Author: R.V. Putte
Edition: Model Aviation - 1998/12
Page Numbers: 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33
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RADIO CONTROL AEROBATICS

Ron Van Putte, 111 Sleepy Oaks Rd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Overview

Chip Hyde, many-time RC Aerobatics Nats champion and past F3A World Champion, won the FAI event at the 1998 RC Aerobatics Nats, held July 19–24 at the AMA's International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, IN.

National champions:

  • Sportsman: Peter Collinson (Pinehurst, NC)
  • Advanced: Glen Watson (Houston, TX)
  • Masters: Dave Lockhart (Brick, NJ)
  • FAI: Chip Hyde (Sierra Vista, AZ)

Organization and Management

  • Event organized and directed by the National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA) with assistance from the AMA.
  • Key personnel:
  • Bob Noll — NSRCA Event Director (has agreed to return next year)
  • Al Williamson — AMA RC Category Manager
  • Steve Kaluf — AMA Technical Director / Contest Manager

Attendance and Competition Format

  • Total pilots: 116 (up from 100 last year)
  • Sportsman: 27
  • Advanced: 18
  • Masters: 32
  • FAI: 39
  • Flight structure:
  • Sportsman and Advanced: six flights (traditional format)
  • Masters and FAI: six qualifying flights; top pilots advanced to finals

Sites and Formats

  • Site 1 (north) used the traditional format for Sportsman/Advanced: pilots split into two groups; each group flew two flights per day against the other group over three days. Scores could be normalized twice per day due to equal judge exposure.
  • Masters/FAI used the "Matrix" format (introduced previously): pilots divided into four groups; each group flew two flights against another group in half-day sessions on two flightlines. Advantages of the matrix:
  • Reduced judging load (different judge panels each half-day)
  • Minimized weather-change effects (flights against an opponent within a four-hour period)
  • More realistic daily standings (scores normalized twice per day)

Scoring for Masters/FAI

  • Pilots kept their least flight score of the day plus the best score not previously used, so four of six flight scores counted. This rewarded consistency.
  • Top 20% of Masters and FAI were to advance to finals; by that formula seven Masters and eight FAI would qualify, but Bob Noll opted to take eight Masters into the final.

Judging and Certification

  • A judging matrix was prepared using pilots' judging qualification forms and included a small group of full-time non-flying volunteer judges.
  • Volunteer judges (full-time and half-day): Jim Johns, Skip Board, Bill Harden, Don Peck, Richard Carroll, Bill Laisey, Bill Borland, Chris Dansereau Sr., Eric Henderson, Lamar Blair.
  • Typical judge assignments:
  • Advanced judged Sportsman
  • FAI judged Advanced and Masters
  • Masters judged FAI (many maneuvers overlap)
  • NSRCA judge qualification program in place for about five years. Bob Noll required pilots to be NSRCA-certified before arrival or to attend a Nats judge certification class by Mike Dunphy on processing day.
  • Judge training sessions were held at the Ontario Systems Corp. Community Room in downtown Muncie (courtesy of Mark Smith).

Day-by-Day Summary

Setup and Processing — July 19

  • Setup, practice, judge training, and processing day.
  • After processing, 116 pilots were registered.

Monday

  • Weather: partly cloudy; winds out and slightly left-to-right in the morning, stronger in the afternoon.
  • Sportsman: Peter Collinson and Richard Ames each won a round; Robert Gainey and Trent Byrd followed.
  • Advanced: Glen Watson won two rounds; Ransom Fairchild and Jeff Carrish trailed.
  • Masters: Dave Lockhart won two rounds; Jeff Aranyos won one; Jon Magnuson tied for the lead in another.
  • FAI round winners: Sean McMurtry, Ivan Kristensen, Chris Lakin, Kirk Gray; Chip Hyde and Dave von Linsowe close behind.
  • Notes:
  • Chip Hyde flew a new design called the Hyde-Out (built by Dave Guerin/Pro Model Workshop). Production decisions were to depend on competition results.
  • FAI pilot Todd Blose experienced mysterious engine problems. Multiple components were swapped and tested (engines, fuel tanks, glow plugs, check valves, headers, fuels, props). The issue was eventually traced to a pipe (exhaust/pressure system).

Tuesday

  • Weather: partly cloudy to cloudy; strong left-to-right/out winds all day.
  • Sportsman: Peter Collinson continued his strong performance, winning both rounds; Richard Ames was close.
  • Advanced: Glen Watson and Randy Wolfe each won a round; Marion Thomason and Jeff Carrish placed third and fourth.
  • Masters: Dan Hart, Dave Lockhart, Mark Atwood, and Bob Stalino each won a round. Jeff Aranyos and Jon Magnuson were close behind.
  • FAI round winners: Sean McMurtry, Jason Shulman, Ivan Kristensen, Todd Blose; trailing were Kirk Gray, Dave von Linsowe, Geoff Combs, and Chip Hyde.
  • Jason Shulman was flying a Bryan Hebert–designed Storm EX borrowed from Mike Hayden; his success suggested he might fly Hebert designs in the future.
  • Late Tuesday/early Wednesday a heavy rain washed out Site 3 (the only grass site), leaving only Sites 1 and 2 for the remainder of the event. The lack of a paved runway at Site 3 was a sore point for competitors.

Wednesday

  • Weather: windy.
  • Sportsman: Peter Collinson won both rounds and completed the class.
  • Advanced: Glen Watson won two more rounds; Advanced class completed.
  • Masters: Dave Lockhart won two more rounds; Mike Walpole and Rusty Fried each won a round. Masters finalists were set.
  • Awards banquet / NSRCA meeting held at Cardinal Hills Country Club.
  • Sportsman plaques (top five): Peter Collinson; Richard Ames; Terry Byrd; Michael Siddall (North York, Ontario, Canada); Wesley Stafford.
  • Advanced plaques (top five): Glen Watson; Randy Wolfe; Jeff Carrish; Marion Thomason; Gary Harris.
  • Anecdote: Michael Siddall, a young Canadian pilot who had written earlier requesting Sportsman maneuvers, finished fourth in Sportsman.
  • Masters finalists: Dave Lockhart, Rusty Fried, Jeff Aranyos, Jon Magnuson, Mark Atwood, Mike Walpole, Dan Hart, Troy Newman.

Thursday — FAI Qualifying and Finals

  • Weather: partly cloudy; strong left-to-right winds.
  • FAI qualifying completed about noon. Qualifiers: Kirk Gray, Chip Hyde, Jason Shulman, Ivan Kristensen, Sean McMurtry, Dave von Linsowe, Chris Lakin, Geoff Combs.
  • Masters and FAI finals began shortly after qualifying and finished about 6 p.m.
  • Masters final results (six trophies): Dave Lockhart (won each final round), Mark Atwood, Jeff Aranyos, Rusty Fried, Dan Hart, Jon Magnuson.
  • FAI final results (six trophies): Chip Hyde (won all three final rounds), Kirk Gray, Jason Shulman, Sean McMurtry, Dave von Linsowe, Ivan Kristensen.
  • Notable:
  • Ron Chidgey returned to FAI competition after a five-year retirement and finished 32nd.
  • Marcello Colombo (Remos Mejia, Argentina) was disqualified in FAI: his airplane was two ounces over the 5 kg (11 lb) limit despite attempts to remove fuel and extraneous material.

Scoring and Scribe Issues

  • Scoring was handled by Maureen Dunphy using Derek Koopowitz's new scoring program. Derek assisted with scoring issues when not flying or judging. The program is slated for use at the F3A World Championships in Navarre, FL, next year.
  • Scribe situation:
  • In 1997, Muncie area band members were coordinated and paid to scribe successfully.
  • In 1998, the band coordinator change led to poor turnout (only six scribes Monday morning). Pilots, family members, supporters, and spectators filled many scribe slots. Several pilots scribed, flew, then resumed scribing. This caused scheduling stress and must be prevented next year.

Miscellaneous Notes and Anecdotes

  • Todd Blose’s persistent engine problem was ultimately traced to a pipe; several components and fuels were tested without success before resolving the issue.
  • Jason Shulman's performance in a borrowed Storm EX highlighted the quality of Bryan Hebert’s designs.
  • The Hyde-Out flown by Chip Hyde drew attention and may be produced commercially.
  • Personal note from the author: after serving as event director the previous two years, he competed in Masters this year. His Pursuit flipped on landing in low haze due to a gust and was damaged beyond immediate repair; he took the remains home.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf, RC Category Manager Al Williamson, AMA staffers Teresa McKee and Randa Coats, the AMA maintenance crew, and all volunteers whose support kept the event running smoothly.

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