun or who are new to Carrier flying and want a less intense level of competition.
The intent of the .15 Carrier event is to be a simple event, with restricted performance levels to reduce pressure to buy expensive equipment. There are no entry restrictions for .15 Carrier. Rules are the same as for AMA Profile Carrier, with the following exceptions:
- Engine displacement: .1525 cu. in. maximum.
- Line length: 52 ft 0 in to 52 ft 6 in.
- Minimum line diameter: .012 in for stranded cable, .010 in for solid lines.
- Scale bonus points: none.
- Minimum wing area: none.
- Maximum high speed for scoring: 70 mph.
- Movable components are limited to throttle, hook, and elevator.
- Model is timed for eight laps.
Both events will be flown on Saturday, July 22.
Eugene Ely Award
Another part of the Nats made possible by the Navy Carrier Society is the Eugene Ely Award. This annual award recognizes the outstanding competitor in the three Carrier events at the Nats. The winner is determined by adding the scores for each of the Carrier events (Profile, Class I, and Class II). The individual award consists of an engraved silver platter and is presented at the annual dinner meeting of the Navy Carrier Society. The exact time and place of the meeting will be announced at the Nats.
Nats .15 Carrier (Tidewater Nats report)
The photographs this month are of the .15 Carrier event at the Tidewater Nats, which was sponsored by Cam Martin. There were nine entries and 15 official flights. The event was won by Melvin Schuette flying a Curtiss XF13C with OPS power. Second place went to Glenn Simpson's HB-powered Curtiss Seamew, followed by Ray Ward flying a Zero with an Enya engine.
The variety of airplanes and engines means there is no single preferred airplane or engine for the event. The first two places were taken at speeds that reached the maximum of 70 mph, with competitors close behind. Most models appeared to be between 150 and 175 sq in of wing area, and all flew well at that size. One model at about 100 sq in seemed a little small for good slow-speed flight. Two kits (Jr. Flite Streak and Skyshark) were just over 200 sq in.
Models for .15 Carrier
There is still time to prepare for the .15 Carrier event. A number of kits, past and present, are suitable. Because there are no scale bonus points, models such as the Top Flite Junior Flite Streak and the Sterling Junior Ringmaster work well. Sterling's Skyshark can be a good model if lightened a little. Sig's Shoestring and Buster models are quick to build and perform well; the Shoestring makes a very acceptable Seafire, especially if the wing is lowered.
Two model designs published in Model Aviation are suitable:
- A1H Skyraider by A. L. Lidberg, April 1989 (plan number 618).
- SBD-3 Dauntless by Gerry Deneau, November 1984 (plan number 458). The Dauntless was designed specifically for the event.
The Skyraider is intended for sport scale and must be modified slightly to be legal for Carrier: add a hook and delete both the operating flaps and the ring cowl. Both the Skyraider and Dauntless are about 150–160 sq in, which is a very appropriate size for the .15 Carrier event.
Gerry Deneau has designed several models for .15 Carrier and also has plans for Douglas A-4F Skyhawk, Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, and F8F Bearcat models. His address is: Gerry Deneau 6464 South Andes Place Aurora, CO 80016
Sportsman Kits
Anyone starting out in Carrier, or interested in the Sportsman Carrier event, has numerous options. Though there are many good profile Carrier designs available from kit manufacturers, the best place to start is with a kit. Previously noted kits include the Sterling Hellcat and Mustang (both require alterations for Carrier competition). The only kits designed specifically for profile Carrier are the G-S Products Bearcat, Skyraider, and Corsair models. They are hard to find in hobby shops but are still available from: Leon Rybarsky 7787 Archdale Avenue Detroit, MI 48228
See you at the Nats.
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
