Focus on Competition
Technical Director — Steve Kaluf (skaluf@modelaircraft.org)
As I write this, the 73rd National Aeromodeling Championships are in full swing, and about half over for 1999. We would like to welcome back Ron Morgan as Nats Manager this year. You may remember that Ron was unable to attend last year following open‑heart surgery. We are very happy to have Ron back this year.
Radio Control Aerobatics are flying this week, and as usual, the NSRCA management of this event is very good. All of Control Line, Helicopter, RC Racing and Scale was flown last week. It was a very busy week! The contest management during the first week’s events was excellent. Everything went like clockwork for the busiest portion of the Nats. Special thanks to Brenda Scheutte (Control Line Manager), Wayne Yeager (RC Director), and all of the Special Interest Groups for giving the contestants one of the best contests possible.
Up this weekend will be RC Soaring, followed by RC Electric and Outdoor Free Flight. Soaring and Free Flight are the single largest groups, but the contest staff does a great job, so everything runs very well.
This is a fairly large Nats from a recent-history standpoint. Final tabulation is not done at this time, but here are the current numbers (people, not entries):
- Control Line (all except Scale and Aerobatics): 153
- Control Line Aerobatics: 86
- Control Line Scale: 18
- RC Scale: 75
- RC Racing: 82
- RC Soaring: 174
- RC Helicopter: 49
- RC Aerobatics: 105
- Free Flight (outdoor): 196
- RC Electric: 30
- Mechanics: 79
- Volunteers (not counting those in management): 119
- Total number of competitors: 1,065
- Total competitors and mechanics: 1,144
- Total for the entire Nats: 1,263
So, a nice-size Nationals.
The International Aeromodeling Center continues to improve; we have had many great comments about the site this year. Thanks to the AMA maintenance staff for all their hard work and to the Executive Council for giving us the funds to continue to improve this fantastic site.
Don't forget about the F3A World Championships taking place in the Pensacola, Florida area this September. I attended the US Team Selection that was flown on the World Championships site; it is a great site and a super area for things to do after the flying. We picked a great team this year. Chip Hyde won every round, and he was followed by Kirk Gray and Jason Shulman. We expect great things from this team this year! Make plans to attend the event.
Speaking of great teams, our F3D (RC Racing) team competed a week ago in the World Championships held in Sweden. To say that the team of Chip Hyde, Dave Shadel, and Richard Verano cleaned everyone's clock would be a gross understatement. Our team broke no less than four world records. The final record, set by Richard Verano, was a fantastic 59.3! Chip had a 59.7, and Dave Shadel a 60.2. Our guys were 1, 2, 3.
Congratulations, guys — you deserve it!
The F3C Helicopter team was also picked over Memorial Day weekend: Curtis Youngblood once again took first place followed by Wayne Mann and Dwight Shilling. A great team — we wish them the very best.
Till next time.
Contributions DO Make a Difference
This month the following people have donated to support the Academy's programs, National Model Aviation Museum and Aeromodeling Center. The people who have made donations have made an investment in the future of aeromodeling. We see these folks among the thousands who have given back to model aviation a part of what model aviation has given us. These things will be possible due to thoughtful giving and generosity. The list below represents monthly donations processed in the month of July 1999. If your name is not listed, please write the Membership Department and include a canceled check if you want to be recognized.
$100 up to $500
- Dionel E. Aviles
- Cameron H. Morrison
- Dale E. Tremain
$10 up to $100
- Charles C. Czeschin Jr.
- John L. Dottavio
- Perry L. Hansen
- James T. Harcarik
- David T. Humphrey
- Bill R. Moles
- Phillip L. Poffenbarger
- Carl M. Redlin
- San Diego Wingmasters
- Emil J. Schutzel
- Harvey H. Stumm
Thank you, Mitsuru Yokoyama November 1999
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
