1985 NATS: FF Power
Abram Van Dover
Overview
The Nats Free Flight events got off to a terrific start as far as organization and weather went. The organization kept up the good work, but the weather got worse before it got better again.
Except for one planned move, the northeast corner of the field became the Free Flight area and remained that way through Saturday. The model‑eating trees surrounding Westover AFB claimed a few models, but for the most part the trees went hungry. To aid recovery of tree‑stuck models, the Air Force Fire Department came to the rescue with ladders and a cherry picker — a welcome helping hand. Hats off to the Air Force!
Before the week ended a few models drifted into CL Combat circles. These were exceptions, and wayward models disturbed few RC and CL fliers. Many thanks to Murry and Sandy Frank, Max Chernoff, Bert Pond, Homer Smith, Linda Brown, and the many others who set up and officiated the outdoor Free Flight events.
A Modeler’s Determination
One memorable story shows the dedication of the FF fraternity. Lou Black of Concord, NC, left home on a wet Sunday morning hoping to get to Chicopee to help with timing and officiating. Because of a recent move he didn’t have his equipment ready. About three hours from home his car broke down near Danville, VA. His wife fetched him in their second car, but bus schedules were no help, so they checked the local airport and caught the only 4:30 p.m. flight to Washington National Airport. George Caldwell of Frederick, MD drove south 60 miles to pick him up and together they proceeded north to the Nats. Lou timed all week and helped at the officials’ desk — and did it without being sure how he would get home. Way to go, Lou!
C Gas
C Gas opened the Power events and many fliers took advantage of the good weather to get early maxes.
- 1st: Charlie Caton, Montgomery, AL — 12 maxes
- 2nd: Tom Joerger — finished second after dropping his 9th max; flew an unusual model with an open‑air pylon (wing supports were the leading and trailing edges, leaving space for propwash)
- Senior winner: Stephen Merithew, Binghamton, NY — Starduster 900, 360 sec
- Senior runner-up: Melinda Anderson, Mountaintop, PA
Bob Hunter’s Satellite 788 was a popular junior choice and mirrored the general reliability seen in many classes.
Vintage and Payload/Cargo Events
Vic Rolka of Branford, CT flew a vintage Ram Rod 750 built in 1958, resurrected and recovered with MonoKote and powered by a Super Tigre .35. The contrast between sedate .020 engines used in Payload models and the roaring C jobs was stark: the 10‑sec engine runs and rise‑off‑ground takeoffs made it hard for many Payload fliers to achieve a 2‑minute max.
- Payload winner: Jim Walston, Smyrna, GA — three perfect flights for first place
- Cargo winner: Duane Renken, Ann Arbor, MI — model lifted a three‑lift total of more than 25 oz. on its .02
Seymour Hertzson of Beachwood, NJ, a 71‑year‑old retired schoolteacher, gave Jim a run for his money in Payload, assisted energetically by his 70‑year‑old wife, Leone, who timed and helped wherever needed.
After the 1 p.m. move, Payload fliers used a high‑tech takeoff strip made of pulp wood and horse glue that was warped just right for takeoffs.
Cargo (Wednesday)
Wednesday’s Cargo flying was soaked by heavy rain, delaying flying almost four hours.
- Bob Nichols — Bull Moose, lifted 1,208 grams
- Duane Renken, Ann Arbor, MI — model from Frank Zaic Yardbook plans, lifted 703 grams
- Peter Brooks, Newport News, VA — only other official flight
1/2 A and 1/4 A Gas
1/2 A and 1/4 A filled the rain‑soaked skies most of the day. Sal Taibi of Lakewood, CA, the old master, coaxed his way into the flyoff and beat ten other hopefuls. There was excellent competition in 1/2 A, with 35 fliers in the rain.
- Junior 1/2 A winner: Jeanette Yoket, Rochester, NY — bested Mathew Gagliano (Floral Park, NY)
- Senior 1/4 A winner: Melinda Anderson, Mountaintop, PA — 284 sec under adverse conditions
D Power and FAI Power
Thursday was D Power day and it was windy — sustained 20 mph with gusts to 30. Most fliers kept their ships in their cars; only four hardy competitors flew.
- D Power winner: John Carls — Starduster 900 with K&B .65
- Notable placing: Bob Stiefel — managed a strategic short flight and thermalized to place
FAI Power also flew in high winds:
- FAI Power winner: Brad Wilder — 832 sec, flying an FAI toothpick with a hot Rossi .15
- Runner‑up: Glenn Anderson — 577 sec
- No Junior or Senior attempts in FAI Power
(Note: high wind day also hosted FAI Power, Coupe d'Hiver, and Hand‑Launched Glider, making it impractical to fly everything.)
A Power
A Power was flown on Friday under clear skies, with winds holding off until after flying.
- 1st: Bob Siffert, Glen Rock, PA — maxed out and won flyoffs, total 1,290 sec
- 2nd: Brad Wilder, Studio City, CA — 1,155 sec
- 3rd: Ruth Ann Banes, Lyndonville, NY — flew Brad Wilder’s Wind Whip design; her placing made her husband, Brad, ecstatic
Younger age class note:
- Junior Tony Hutchins, Portland, IN — 326 sec (A Power Junior)
- Senior Melinda Anderson, Mountaintop, PA — 230 sec (A Power Senior)
CO2
The CO2 event was well attended and produced some excellent flights. CO2 requires a lot of skill and featured a wide range of designs, from conventional to profile canards.
- CO2 winner: Duane Renken
- Mention: Dan Leffert flew his own design, Image, and finished last — a personal note by the author recalling their shared service in the 11th Airborne Division in the ’50s.
B Power (Saturday)
Saturday’s weather for B Power was beautiful — ideal for the three‑minute maxes and a fitting end to FF at the Nats. Twenty‑three Open B Power fliers made last‑ditch attempts for trophies.
- 1st: Charlie Caton, Montgomery, AL — 1,560 sec, flying Hummingbird II
- 2nd: Bill Dunlop, Greensburg, PA — 838 sec
Charlie’s Hummingbird II demonstrated the old adage: if a model looks good, it will fly well. Bill’s models, noted for craftsmanship, served as excellent examples for others.
Electric Events (Class A & B)
It appears not all FF’ers know about the Electric events. Two classes are on the books:
- Class A: restricted to six battery cells or less
- Class B: allows more than six cells
All Class A fliers also competed in Class B.
- Class A winner: John Olan, Longwood, FL — 441 sec flying his Volt Air (190 sq. in., 7½ oz including six 175 mAh SR cells)
- Class A runner‑up: Bob Nichols, South Meriden, CT
- Class B winner: John Olan — 704 sec flying a larger Volt Air with a 10‑cell battery
- Class B runner‑up: Bob Nichols — Snow Bird, seven cells and an Astro .035
Interesting note: Duane and John Renken (father and son) placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, in Class A, but reversed placings in Class B. Both flew Duane’s own design.
Cabin Event Sidelight
The Cabin event drew interest for its building and flying complexity. At one point three of the planes were in the air simultaneously. A rare collision occurred between two planes (Domina and Ganser) with fortunately little damage.
The Cabin event provided the most dramatic competition of the meet. Pocket jockeying among contestants grew intense until Dan Beilert flew a beautiful no‑touch 21:38. Ron Ganser, who had broken his best “disk” model, flew a backup of more conventional design without testing and came within one second of Dan — the margin was actually closer, as his timer dropped nearly a full second.
Acknowledgements and Closing
The Nats Free Flight events showcased dedication, ingenuity, and sportsmanship. Thanks again to the organizers, timers, and volunteers — and to the Air Force Fire Department for their help recovering models. Continued competition, craftsmanship, and camaraderie made the 1985 FF contests memorable. Continued on page 156.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
