The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth

George Jenkins

THE GREATEST SHOW on earth — in scale modeling — is Top Gun. This invitational meet just completed its fifth successful year and was held once more at the beautiful West Palm Beach Polo Club.

All the planes that flew at Top Gun were beaten by a scratch-built civilian aircraft, the Globe Swift, copied by Corvin Miller from a blue, white, and gold pinstriped full-size privately owned plane from Venice, Florida.

Frank Tiano's dream and the meet's success are due to a lot of hard work by Frank and the members of the Palm Beach Aero Club, as well as support from major sponsors like Herschel Worthy of ZAP and Model Airplane News. Many other sponsors helped by contributing popular prizes. Their support deserves yours — ask for their products at your local hobby shop.

Hundreds of model plane contests are held every year and manufacturers cannot give to all of them because of the sheer economic cost. Keep that in mind the next time you write a sponsor to ask for a donation. Don't be too critical if he can only respond in a small way or not at all; he can't give away the whole store.

One sad note marked the contest: Roger Young, famous last year for his DC-7 known as Puff the Magic Dragon, a Vietnam gunship, was stricken with cancer and was unable to attend this year's contest. All the pilots signed and sent a card and a videotape of the meet. We understand that Roger was able to read the card and see the tape before he passed away on Thursday.

Roger was thrilled to be at Top Gun and to sit at the banquet table with Corvin Miller, Bill McCallie, and Lee Rice, as they toasted Ed Newman's Storch. He will be remembered as a great modeler and a great southern gentleman by all who knew him. Our hearts go out to his family.

THE PLANE THAT WON TOP GUN '93

Scale veteran Corvin Miller of the Sarasota R/C Squadron built and flew his sleek Globe Swift, winning the prestigious crown of Top Gun for 1993. Miller has flown in three of the five Top Gun meets.

Corvin placed 10th with Best Civilian Aircraft in 1991 and sixth, plus Best Civilian, in 1992 before taking the title in 1993. With his wife Cheri as mechanic and caller, Miller flew rounds of 81.25, 91.75, 91.00, and 93.125. The average of the best three flights for the two-day contest, plus a static score of 96.491, produced a final score of 188.449. His last flight and perfect landing were just enough to edge out Terry Nitsch and his F-86 by 0.140 of a point.

Corvin made his own retracts and uses Airtronics sail-winches for reliable retracting power — no air systems. He has plans, fiberglass cowl and windshield available for the Swift; write to him at 4417 Lords Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231. Tel: 813-924-3868.

Corvin said he was surprisingly nervous after giving up smoking earlier in the year and having major surgery, but his flights were smooth despite 25–30 mph easterly crosswinds. He took home $1,500 cash, a new computer, an eight-channel JR X3885 radio, and a large silver loving cup. Corvin now has his eye on a maroon Globe Swift and will continue to refine his model for next year's Top Gun.

SECOND PLACE BY ONLY A FRACTION OF A POINT

Second place went to Terry Nitsch with a Bob Violett Models F-86 done in a Minute Man paint scheme. Terry scored 188.299 (static score 96.507). He flies like a computer-programmed robot — hard to find flaws in pattern or speed. Terry won the Best Jet award (sponsored by Bob Violett Models, Orlando, FL) and $200 cash. He also won Ace R/C's Best Craftsmanship award, earning another trophy and $200.

Dennis Crooks placed third with his Learjet, despite missing getting airborne in the second round. Fortunately he discarded his lowest score. Crooks tackled a two-ducted-fan model and posted an impressive 97.840 static score.

1. Corvin Miller — Globe Swift — 1st place, Top Gun 1993 (final 188.449)
2. Terry Nitsch — F-86 — 2nd place (final 188.299)
3. Dennis Crooks — Learjet — 3rd place

TOP TEN FINISHERS (NOTABLES)

1. Corvin Miller — Globe Swift (1st)
2. Terry Nitsch — F-86 (2nd)
3. Dennis Crooks — Learjet (3rd)
4. Garland Hamilton — Lockheed TV-2 (4th)

• Garland, now famous for "Lake Hamilton" at the north end of the runway, avoided crashing his TV-2 into the pond this year. He attended the cocktail party in his uniform; camaraderie and conversation were highlights of the weekend.

1. Mel Whitley — Bearcat (5th)

• Built from Jerry Bates plans. Mel made his own Bearcat landing gear (now sold by Gene Barton). This all-navy-blue version was about three pounds lighter than Charlie Chambers’ Bearcat. Mel used an O.S. 300 engine and a 20 x 6 Zinger prop. A previous Top Gun winner (1991), Mel crashed his Bearcat four times before this year's event.

1. Diego Lopez — Skyraider (6th)

• Scored 185.866 points. Used Futaba equipment and a MAT-silencer-equipped engine; model is known for using a Buly engine swinging an 18 x 8 Zinger prop. Diego won the Scale Masters in Las Vegas.

1. Jeff Foley — A-6M3 (Japanese Zero, 18 lb) (7th)

• Built from a Patt kit. Uses JR PCM 10 radio. Static 97.157.

1. Kim Foster — Nieuport 28 (8th)

• Built from a Proctor kit; WW I biplanes were challenged by crosswinds this year.

1. Charles Nelson — Waco (9th)

• Static 96.074. Charles plans to return next year with an even bigger Waco that required him to build an outside stairway and cut a door to get the plane out of his workshop.

1. Bill Harris — F-86 (10th)

• Flew in a distinctive gold and red Canadian Royal Air Force color scheme.

This year a civilian plane won top honors over the jets and WWII warbirds — proof that a well-done and well-flown civilian-type aircraft with good documentation can compete at any scale meet.

SPECIAL AWARDS AND STANDOUTS

• Engineering Excellence: Ramon Torres — 92-inch Cessna Skymaster O-2A Push Me-Pull Me inline twin (Robart Manufacturing). Static 95.324; only one flight (69.875) before withdrawing due to landing gear failure.
• Best Biplane / High Static: Tom Polapink — scratch-built Sopwith Snipe. High Static 98.490; placed 11th overall. Best Biplane award sponsored by R/C Report magazine; Tom won a trophy and $200. (Tom is 28 years old.)
• Mike Barbee — red, white, and blue T-34C Mentor (Toledo winner). Scratch-built from Ramon Torres' 7/5-scale plans; 80-inch wingspan, 17 lb. Powered by SuperTiger 2500, Graupner 16 x 8 three-bladed prop, Futaba radio, Robart retracts. Placed 26th but won the "Best Buns" award from the Top Gun Hussies.

Prop Wash Video captured the event, narrated by Frank Tiano. If you couldn't attend, get the tape — it has great flight and taxi shots.

TEAM WORK AT TOP GUN

• 1st place: Bob Violett & Jerry Caudle — T-33 (score 182.533)
• 2nd place: Nick Ziroli Jr. & Bill Steffes — F4U-1A Hellcat (score 182.007)
• Nick Jr. also won Best Military and $200 (sponsored by Model Airplane News).
• 3rd place: Gerry Garing (builder) & Ron Chizek (pilot) — C-47
• Also won Critics Choice: an Infinity radio by Airtronics.
• Notable: Dave Boddington & Gerry Rathband — multiengine Vickers Vimy (English entry). Static 91.741; placed 7th in Team Scale.

SOME OF THE FIELD ENTRIES

• Bill McCallie — Bell P-39. Finished 18th with static 94.157; long nose gear proved troublesome during preparation.
• Russel LePre (Tampa) — Wilga (European alternative to the J-3 Cub). Limited-import kit by Model Aviation Technology; built from Bob Barkan photos with corrugated-skin detailing. 92-inch span, Q-38 engine with 20 x 8 prop, flown with coupled rudder/ailerons on Ace Radio. Static 88.992; placed 27th.
• Patti (Violett) Generali — the only female pilot at Top Gun '93. Flew an F-86 with builder-team partner Paul Schuessler; Bob Violett served as caller. Their team won ninth place in Team Scale with a distinctive "Green Dragon" paint scheme.
• Bob Underwood (AMA) — flew and crashed his Russian Stormovik after scoring a static 94.158.
• Robart's Bob Walker — drew crowds with his new scale Jacobs seven‑cylinder radial engine, ideal for Ziroli designs if you can afford it.

OUTSTANDING CLASSIC

• Irvin Searl — Ryan STA, 1/4-scale. Beautiful craftsmanship and excellent handling; static 94.291.
• Kerry Sterner — Beech Starship. Massive 43-lb model with two Super Tigre 2500s and 16 x 6 four-bladed pusher props. Engine problems prevented an official flight; static 89.325.
• Three F-4D Skyrays also flew; Mark Frankel kitted this classic jet. Dean DiGiorgio flew the contest model in Team Scale and placed fifth.

ATTENDANCE RECORD BROKEN

The largest crowd of spectators ever flooded the West Palm Beach Polo grandstand and grounds for this fifth anniversary. The grandstand provided an excellent view of the flights and the entire event. The food court and shaded tents were big draws in the Florida heat.

Dave Platt's trivia quiz and Sam Wright's color announcing kept fans and pilots amused during the two days of competition. Allen Copeland assisted in announcing. Pilots lined their airplanes along the ropes so everyone could get close looks and good still or video shots. Top Gun is worth the trip — plan your vacation around it.

EXHIBITORS ALL IN A ROW

• Prop Wash Video: Werner sold many contest videos; the '93 Top Gun tape will be available.
• Model Aviation Technology: displayed a six-volt Gel Cell charging system, LED under-load voltmeter/tester, a new all-steel Super Servo with German engineering, and announced a limited-import Bearcat kit from Norway.
• Eldon Lind: Magic Magnetic Building Board — a square-gridded board that helps build models accurately.
• Scale Source (Jim Pepino): T-shirts, Top Gun hats and shirts for sale.
• AMA booth: JoAnne Spampinato in attendance.

Robart's sponsorship and presence were notable throughout the event.

I'm certainly looking forward to the next Top Gun, and you should be too. Plan your family vacation and just do it — your family can enjoy Florida while you catch one of the best scale-model competitions around.

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