Control Line: Navy Carrier
By
Dick Perry 480 Wright Dr. Rome, NY 13440
Synopsis
This month's column consists of a new Mystery Plane plus the announcement of the winner of the September contest. The current Profile Carrier record model by Carlos Aloise is discussed in detail.
September Mystery Plane
September's Mystery Plane has design features similar to those of quite a few other aircraft, and I received entries that identified almost all of them. The correct identification was provided by Berkley McCollum of Vauxhall, NJ.
The aircraft was an experimental torpedo bomber designed by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in 1945. It was Curtiss' second attempt at winning a Navy contract for a torpedo bomber, and the drawing represents the first (and only) variant. This makes the aircraft the XBT2C-1. I have not been able to discover a company name, if any, used to identify the XBT2C-1. Berkley will receive a one-year membership in the Navy Carrier Society.
Profile Carrier Record — Carlos Aloise
The current AMA national Profile Carrier record is held by Carlos Aloise of Irwindale, CA. I first met Carlos at the 1975 Nats in Lake Charles, LA. He has been flying Profile Carrier for many years and competes along with his brother Richard Jr. and his father, Carlos E. Aloise. At the Nats, Carlos won his age category, edging out his father by a few hundredths of a point for the best Profile score.
Carlos returned to competition after much design work and practice to set the record at the October 1988 California Control Line Championships, San Mateo, CA.
Record performance
Carlos' record-setting performance consisted of:
- High speed: 94.45 mph (19.05 seconds)
- Low speed: 51.9 mph (346 seconds — almost six minutes)
- Stability, extreme reliability, smooth throttle response, engine and pilot skill, and excellent weather combined to produce an exceptional low-speed performance, a 100-point landing, and 10 bonus points for a final score of 3,864 points.
Model and engine
Carlos' model was powered by an engine built on a Supertigre X-40 case; the similarity to the original Supertigre engine ends there. An AAC piston/liner assembly was used: an aluminum piston with a chrome-plated aluminum sleeve, new head, rod and throttle fitted to a new crankshaft. The engine was ported for left-hand rotation and displaces .355 cu in (bore .807 in, stroke .695 in). It turns a Zinger 9 x 7 pusher prop and produces ample power and thrust. The engine is fed by an eight-ounce "chicken-hopper" type fuel tank, also handcrafted.
The model is relatively light at 40 oz (with fuel) and carries the designation MO-1. It is equipped with a line slider and uses three ounces of weight in the outboard wing tip.
Specifications
- Wingspan: 38-3/4 in
- Wing area: 380 sq in
- Wing airfoil: 14% thick symmetrical section tapering to 13% at the tip
- Control surfaces: no flaps, no ailerons
The drawing was developed from a sketch; dimensions provided on the record application scale allow anyone interested to determine the other major dimensions.
Notes on bonus points
The photograph accompanying this column depicts the model used at the Nats. Carlos received no bonus points in either the 1988 or 1989 Nats, and some who have seen the Nats model have questioned the award of bonus points on the record flight. A close comparison of the drawings with the photograph reveals differences in wing outline between the two. Differences in wing area, model weight, and wingspan point to different models being used.
It is wise to remember that the award of bonus points is at the discretion of the judge, and that wide variations are possible whenever judging — and not a stopwatch — is the deciding factor. Carlos' flight would have been a credit with or without the bonus points. Any question of the appropriateness of bonus point decisions is an unwarranted detraction from a performance that, by any standard, was a truly outstanding achievement, worthy of praise and definitely deserving of the honor of a national record.
Well done, Carlos!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
