Control Line: Navy Carrier
Dick Perry
6739 Stonecutter Dr. Burke, VA 22015
Darn! The 1990 Nats is now a memory for those who were fortunate enough to attend, while the rest of us are listening to fellow fliers who went and waiting for the annual Nats issue of Model Aviation next month. I'm sorry to have missed the Nats this year, but the demands of moving and job responsibilities kept me home. I plan to have an analysis of the models and performances in my next column—in time to plan winter building projects for next summer's Carrier flying.
New record applications
The Sig contest on June 23–24, 1990 provided both good and bad flying conditions. Saturday had high winds that kept the Profile Carrier scores rather low, but Sunday brought a light, steady wind that produced a pair of new records in Class I and Class II. Both records were set by Pete Mazur, who has been flying and refining his MO-1 models for many years.
Pete’s Class I record
- Score: 428.2
- High speed: 17.05 seconds (105.5 mph)
- Low speed: 209.26 seconds (8.6 mph)
- Model: MO-1 (same design Pete used to win the 1987 and 1988 Nats)
- Weight and wing: 42 oz.; built-up wing, 38-in. span, symmetrical 15% thick airfoil
- Engine/prop: K&B .40S running a Grish Tornado 9×7 Black Magnum prop
Pete’s Class II record
- Model: “MO-Zilla” MO-1 (close to the maximum 44-in. span), solid carved wing
- High speed: 16.55 seconds (108.7 mph)
- Low speed: 244.82 seconds (over 4 minutes; 7.35 mph)
- Power: Webra Speed .61 with a fiberglass prop based on the Rev-Up 10×8W
Powerplants, carburetion, and fuel
Pete mixes his own fuel and runs precise engine setups:
- Fuel mix: 72% nitromethane, 18% oil, 10% propylene oxide
- Ignition: Fox RC glow plugs
- Throttles and exhaust: Engines equipped with exhaust slides made by Pete and throttles by Dave Wallick
- Carburetors: Perry-style pump carburetors — Perry meters installed in aluminum bodies
- Fuel feed: Crankcase pressure used to pressurize the fuel tank; the exhaust slide helps keep tank pressure high enough for reliable fuel flow
Handles and line clips
Because the handles aren't adjustable on three-line systems, you must add line clips of varying sizes to make fine adjustments. The largest clip, an old-style Perfect clip, is generally too weak for most Carrier applications.
Sig Skyray 35 projects
My Sig Skyray 35 projects have been on hold since I learned I was moving, but I'll have more to say in a future issue. Expect details on Skyray performance and conversion information to transform the Skyray into a Curtiss XS2C-1. Meanwhile, I've received reports from modelers who are very pleased with the Skyray's performance as a Profile Carrier model.
I apologize for the brevity of the column this month—packers are waiting for my computer. Keep your hook dry.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
