Author: D. Pruss
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/11
Page Numbers: 34, 35, 36, 97
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NATS '78: RC Soaring

By Dan Pruss

Overview

First off, let us lay to rest the horror stories generated by events held three years earlier that might have tainted this year's meet before it started. This was one of the best RC soaring contests ever run. It took the coordinated efforts of at least four clubs plus the AMA to pull it off, and the result was smooth, efficient competition and excellent flying.

Facilities and organization

  • Host club: LARKS (Louisiana Area Radio Kontrol Society). The field is leased and maintained by the parish, and is large enough north–south to accommodate the 300‑meter tow lines used this year.
  • LARKS improvements: runway, pit area, clubhouse with kitchen and indoor facilities, long canopy-covered rest area. The LARKS is a power club that provided materials and labor.
  • Supporting clubs and groups:
  • Houston R/C Club: 24 members attending; Bert Striegler served as CD (Contest Director) and the club handled timing.
  • Manned Spacecraft Center R/C Club: provided manpower.
  • Northwest Soaring Society (NWSS): provided the scoring program and system.
  • AMA supported the event.
  • Other support: retrievers (many were LARKS' sons) and trail bikes to speed line retrieval; LARKS wives ran the galley and served food including notable root beer floats.

Participants and entries

  • Total fliers: 76
  • By region:
  • Texas: 20
  • Florida: 11
  • Mexico: 8
  • Remaining participants from 14 other states
  • Class entries:
  • Two‑Meter category: 5 contestants
  • Standard Class: 9 entrants
  • Modified Standard: 22 entrants
  • Unlimited: 40 entries (all Open age group)
  • Age groups: Four seniors and three juniors were entered in the Standard/Modified/Two‑Meter categories.

Weather and task

  • Weather: Typical Gulf Coast late‑summer — 90°F plus and humid, winds light and somewhat variable. Hurricane Amelia had passed a couple hundred miles west earlier, so conditions were considered good.
  • Task: Eight rounds, seven‑minute max each, with three minutes to land after the max. Tow lines were 300 meters; lines were wound down to the turnaround by winchmasters and retrievers picked up the tow rings. Large strips of material were used instead of parachutes or flags because the latter couldn't be seen reliably at 300 meters.

Scoring system

  • NWSS developed a computerized scoring program. Frank Girolani operated the system (program authored by Mike Freeman) on a Radio Shack TRS‑80 computer.
  • Procedure:
  1. Each contestant received an ID number.
  2. When a flight score came in (for example, time 06:53 and 95 landing points), Girolani entered the contestant ID, time, and landing points.
  3. After all scores for the round were entered, the system printed a readout showing overall place, ID number, name, score, percent of perfect, category, and age group.
  • The system allowed standings to be posted about five minutes after the last flight of a round.

Notable performances and results

  • Early leader: After three rounds, "Texas Tom" Williams led with 96.0257% of perfect.
  • Day two highlights:
  • Jim Fitch moved ahead of Williams and after round six had 2,978 points out of a possible 3,120 (95.4487% of perfect).
  • Carl Raichle advanced from 20th to 8th overall at one point and ultimately finished strong.
  • Jim Smith jumped from 11th to 3rd during the contest.
  • Dave Rutledge showed consistency: held ninth overall at one point and was first in Two‑Meter (about 87% of perfect).
  • Ed Berton took over first in Modified Standard and was sixth overall at one stage.
  • Skip Miller (defending national title, flying an Aquila Grande) struggled through five rounds with subtle radio glitches. He managed a max and a 92 landing in round six, but it was too late to recover for another title.
  • Final day: Jim Fitch needed only a max on his last flight to win; he achieved it plus an 89‑point landing and finished as overall points leader and winner of the NSS Trophy.
  • Class and special awards:
  • Modified Standard class winner and 4th overall: Carl Raichle (notable climb from 20th overall early in the contest)
  • Two‑Meter class winner and 8th overall: Dave Rutledge
  • Standard Class winner: Leon Kincaid (23rd overall)
  • Best Senior: Scott Miller (6th overall)
  • Best Junior: Jorge Guzman (Mexico)

Sidelights and logistics

  • Timing: handled by the Houston R/C Club, freeing contestants from chores between rounds.
  • Line retrieval: winchmasters wound lines to the turnaround; retrievers collected tow rings and returned lines.
  • Target markers: large strips of material were used instead of parachutes or flags because they were more visible at 300 meters.
  • Trophies and awards: NSS trophy awarded to the overall winner; Chet Tuthill served on the NSS trophy committee.

Conclusion

NATS '78 RC Soaring was a well‑run, efficiently scored, and well‑supported event. The combination of excellent facilities, volunteer support, a reliable computerized scoring system, and good flying conditions made this one of the standout RC soaring contests. The contest showcased skillful flying across multiple classes and rewarded consistency and good organization.

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