Edition: Model Aviation - 1998/12
Page Numbers: 58, 59, 60, 61
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RADIO CONTROL ELECTRICS

The 1998 AMA/National Electric Aircraft Council (NEAC) National Electric Aeromodeling Championships were held August 2–4 at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. Forty competitors from 13 states and one Canadian province brought electric sailplanes, Old-Timers, pylon racers, and scale models to compete in four official AMA rulebook events and three provisional events.

  • Conducted by: National Electric Aircraft Council (NEAC)
  • Contest Director: Doug Ward (outgoing NEAC president)
  • Event directors:
  • Tom Hunt — Class B Old-Timer and Class A Sailplane
  • John McCullough — Class A Old-Timer
  • Bill Jenkins — Class B Sailplane

Provisional events included:

  • 1/2A Sailplane (Mabuchi RS-380–type motors)
  • 1/2A Texaco Old-Timer (RS-380–type motor)
  • Speed 400 Pylon (RS-380–type motor)

With the exception of the 1/2A Texaco and Speed 400 Pylon events, all events were eight-minute precision/duration tasks with a limited motor run and a spot-landing bonus. Three rounds were flown for those events. 1/2A Texaco consisted of two 15-minute tasks (motor run until exhaustion) and did not require a spot landing at exactly 15 minutes. Speed 400 Pylon used a pylon-style triangular course similar to 1/2A glow pylon.

A non-competitive scale demonstration was staged early on the last day; six models were displayed and flown for competitors and spectators.

Provisional and Special Events

  • 1/2A Texaco Old-Timer
  • Any model designed, published, or kitted before December 31, 1942
  • RS-380–type motor mandatory
  • Maximum seven cells, 600 mAh capacity (or maximum 4.5-ounce motor pack weight)
  • 15-minute task (includes motor run; run motor until exhaustion)
  • 1/2A Sailplane
  • RS-380–type motor mandatory
  • Maximum seven cells
  • 90-second motor run
  • Eight-minute task (includes motor run)
  • Spot-landing bonus: within 10 ft = 20 points; within 20 ft = 10 points
  • Speed 400 Pylon
  • Triangular course: 60-foot base × 300-foot height (10 laps)
  • Motor: Mabuchi RS-380 (Speed 400)
  • Maximum seven cells of any capacity
  • Models typically <100 sq in wing area; weights ~14–15 oz with seven 500AR cells
  • Man-on-man double-elimination format

Scale Demo (non-competitive)

Pilots and notable models flown near the Soaring site L-pad:

  • Don Belfort (OH) — scratch-built 18-oz direct-drive Blohm & Voss BV 141 (German asymmetric WWII observation aircraft)
  • Jim Reid (NY) — scratch-built 28-oz Cessna C-145 Airmaster, Modelair-Tech H-100 belt drive
  • Jack Hiner / Mike McIntyre (IL) — 21-oz direct-drive Zlin 212
  • Tom Hunt (NY) — Percival Mew Gull with Modelair-Tech H-100 belt drive
  • Doug Ward (PA) — Farman 400 (Hobby Lobby kit) with Mini Olympus gearbox
  • Glenn Bolick (VA) — PA-12 Super Cub (Hobby Lobby kit) — was unable to fly due to a speed-controller problem

Event Scoring Notes (spot landing)

  • Spot-landing bonus: within 10 feet = 20 points; within 20 feet = 10 points

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Class B Old-Timer

Synopsis:

  • Maximum 30 cells
  • 45-second motor run
  • Eight-minute task (includes motor run)
  • Three rounds

    • Field notes:

    • Sunday morning featured fair, warm weather with a light breeze that increased during the day. Class B Old-Timer was scheduled in the morning to take advantage of lighter winds for these less-aerodynamic models.
    • Popular designs included Playboys, Foote Westerners, Super Cyclones, and Lanzo Bombers. Most models were in the 600–700 sq in range.
    • Aveox brushless motors dominated top standings, with some AstroFlight brush motors placing.
    • Many competitors managed eight-minute flights in the first two rounds; by the end of round three, thermals were harder to find and only 22 competitors posted three near-eight-minute flights.
    • Spot landings were difficult; no competitor achieved all three spot landings.

    Top finishers:

    1. David (Dave) Elias (FL) — Gold
    2. Mike McIntyre (IL)
    3. Bill Jenkins (TN)
    4. Ric Vaughn (GA)
    5. Tom Hunt (NY)
    • These five were separated by 108 points out of a possible 1,500.

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    Class A Old-Timer

    Synopsis:

  • Maximum seven cells
  • 60-second motor run
  • Eight-minute task (includes motor run)
  • Three rounds

    • Field notes:

    • Monday’s weather was similar to Sunday but with less sun and a wind shift from east to south, requiring spot-landing circles to be moved. Clouds were high enough that visibility was not a problem.
    • Twenty-three contestants competed for five places. Spot-landing points were achieved by many competitors this day.
    • The top five were separated by only 40 points; a missed spot landing could cost a placing.

    Top finishers:

    1. Ron Scharck — 1,481 points (1,500 maximum)
    2. David Elias (FL)
    3. Bill Jenkins (TN)
    4. Jack Hiner (IL)
    5. George Parks (TX)

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    Class Sailplane (Class A Sailplane)

    Synopsis:

    • Maximum seven cells
    • 45-second motor run
    • Eight-minute task (includes motor run)
    • Three rounds

    Field notes:

    • The most popular Electric event at the Nats with 33 entrants competing for six trophies.
    • Models ranged from home-built glass-and-foam designs to pre-made high-performance models and reliable classics like the Gentle Lady and Astro Challenger.
    • Afternoon winds stiffened, but competitors adapted. More entrants completed three eight-minute tasks and more accumulated spot-landing bonus points, aided by lift-dumping devices on high-performance sailplanes.
    • The top six were separated by only 60 points.

    Top finishers:

    1. Ralph Weaver (IN) — Champion (narrow margin)
    2. David Elias (FL) — runner-up (by a very small margin)
    3. Ron Scharck (CA)
    4. George Parks (TX)
    5. Alex Larionov (ON)
    6. Bill Jenkins (TN)

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    Class B Sailplane

    Synopsis:

    • Maximum 30 cells
    • 30-second motor run
    • Eight-minute task (includes motor run)
    • Three rounds

    Field notes:

    • Thermals improved as competitors warmed up to the field conditions. Spot landings were easier than earlier in the meet.

    Top finishers:

    1. David Elias (FL)
    2. Mark Kummerow (TN)
    3. George Parks (TX)
    4. Ralph Weaver (IN)
    5. Chuck Robinson (NC)
    6. Bill Jenkins (TN)
    • AMA awards a Category National Champion trophy to the modeler with the most cumulative points across the four official events. David Elias won this award with the highest total.

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    Speed 400 Pylon

    • Course: triangular, 60-foot base × 300-foot height; 10 laps
    • Motor: Mabuchi RS-380 (Speed 400)
    • Maximum seven cells
    • Small, fast airframes; common models included the Scat (Diversity Models) and Switchblade (Cavazos Sailplane Design)
    • Man-on-man double-elimination format
    • Nine pilots participated

    Top finishers:

    1. Ron Scharck — Switchblade — final race time 1:28 (one of the fastest)
    2. George Parks — Scat
    3. Jim Ryan

    A small Speed 400–powered scale demonstration also flew early on the last day, showing how well these inexpensive motors power small-scale models for long durations.

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    1/2A Texaco Old-Timer

    • Fourteen contestants entered
    • Winds were stiff for the small models; two contestants completed both 15-minute flights and went to a man-on-man flyoff.
    • Flyoff result: Jack Hiner defeated Glen Poole after Glen's battery pack failed; Mike McIntyre placed third.

    1/2A Sailplane

    • Twenty-one entrants
    • Event run like Class A Sailplane but with RS-380–type motors and a 90-second motor run
    • Typical models: 400–430 sq in, 18–24 oz; many used gearboxes
    • Top finishers: David Elias (17 points from perfect), Mike McIntyre (2nd), John McCullough (NC) (3rd)

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    NEAC Awards and Closing

    • NEAC awarded its own National Champion award (provisional events included). David Elias won NEAC National Champion for the most points across all events.
    • Senior achievement award: Garrett Redmond (NY)
    • Junior achievement award: Mark Elias (FL)

    The 1998 Electric Nats was a success: new technologies and models were on display, more modelers participated, and many learned new techniques. A few models suffered crash damage, and several pilots went home with trophies and plaques. Overall, the event celebrated camaraderie and progress in electric model aviation.

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