RC Pattern

RC Pattern

Ron Van Putte

No two Nats ever seem to be the same, and the 1980 Nats was no exception. The Wilmington, Ohio, site had a lot to offer, but it had its limitations. Several events — RC Soaring, RC Helicopters and Free Flight — were held at Wright Field on Wright-Patterson AFB, about 35 miles away. Pattern fliers, however, had the uncommon chance to watch CL Aerobatics and Speed competition since those circles were only about 100 yards away from two of the three RC Pattern sites. Still, some competitors found it distracting when a Jet Speed job fired up in the middle of a maneuver.

I missed the Indoor competition, which was held in Cincinnati. The indoor flying I saw at the 1978 Nats in Lake Charles was great, and I had looked forward to seeing it again, but the distance made it impractical.

Lodging at the Air Force dormitories left much to be desired. They brought back memories of the late 1950s and early 1960s from my ROTC days; maintenance was spotty, and the windows had neither venetian blinds nor drapes. Because sheets, pillowcases and towels were provided, residents sometimes used sheets as makeshift drapes. Rooms were air-conditioned and occupants often left doors open for cross-ventilation; privacy was largely a matter of personal courtesy. The weather cooled from the mid-90s on the first day, people adjusted, and complaints were few — except when a CL pilot chose to make an engine test run in his room at 2:00 a.m.

A popular convenience was the cafeteria next door. It served breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m.; a breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, orange juice, coffee and a donut cost $2.00. Duff’s Smorgasbord offered an extensive buffet of salads, main courses, vegetables, breads, drinks and desserts for $3.25. With lunches at the flight line occasionally consisting of a hot dog or hamburger, it was possible to spend less than $7.00 a day for good food at the Nats.

The RC Pattern flying area consisted of three sites (A, B and C), each with two flight lines. Sites A and B were about 1,000 feet apart, as were B and C. All parking was centered at Site B; flatbed trailers pulled by tractors transported people, airplanes and gear to Sites A and C. It was convenient once we learned the routine, but many competitors discovered they had left needed items at Site B when they were at Site C — a good lesson in thinking ahead.

One feature new to a Nats was contestant judging: each contestant was expected to judge at least once (some judged up to three times). Advanced and Master fliers judged Novice and Expert, and vice versa. During the four days of qualifying, two classes flew while the other two judged from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m., then they switched from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A contestant judging only once was expected to sit in the chair for about 3½ hours during his assigned slot. In practice the system worked well — Midwest contestants in particular are used to judging and typically do a good job.

Judging teams consisted of one United States Pattern Judges Association judge and four contestant judges. Each judge used a long card with possible scores marked; after a maneuver the judge indicated his score by holding it over his shoulder with a thumb or a red clothespin by the score so a recorder could copy all five scores. I watched many judging teams and found it unusual to see more than a two-point spread among judges. High and low scores were dropped; moving to half-point scoring also reduced spreads. As a result, the three scores used for each flight rarely differed by more than a half point.

Transmitters were impounded when not in use. Only about half the total transmitters were required at a flight line at any one time; the rest were kept at an impound adjacent to AMA Headquarters and transported to the lines by officials. Transmitters were to be turned in at least 30 minutes before flight time. There was some concern that extra handling might change trim lever positions, but during four days of competition I detected no accidental trim changes.

Weather affected competition mostly on the first day of the Finals. The first day was rainy from dawn through the 11 a.m. cutoff, and virtually all fliers had to perform Round 1 of the Finals in the rain. Round 2 began but was cancelled when heavier weather seemed to be approaching. The second day of Finals was beautiful, allowing Rounds 3 and 4 to proceed smoothly; flying stopped at the end of Round 4 so RC Scale competition could be set up, and winners were determined on the best two of three Final flights. Thunderstorms passed through the area during the week; one severe evening storm created a frightening whistling as air rushed out of the dormitory building, but no tornado touched down.

All scoring was done by computer; each flier could pick up his score sheet at Nats Headquarters and check round-by-round standings posted on a bulletin board. Unfortunately there was only one copy of the placings for each class and no scoreboards at the flying sites, so many fliers had to wait until evening or the next morning to get their flight scores. Some remembered the fast score posting on large scoreboards at the 1978 Nats and would have liked that system again.

Qualifying consisted of five rounds over four days. Only three flight scores were used to determine finalists, so each flier had two throwaway flights. After qualifying the top 10 in each class (Novice, Advanced, Expert, Master) moved on to the Finals. Qualifying left many surprises and close calls across the classes.

Team Brown does it again: Dave Brown edged out Tony Frackowiak to capture the Masters crown for another year.

Masters — Order of Finish

• 1st Dave Brown
• 2nd Tony Frackowiak
• 3rd Dean Koger

Masters — In Order of Finish

(Note: some small numeric and abbreviated entries on the original table were faint; entries follow the original wording where legible.)

• Dave Brown — 34; 14 yrs R/C; 13 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Curare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: acrylic enamel; Engine: OS 60 FSR; Carb: Perry; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: ED; Prop: Top Flite 11x7; Fuel: Ro-Go 15%; Retracts: (no); Radio: Goldberg; Radio model: World Expert; Channels/Mode: 7/1; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Alt., triple rate aileron.

• Tony Frackowiak — 24; 8 yrs R/C; 5 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Super Tigre X-60; Carb: Super Tigre; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (no pipe); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: Ro-Go 15%; Retracts: (no); Radio: Pro Line; Radio model: World Expert; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Alt., triple rate aileron.

• Dean Koger — 36; 14 yrs R/C; 13 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: EU-1A; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Poxy, Monokote; Engine: Webra 61 RE; Carb: Webra; Pump: Dynamix; Pipe: (no); Prop: Webra Max/Dailey 11x7; Fuel: GLX; Retracts: Dave Brown; Radio: Pro Line; Radio model: JR; Channels/Mode: Yes; Roll button: All, big airplane; Dual rate: Coupled flaps & elevator.

• Steve Rojacki — 24; 6 yrs R/C; 8 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Brushfire; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Monokote; Engine: Rossi 60; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (no pipe); Prop: Max Dailey 10x?; Fuel: Rev Up; Retracts: Ro-Go; Radio: Dave Brown setup; Radio model: Pro Line — Airborne; Channels/Mode: 7/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: All, triple rate aileron.

• Mark Radcliff — 25; 14 yrs R/C; 11 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Phoenix 8; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Poxy; Engine: OS 61; Carb/pump/pipe: (carb/pump/pipe unclear); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: Ro-Go 15%; Retracts: (no); Radio: Dave Brown; Radio model: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail. (notes unclear).

• Steve Helms — 32; 22 yrs R/C; 8 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Boot-legger; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: (engine not legible); Carb/pump/pipe: Y/S; Prop: (prop data faint); Radio: Radio South; Prop noted ~10x?x7?; Radio model: Southern R/C; Channels/Mode: JR Unlimited; Roll button: 7/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Alt., triple rate rudder/ail.

• Jim Kimbro — 24; 10 yrs R/C; 8 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Double Vision; Construction: balsa/foam; Finish: Imron; Engine: Rossi RE; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: Rossi pipe; Prop: Radio South prop ~10x4?; Fuel: (approx 7%?); Radio: Dave Brown; Radio model: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 6/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., wing comes off from top.

• Don Lowe — 55; 30 yrs R/C; 27 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Phoenix 8; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: acrylic enamel; Engine: OS 61 VF MAG V; Carb/pump/pipe: (carb/pump/pipe unclear); Prop: Max Dailey 10x?x7?; Fuel: home brew; Retracts: (fuel data unclear); Radio: Southern R/C; Radio model: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Only 15% oil in fuel.

• Joe Bridi — 52; 18 yrs R/C; 16 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: UFO; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: (engine data faint); Carb/pump/pipe: Y/S; Prop: Zinger 10x?x7?; Fuel: KB & home brew; Retracts: Kraft; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev., Rud. (notes).

• Don Wentz, Jr. — 33; 8 yrs R/C; 6 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare II; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Economotor; Engine: OS 61 VF; Carb: OS 7D; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: IM Products; Prop: Zinger 10x?x7?; Fuel: 15%; Retracts: Royal MK; Radio: JR; Channels/Mode: 7/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., 10% oil in fuel.

Expert — In Order of Finish

(Note: several small printed details are faint on the scan; transcription follows the original table wording where legible.)

• Marvin Ingerson — 24; 7 yrs R/C; 5 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Dirty Birdy; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Super Tigre; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe unclear); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel/cool: Power; Retracts: Southern R/C; Radio: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev., Rud.

• Tom Kirk — 19; 6 yrs R/C; 4 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Poxy, Monokote; Engine: OS 61 SE; Carb: OS; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: Mac's; Prop: Top Flite 11x7; Fuel: Supreme; Retracts: Power Blast; Radio: Rhom; Radio model: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Rud.

• Brian Crossley — 34; 5 yrs R/C; 5 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Deception; Construction: balsa/foam; Finish: Viking epoxy; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: Rossi; Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: 5%; Retracts/radio: B&D; Radio model: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail.

• James Bennett — 30; 5 yrs R/C; 3 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: acrylic lacquer; Engine: OS 60 FSR; Carb: Perry; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: OPS; Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: 5%; Retracts: (fuel/other data); Radio: Pro Line; Radio model: Multiplex; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Rud.; Unusual: cable radio.

• Jamie Strong — 23; 13 yrs R/C; 5 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Curare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: Perry; Pipe: (pipe data); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: 10% Power; Retracts: Rhom; Radio: Kraft; Radio model unclear; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev., Rud.

• Rick Horn — 32; 3½ yrs R/C; 2½ yrs Pattern; Aircraft: UFO; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Z-Spar polycarbonate; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: (fuel data); Retracts: Home Brew; Radio: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 6/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail.; Unusual feature: dual-rate throttle.

• Curt Osterg — 42; 11 yrs R/C; 6 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Super Curare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Rossi SE; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Goldberg; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: Yes; Dual rate: Elevator.

• Mike Bless — 21; 12 yrs R/C; 6 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: OS 61 VF; Carb: OS; Pump: Perry; Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: 5% Power; Retracts: B&D; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 6/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail.

• Lee McDuffee — 25; 10 yrs R/C; 4 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Phoenix 8; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: OS 60 FSR; Carb: Perry; Pump: Perry; Pipe: ED; Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: 10% Power; Retracts: Dave Brown; Radio: Kraft; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail.

• Ed Carpenter — 38; 16 yrs R/C; 5 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Curare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Poxy; Engine: OS 60 FSR; Carb: OS; Pump: Perry; Pipe: ED; Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: (fuel data); Retracts: B&D; Radio: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Elevator.

Advanced — In Order of Finish

(Note: several small numeric entries and abbreviations on the printed table are faint; entries preserve the original wording where readable.)

• Gary Galle — 17; 4 yrs R/C; 2½ yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Atlas (medium); Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Imron; Engine: OS 60; Carb/pump/pipe: OPS mix/Perry/OPS; Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: EAI; Retracts: Southern R/C; Radio: Futaba Contest; Channels/Mode: 7/?; Roll button: Yes; Dual rate: Ail.; Unusual: pipe in fuselage.

• Mike McConville — 15; 4 yrs R/C; 3 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Super Tigre X-60; Carb: Super Tigre; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Pro Line; Radio: World Expert; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev., Rud.

• Robert Akers — 34; 21 yrs R/C; 11 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Tiporare; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: acrylic lacquer; Engine: Super Tigre; Carb: Super Tigre; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Boss; Radio: Dave Brown; Radio model: World Expert; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: Yes; Dual rate: Rud.

• John Fuqua — 34; 12 yrs R/C; 2½ yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Compensator; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: K&B & 61 POP; Carb: Perry pump; Pipe: (no OPS); Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Goldberg; Radio: Kraft; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: Yes; Dual rate: Elevator.

• Albert Ferguson — 30; 6 yrs R/C; 3 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Phoenix 8; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: Mac's; Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Rhom; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: Yes; Dual rate: Ail.

• Richard Irvine — 34; 3 yrs R/C; 2 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Dirty Birdy; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Poxy; Engine: OS 60 FSR; Carb: (carb faint); Pipe: Mac's; Prop: Zinger 10x?x7?; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Rhom; Radio: MRC (mod); Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail.; Unusual: elevator with added dual elev. rates.

• Mike Harrison — 33; 2½ yrs R/C; 2½ yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Boot-legger; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: OS 61 VF; Carb: OS; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: Mac's; Prop: Zinger 11x?x7?; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Rhom; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev.

• Ed Winslow — 38; 6 yrs R/C; 4 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Dirty Birdy; Construction: balsa/foam; Finish: Rustoleum; Engine: Webra Champ; Carb: Webra; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Zinger 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Goldberg; Radio: Pro Line; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev., Rud.

• Scott Murray — 18; 3 yrs R/C; 2 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Deception; Construction: balsa/foam; Finish: Super Poxy; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Rev Up 11x7; Fuel: (fuel); Retracts: Kraft; Radio: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 6/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Rud.

• Stacey Mills — 29; 14 yrs R/C; 6 yrs Pattern; Aircraft: Brushfire; Construction: fiberglass/foam; Finish: Super Poxy, Monokote; Engine: Rossi; Carb: Rossi; Pump: (no pump); Pipe: (pipe); Prop: Max Dailey 11x7; Fuel: Boss; Retracts: Rhom; Radio: Kraft Sig; Channels/Mode: 5/?; Roll button: No; Dual rate: Ail., Elev.

Novice, Advanced, Expert and Master Finals — Summary of Results

After five qualifying flights the fields were pared down to the top 10 in each class (60 Novice, 37 Advanced, 32 Expert and 50 Master entries originally). Notable results, surprises and shifts in the Finals included:

• Masters: Dave Brown edged Tony Frackowiak for the title; Dean Koger finished third. Steve Rojacki (listed as Steve Rojek in some notes) established himself as a solid Master competitor, finishing 4th after sneaking into the top 10 in qualifying. Mark Radcliff finished 5th. The rest of the Masters top 10: Steve Helms, Jim Kimbro, Don Lowe, Joe Bridi and Don Wentz.

• Expert: Marvin Ingerson won the Expert title after advancing from 5th in qualifying. Tom Kirk finished 2nd; Brian Crossley held onto 3rd. Jim Bennett moved up to 4th. Jamie Strong slipped from a qualifying 2nd to finish 5th. Rick Horn, who led qualifying, had engine problems in at least two Final flights and dropped to 6th. The rest of the Expert top 10: Curt Osterg, Mike Bless, Lee McDuffee and Ed Carpenter.

• Advanced: Gary Galle won the Advanced class. Mike McConville finished 2nd and Robert Akers took 3rd. John Fuqua moved up to 4th. The remaining Advanced finishers were Al Ferguson, Richard Irvine, Mike Harrison, Ed Winslow, Scott Murray and Chuck Mills.

• Novice: Billy Sharp ended Bill Jeric’s winning streak by taking the Novice class; Bill Jeric finished 2nd. Top qualifier Kirk Wicker slipped to 3rd. Tom Szymkowski improved to 4th, and Pete Willing advanced from 9th qualifying to finish 5th. Robert Karpelowitz slipped from 2nd in qualifying to 6th. The rest of the Novice top 10: Ed Hoffman, Chip Hyde (an eight-year-old who qualified 8th), Howard Keith and Dan Squier.

Qualifying scores did not carry into the Finals; everyone started from scratch for the Final flights. Equipment problems and weather played pivotal roles in the Final outcomes for several competitors.

During the years from 1964 to 1969 I was proud to call myself a member of the Western Ohio Radio Kontrol Society (WORKS). After observing the current WORKS members in action as Nats staff chairmen and workers, I can say they did an outstanding job organizing and running the pattern event.

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