Top Gun
Charlie Chambers repeats as popular Scale invitational turns 10 years old
The tenth Top Gun Invitational was held April 22–26, 1998 at the Palm Beach (FL) Polo Club field. Expert, Designer, and Team Scale classes were flown. Pacer Technology and Model Airplane News were platinum-level sponsors.
Charlie Chambers repeated his 1997 Expert win with his outstanding P-61B Black Widow; Jeff Foley's Me-109E-7 won Designer Scale; and Mariano Alfafara and Dave Pinegar won Team Scale with a superb J-3 Cub.
This was the third and final Top Gun for Charlie's model, in accordance with the Three-Year Rule at this event, which ensures a certain amount of turnover in models each year. Charlie had also been contacted concerning possible donation of this model to a museum, so it is possible that the model's distinguished flying career is drawing to a close.
"Any of the top ten competitors will tell you that they are flying to win," he said. "I think this is the best competition."
It seems that there's almost always a story behind the construction and flight of a scale model. Subjects aren't just picked by chance, and some of the most interesting models are not necessarily those that win a particular contest. We interviewed a number of pilots and asked them about their models to get some of the feeling — the emotion — involved in their selection, construction, and flight. Ten pilots' stories appear in sidebars below.
Scoring is a combination of the model's static score plus the average of the best three of four flights. In Designer Scale, there is the added attraction and difficulty that the models are truly scratch-built; the design literally begins with a blank piece of paper (or at least nothing more than a three-view). That offers added challenge and incentive for some of the modelers.
"I like to show up with something fairly unique," said Pat McCurry, whose Me 109-G6 suffered mechanical problems and did not fly. "I think this airplane represents what a fighter should be: a small airframe with a big engine."
For reasons not fully explainable, there was a large number of model casualties. Interference was an unlikely possibility in nearly all cases; some losses were simple pilot error and/or nerves, and some were the result of mechanical failure. A persistent gusty crosswind didn't help matters, either. Nick Ziroli Jr.'s Avenger was among the models that were damaged in the wind.
Greg Hahn's Critics' Choice-winning P-38 was clearly a victim of battery failure. Control became intermittent and, just when it seemed he might be able to save the model, it pitched up, rolled over, and dove in. It was a sad thing to witness; with most models representing two years' work apiece, any damage or loss is huge in terms of time, effort, and money.
To some extent, the final standings therefore represent those able to best handle the situation and conditions. Perhaps it says something that Charlie Chambers does not have a backup/practice model, while many of the pilots do. His P-61 has more than 160 flights on it, and he can clearly handle just about anything with this model.
Charlie needed all that experience; Terry Nitsch's JPX turbine-powered Minute Men P-80 was right on his heels the entire contest. Their static scores were less than three-tenths of a point apart, and Charlie's margin of victory was less than one point. Both pilots used radios by JR.
Unlike many Team Scale entries, where one modeler builds the aircraft and the other flies it, the B-25 by Bill Fuori and John Tozser was a true team effort; each built part of the model and the results were joined later.
"It takes a real commitment," said John. "But they got results; their B-25 scored a 10 in Craftsmanship and won the High Static (Team) and Best Craftsmanship awards. This is not a contest airplane; it's a Top Gun airplane. These judges know the difference."
"I've loved this model since I was ten years old," said Bill. A stall shortly after takeoff caused considerable damage to the model and resulted in a 14th-place finish.
AMA's presence at Top Gun included Executive Director Joyce Hager, Director of Publications Rob Kurek, and Retail Operations Director Sheila Tweedy, who worked in the AMA booth fielding questions, processing memberships, and selling merchandise. Education Coordinator Mike Stokes worked with the Palm Beach Skyhawks on a Delta Dart building program and a noontime mass launch, part of a spectacular daily air show.
Bob Underwood was unable to fly his new Stormwork at Top Gun, but the new FAI Technical Secretary was present until he and his wife Rae had to leave for duty at the Scale World Championships.
Thanks to Frank Tiano and Mike Stokes for their assistance in preparing this report. Special thanks to the pilots; without exception they graciously gave of their time to be interviewed for the "Ten at Top Gun" sidebars. Their cordial, accommodating nature made it a pleasure to cover this event.
Ten at Top Gun
Charlie Chambers
Wellington, Florida
Model: P-61B 1998 Finish: 1st Expert (defended 1997 win) Years at Top Gun: 9
Why This Model: "I can like the looks and shape of a model, but it's the paint scheme that really has to speak to me, and this one did."
Unusual Feature: Spoilers for roll control.
About Top Gun: "I like the stiff competition — I am a competitor at heart. But that's not all; the people and camaraderie are great, too."
Charlie is considering a plan to retire the P-61 to a full-scale museum that has requested it. A surprise came during the interviews when a stranger introduced himself as one of the original test pilots of this aircraft. It was hard to tell who got the bigger thrill out of the meeting; each impressed the other tremendously.
David Hayes
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Model: P-51 1998 Finish: 22nd Expert Years at Top Gun: 7
Why This Model: Availability of kit.
Unusual Feature: True aluminum covering.
About Top Gun: "My original goal was to beat Jeff Foley. I'm serious about flying, but it's still fun. You get started and you just can't stop!"
"Actually, I'd rather place last in Designer Scale than first in Expert. People don't realize how difficult Designer Scale is until they build one!"
Phil Sibille
Gulf Cove, Florida
Model: Super Cub 1998 Finish: 8th Designer
Why This Model: Phil has owned the full-scale version since 1963. "I've recovered it twice, and my wife helped stitch the covering on."
Unusual Feature: Bulge in forward fuselage found only on 120+ hp versions.
About Top Gun: "I would come to see the magnificence of these models. I cannot find fault with anything. I think this is the finest contest in the country."
Phil is serious about the nature of Designer Scale: "I always compete to win. And if you talk to me long enough, you'll probably see me cry."
Dave Voglund
Radcliff, Kentucky
Model: P-51 1998 Finish: 17th Expert Years at Top Gun: 9 ("all but the first one")
Why This Model: "The manufacturer of the Aerotech kit is a friend of mine, and I knew it would build quickly and static well. And I have an affinity for red-and-yellow airplanes."
Unusual Feature: .002 aluminum covering.
About Top Gun: "I like the people, and I like to see the very best airplanes."
"I've tried all kinds of hobbies, and I like this best, because of the people."
Ray Labonte
Westbrook, Maine
Model: AT-6 1998 Finish: 9th Expert Years at Top Gun: 5
Why This Model: "I like WWII aircraft, and I got to meet the owner of the full-scale version of my model. He was tickled and very helpful."
Unusual Feature: Model was built in only seven months, between customers in his hobby shop.
About Top Gun: "I like the competition, but mainly I'm competing with myself. I'm looking for a personal best each time out."
Invasion stripes notwithstanding, this is actually a Reno race plane. "I was watching a video of Reno '95 when I saw this aircraft, owned by Jim Bennett of Euless, TX." This was the T-6's second year of competition.
Corvin Miller
Sarasota, Florida
Model: Corsair 1998 Finish: 3rd Expert Years at Top Gun: 8
Why This Model: "I love it. Everybody can relate to it. This is my fourth Corsair."
Unusual Feature: "It handles just like the full-scale did. It's not easy to fly."
About Top Gun: "A big part of this is the people, but if anyone tells you they're not here to win (rolls his eyes), aaagh!"
Corvin won Top Gun in 1993 and has placed in the top ten each year he has competed. He credits his wife with his success: "She is my right hand; she's really great."
Wayne Knight
Boca Raton, Florida
Model: C-47 1998 Finish: 20th Expert Years at Top Gun: 4
Why This Model: "I feel that I'm flying a piece of history."
Unusual Feature: "This may be the only C-47 with the correct dihedral — typically they are too flat."
About Top Gun: "The best part is the camaraderie. And I like the challenge."
"I can't say enough about how easy the model was to fly. I credit the JR radio with part of that. I was very comfortable with it. I got the model too far down and out, and hit a tree. But I believe in fate, so maybe it was time to go on to something new, even though I had two years of my life in that airplane."
Mike Barbee
Columbus, Ohio
Model: B-29 1998 Finish: 10th Expert Years at Top Gun: 6
Why This Model: Mike's father piloted the full-scale aircraft. "It's a nostalgia trip. I envision my Dad in the cockpit of the model."
Unusual Feature: Model was to be part of a Cadillac commercial after Top Gun.
About Top Gun: "I like to compete, but the best part about coming down here is the people."
The B-29 was built from Don Smith plans, has 23 servos, took three years to build, and weighs 43 pounds.
Eduardo Esteves
Brazil
Model: Skywalker 1998 Finish: 13th Team (w/Ronaldo Salles) Years at Top Gun: 6
Why This Model: "I didn't finish my own model, so I entered Team Scale as the pilot of this model."
Unusual Feature: "The Continental engine is handmade and is very accurate."
About Top Gun: "I like the atmosphere. I try to come here at least twice a year, and the organizer and I have become good friends."
Eduardo is a hobby distributor. The Skywalker was lost when it did a sudden snap roll at low altitude.
Ernie Harwood
Arlington, Texas
Model: SE-5a 1998 Finish: 23rd Expert
Why This Model: "I like stick-and-tissue models, and I like to replicate the fabric covering."
Unusual Feature: Closed-loop control system. "It did all right on the full-scale; why not try it on the model?"
About Top Gun: "I'm with my friends. I'll take my lumps; I just like to fly and enjoy myself. And this [grass] site is favorable for the type of model I like to fly."
"In some instances — but not here — judges don't realize how WWI aircraft were put into flight; just point it into the wind and go. It was normal for those aircraft to weathercock and ground-loop."
"I enjoy myself. If I take an airplane home, I'm happy." Sadly, the SE-5a did not survive Top Gun.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
