Author: A.V. Dover
Edition: Model Aviation - 1994/12
Page Numbers: 53, 54, 55, 56, 58
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FREE FLIGHT OUTDOOR

Abram Van Dover, 112 Tillerson Dr., Newport News, VA 23602

Day One

At last—the start of the Outdoor AMA Nats in Lubbock, Texas. We flew out of the airport at Abernathy, about 20 miles from the main Nats site. To ensure maximum flying time, the start time was changed from 8 a.m. to 7 a.m.; we still quit at 4 p.m.

The Abernathy airport has a 4,000-foot runway with plenty of overrun at both ends and good terrain for chase bikes. The airport is surrounded on three sides by cotton fields and on one side by a small golf course (to the west), and at no time did the wind blow toward the course.

The cotton fields are excellent for chasing models. The rows are far enough apart for safe walking and, if you looked down the rows, you could see your model from several hundred feet away. It did get muddy in spots, though.

It was hot and the wind was out of the southwest—just right for chasing. All events ran concurrently.

Payload fliers moved to the runway for ROG (Rise Off Ground) capability while the rest of the fliers set up at the flight line. A parking area had been cut out for us and trash barrels were placed in handy spots—small indications of the help we received from the city of Abernathy.

Highlights and results

  • Senior Payload: Jim Troutman set a new record.
  • Open Payload: Warren Kurth (flew in from Davenport, Iowa). Warren has placed first or second at nearly every Nats for the past decade.
  • Catapult gliders: Junior Max Tarcher beat his dad Ben by 14 seconds.
  • CO2 fliers: Quiet and persistent—some good times were posted.
  • Electrics: Curt Sanford was the number-one winner. His daughter Melanie held the Senior record that Jim Troutman had broken.
  • Nostalgia events (period 1943–1956): Moffett (rubber) won by Les DeWitt (who also flew Mulvihill and Coupe). C Gas featured a variety of spacers, swats and ramrods; one person flew a Civy Boy.

Trophy presentation

  • Trophies were handed out at the end of each day. Thanks to Greg Chartrand, our trophies were available the night before the event began.
  • Several volunteers helped Event Director Ed Sullivan on the flight line:
  • Jim Bethea (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
  • Jim Burge (Mobile, Alabama)
  • Bill Wheeler (Lubbock, Texas)

These volunteers timed, scored, processed and ran errands for the whole five days; they earned our appreciation (and a free AMA membership for 1995).

Incident

  • During chasing, someone tried to lift a motorcycle over a thin plastic water pipe (about 12 inches in diameter). The motorcycle cut or burned a hole in the pipe, spilling water. The person should have reported it immediately so it could be patched; we smoothed it over and the rest of the week went without problems.

Day Two

A weather front passed overnight and the wind was from the north on arrival, so we moved as far north on the airport as possible. The move delayed the One Flight Dawn Rubber start by 15 minutes. One Flight Dawn Rubber winner: Bud Romak (our new AMA Hall of Famer).

One person went to the old site, then back to the main site at Lubbock and reported nobody was there—advice: always look upwind for free fliers.

Events on the agenda included A Gas, F1B (Wakefield), Cargo and hand-launch glider. Nostalgia flew B Gas and Large Ignition. Light showers and wind shifts from the west put some models into the cotton fields, but everyone minded their Ps and Qs.

Hand-launch glider flyoff

  • Robert J. Dunham (Oklahoma) vs. Kazumasa Sekizawa (Japan).
  • Kazumasa: down at 43 seconds.
  • Robert: 103 seconds (after finding light lift).
  • Robert received a well-deserved round of applause; Kazumasa and his fiancée also received applause and many photos.

Other results and notes

  • Senior Jim Troutman missed the hand-launch flyoff by 10 seconds.
  • A Gas had nine in the flyoff. Winner Russ Snyder required four flyoff flights to best Faust Parker and others.
  • Cargo: Czardas Sanford had to cobble one model from parts of two to come out on top, lifting 1,047 grams.
  • F1B: Jim Orale topped the event, finishing only 70 seconds short of a perfect score.

Observation: At Muncie, hand-launch glider throwers flew from a pen; at Lubbock they were free to move about the field. Spectators enjoyed watching fliers search the field for lift—no pen here.

Day Three

Forecasted heat and southwest wind proved accurate (thanks again to local weather reports). No field moves were required. Flight-line thermal sensors showed highs up to 104°F at times. The AMA Facility Crew at the Lubbock airport provided ice and water jugs each morning.

Events: B Gas, F1G (Coupe), B Electric, Mulvihill, F1A (Glider). Nostalgia flew A Gas and PAA-Load (all classes combined).

In memoriam and a new trophy

  • Jim Clem, a well-known free flier, had passed away prior to the event. An association of Texas and Virginia modelers proposed a perpetual trophy in his memory. A special plaque was awarded at these Nats to the B Gas winner: Bob Junk.

Mulvihill and F1J

  • Mulvihill: Robert J. Dunham won and set a new national record—bettering the old record by more than 3½ minutes. He also received a special plaque representing the Mulvihill Trophy.
  • F1J: Steve Spence won after a flyoff, besting Faust Parker. Steve also placed third in OHLG and appears to be a well-rounded flier.

Other winners and highlights

  • Electric B: Bob Hanford (also flew at the Outdoor Champs at Muncie).
  • Nostalgia PAA-Load: Ken Ketner won flying a stock Berkeley Brigadier kit powered by a stock OK Cub .049.
  • A Nostalgia Gas: Floyd Reck won. Special mention: Regan Howell, 86 years old, Lubbock resident since 1936, who brought out Civy Boys and other models—some not flown since 1952. Regan invited Sal Taibi and Floyd Reck to stay with him for the Nats and enjoyed flying and mingling with fliers of all ages. He now hopes to bring back the Texas Eagles (a notable free flight from the '40s and '50s).

Day Four

Wind from the southwest and similar heat; the wind eased after about 2 p.m. Events: C Gas, F1H (A-1 Glider), F1C (Power), P-30 and Scale Power. Nostalgia flew 1/4A and Large Ignition.

C Gas and Sal Taibi

  • C Gas was closely contested. Russ Snyder edged out Marvelous Marvin Mace and Bob Junk; Faust Parker missed the flyoff by one second.
  • Sal Taibi enjoyed a long flight and went to retrieve his model. He had left on a motorcycle; another modeler later spotted Sal on foot about 2½ miles downwind. A search party (four motorcycles, two cars and a van) went out briefly, but Sal had merely been walking back through brush. He had a good laugh—at 74 years old, he's tough.

F1C and other results

  • F1C: Hank Spence won and also claimed the McNeill Cup. Third-place finisher Mark Troutman received whatever was left from the gallon can of 80/20 fuel donated by K&B.
  • Scale Power: fliers moved to the runway for ROG. Bob Arnett won over Curtis Sanford.
  • P-30: evolved into a highly competitive event; no one maxed, and only 31 seconds separated first through fifth. Winner: Nick Leonard (his son Nick Jr. won first in Junior). In Senior, Jim Troutman edged Jim Dulaney by four seconds.
  • Many fliers used Ta II rubber—good cruise but lacking punch for windy starts.
  • F1H (A-1 towline glider): Steve Spence won with 575 seconds.

Nostalgia and judging

  • Nostalgia 1/4A: Jackie Sheffer first, Faust Parker second.
  • Large Ignition: Faust Parker was effectively the sole regular entry.
  • Scale judges are scarce; I judged Rubber and Peanut Scale—many models were Lacey M-10s.

Day Five

Final day events: D Gas, F1G (Coupe), 1/2A Gas, Rubber and Peanut Scale. The competitors were ready—“last day” means nothing to them.

D Gas and 1/2A

  • D Gas flyoff: Faust Parker beat Marvelous Marvin Mace.
  • 1/2A: No Juniors. Senior: Jim Troutman beat Jim Dulaney by seven seconds. Open: Robert J. Dunham dominated (Don Blackburn second, Faust Parker third).

Rubber and Peanut Scale

  • Peanut Scale: Curtis Sanford’s Lacey beat Bob Arnett’s Lacey; Richard Wood was third (Dayton Wright Racer).
  • Rubber Scale: Curtis Sanford again took first—yes, another Lacey M-10.
  • 10-gram rubber-motor coupe models: John O'Dwyer and Jim O'Reilly did particularly well; John was only 10 seconds from a perfect score.

Awards and teams

  • Paul Gilliam Award (made by Jim Carpenter, former Texas Eagle): Bob Junk (highest time in AMA gas, regardless of class).
  • Faust Parker was the overall Hi-Point man for Nostalgia.
  • Team award (bragging rights until next Nats):
  1. Texas Cloud Climbers Team #1 (winners)
  2. Seguin Grumpy Old Men
  3. Cloud Climbers #2
  • Winning team members (Texas Cloud Climbers #1): Bob Combs, Mike Fedor, Steve Spence, Curt Sanford, John O'Dwyer.
  • Overall High Point (AMA events): Faust Parker (1st), Robert J. Dunham (2nd).

Closing Thanks

Many people and organizations contributed to a great Nats:

  • Local support: Frank Russell, Mike Grimsley, Bob and Tenny Burnett, and the town of Abernathy.
  • AMA workers (who welcomed, processed, provided information, sold Nats souvenirs, and supplied scorecards/sheets):
  • Teresa McKee
  • Joyce Hager
  • Danielle Drake
  • Shirley Cook

To those we missed, our omission was unintentional. It was a great Nats, and we look forward to 1995.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.