FF Indoor Scale
Larry Kruse
Introduction
The Bostonian event in the Dome couldn't have been better organized for indoor flying. I don't recall a single flight flirting with disaster against the walls, seats, or ceiling. Drift was so marginal that several ROG'd launches from four plywood sheets placed over the center carpeted (yes, carpeted) floor landed back on the plywood to the delight and applause of spectators.
Numerous noteworthy designs and designers attended, enhancing the contest by their presence and the outstanding performance of their models.
Indoor highlights and notable entries
- Dave Aronstein (Open Indoor AMA Scale)
- Flew a jumbo-scale Cessna Caravan that approached or exceeded two minutes on several slow, stately flights. Though not a perfect scale replica (painted-in windows, extended landing gear omitted), the model won the crowd with superb flight performance. Dave wasn't sure of the model's weight; a hand estimate put it under 20 grams.
- Ken Groves (with partner Jack McGillivray)
- Brought a lovely airbrushed Bristol Scout D biplane. Unique features included no turtledeck stringers aft of the cockpit; the stringered effect was achieved by molding laminate tissue over a form and using the resulting laminate to reduce weight aft of the CG. Ken also made the cowl from foam and then covered it with 1/32" balsa to save weight. The model placed second in Open.
- Sherman Gillespie
- Veteran designer and flier, Sherman brought his classic Glen-Henderson Gadfly in at least two sizes. He first published a scale Gadfly in the 1950s and later a Peanut version around 1979. Sherman also prepared an AMA Rubber Scale Gadfly but experienced uncharacteristic trimming problems; higher power was required to take full advantage of the Kibbie Dome's 146-ft ceiling.
- Mark Allison
- Talented artist/graphic designer and emerging model designer. Known for the HM-280 Pou du Ciel Pistachio (published in Model Aviation), Mark brought a modified version of Art Mooney's RM-12 canard Peanut. After skillful flying and trimming, including a "jump shot" launch, Mark achieved a commendable 74-second flight.
- Clarence Mathers
- Flew two outstanding designs: a Witt's Vee in Peanut and a Tipsy Jr. (class not specified in the notes). Both drew appreciative response from Scale fans.
Rubber, Peanut, and outdoor conditions
Despite light and variable winds on Wednesday, by Thursday 25–30 mph zephyrs had picked up and effectively ended Outdoor FF Scale flying—winds that would have blown any potential contest away.
Only five contestants attempted even a single flight in AMA Rubber or Peanut Scale under those conditions. No one attempted Gas Scale, although Charlie Bauer caused a stir by test-firing the engine in his ducted-fan U-2 spyplane.
- Successful Peanut Scale flights were put up by Dwight Larks, Howard Breshears, Jane Breshears, and the author.
- Charles Schaaf made an official flight with his Lacey AMA Rubber Scale but damaged it considerably.
- I (the author) destroyed my 1988 Nats-winning Drzewiecki canard after tempting the wind gods.
- Little Dwight Larks, Jr. was the only competitor to fly both AMA Scale and Peanut with impunity; he lofted his Pietenpol into the Washington gales and recovered it essentially unharmed.
Scores for the Rubber flights are posted with the rest of the Nats results in the "Competition Newsletter" section elsewhere in the issue.
Because there were no Gas Scale flights, the judges awarded trophies on the basis of scale points only:
- Rich Ditman — Wiley Post (first)
- Larry Kruse — Cessna Comet (second)
- Greg Davis — Erich Taube (third)
As a postscript, Stan Alexander plans to seek a backup day for Outdoor FF Scale next year to prevent a repetition of this occurrence. Stan and his crew are to be commended for doing the best they could under circumstances beyond anyone's control.
Judges and acknowledgments
A large thank-you is in order for Stan's crew and the scale judges:
- Hal Winters
- Bert Dugan
- Mike Weishans
- Al Culver
- Cliff Talbot
- Paul Parks
Special thanks to Stan Alexander, who single-handedly transported the scale judging sheets, trophies, and all needed support materials some 150 miles from Richland to Moscow.
Other contest results (selected events)
- Pittenpyle
- Joe Foster edged perennial Nats winner Gordy Wisniewski (twin-finned biplane) with a score of 14:34 to 13:52.
- Bruce Kimball placed with 12:59.
- Don Slusarczyk was unchallenged in Senior with 12:25.
- Scott Robbins flew four consistent flights in the seven-minute range, besting Dwight Larks 7:36 to 5:35 in Junior.
- Open Manhattan Cabin
- Walt Van Gorder retained top spot with a first flight of 10:21.
- Larry Loucka was second with 9:38.
- Bob Nichols could not better his first attempt of 9:32.
- Dwight Larks and Don Slusarczyk each picked up first-place trophies in their respective age categories uncontested.
- Hand-Launch Stick
- Joe Foster won after his Peanut Scale victory, flying 38:44.
- Bob Randolph pushed him but finished second.
- Richard Doig took third with 29:09.
- Don Slusarczyk's Senior winning time of 29:40 would have placed him in the Open trophy circle as well.
- Junior events
- Little Dwight Larks flew a respectable 7:58 to take Junior laurels in Hand-Launch Stick.
- Junior Andy Tagliafico posted a 9:11 in another class, which would have placed him mid-pack in Open.
- Andy continued to show strong results in Junior Easy B (details summarized elsewhere).
Closing
The Kibbie Dome event was great fun in a superb setting, with excellent indoor flying and many memorable models and performances. Let's do it again soon.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
