Author: M. Keville
Edition: Model Aviation - 1999/08
Page Numbers: 46, 47, 48, 49, 51
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Vintage Stunt Championships

Mike Keville

Overview

In contrast to last year's rainout by El Niño, the 11th edition of the Vintage Stunt Championships (VSC) was blessed with perfect weather. One hundred and one participants from 27 states and eight nations gathered in Tucson, AZ, March 18–21, for the annual trip down memory lane.

VSC has evolved from a one-time experiment in 1989 into a four-day celebration and the largest Stunt (Control Line Precision Aerobatics)–only meet in existence. Although billed as a "contest," it functions more as a reunion and fly‑in where newcomers and current experts mingle with legendary designers and fliers.

Site and Schedule

  • First official flights begin at 8 a.m. each day to allow competition to finish by early- to mid-afternoon for socializing and model viewing.
  • Afternoon winds in the Sonoran Desert can make flying breezy after noon.
  • The site, maintained by the Tucson Parks & Recreation Department, features:
  • Two asphalt circles
  • Three grass circles
  • A large pond for model boating
  • Drawback: somewhat limited practice space once competition begins.

Events

Events are divided by era and type, with emphasis on preserving Stunt history rather than purely collecting trophies.

  • Old‑Time Stunt (Glow and Ignition)
  • Models designed before 1953, flown to the 1951–52 AMA pattern.
  • Fidelity to original design is mandatory.
  • Classic Stunt
  • Designs prior to 1970, flown to the current AMA Precision Aerobatics pattern.
  • Fidelity to the original design is encouraged; obvious modifications receive severe appearance-point reductions.
  • Modern events
  • Special one-design event for the Jim Walker Fireball (hosted by Charlie Bruce of MECA)

Awards and Recognition

  • Awards emphasize historical fidelity and era spirit.
  • Notable awards include:
  • Crystal Sportsmanship trophy (donated by past national champion Bob Gialdini)
  • Pilots' Choice appearance awards
  • Special plaques for the top five scores in each event
  • Appearance judging highlights:
  • Jim Aron (Richmond, VA) earned VSC’s first-ever maximum 20 points in Classic appearance judging with a Ringmaster.
  • Pilots’ Choice went to Jerry Silvers’ gleaming metallic‑green Atom (a 1958 I‑beam design).
  • Other special awards:
  • Up & Coming trophy (sponsored by Dennis and Bonnie Percival) — won by 11-year-old Josh Condon of Indiana.
  • Best Fireball — Rusty Brown (Colorado).

Results (summary)

  • Old‑Time entries: 63 — Bart Klapinski finished first.
  • Ignition entries: 14 — Tom Jolley (England), a first-time attendee, bested the field.
  • Classic entries: 77 — Paul Walker finished first.
  • Best Fireball: Rusty Brown (Colorado).

People and Highlights

  • Participating legends and notable names: Bob Palmer, George Aldrich, Bill Werwage (still active), Chip Hyde, Walt Good.
  • The event attracts both longtime CL fliers and Radio Control sport fliers who enjoy the simpler, lower-cost form of modeling.
  • Ignition competitors form a closely knit group; entries tend to be fewer, but participants spend much time helping each other.
  • Don Hutchinson of Mansfield, TX, had long been a dominant figure in Ignition; this year he was dethroned by England's Tom Jolley, a first‑time attendee.
  • Youth presence: an increasing number of younger fliers attend for enjoyment rather than nostalgia. Eleven-year-old Josh Condon learned to fly inverted during the event and flew officially with coaching from his father Scott.

International Participation

VSC attracted participants from:

  • Holland, Australia, Germany, England, Switzerland, Cuba, Japan, Canada, Republic of South Africa

Organizers, Volunteers, and Support

  • Contest Director: JoAnn Keville (site preparation and continuity)
  • Local club: Cholla Choppers of Tucson (site preparation and amenities)
  • Tabulation handled by Nationals veterans Sharen Fancher and Lila Lee
  • Other volunteers: judges, pit bosses, pull-testers, and additional officials
  • Banquet: Saturday evening at the headquarters hotel; AMA District V Vice President Richard Hanson presented the Cholla Choppers with an AMA Gold Leader Club certificate.

Photos and Media

  • The event showcased fine silk-and-doped finishes, working examples of early engines (Orwicks, Ohlssons, Atwoods, sand-cast Foxes), Detroit-style I-beam wings, hand-rubbed dope, and iron-on coverings.
  • Photographers credited: Fred Cronenwett, Robert Compton, Dawn Kaler, Floyd Carter.
  • VSC highlights were to be featured in Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine and on its website (http://www.airspacemag.com), with assistance from PAMPA member Larry Lowe, the magazine webmaster.

Community and PAMPA

  • The VSC community encourages newcomers and visitors. Control Line (CL) remains strong among enthusiasts.
  • Consider joining PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots' Association), an AMA Special Interest Group.
  • Members receive the bimonthly, 100-plus-page Stunt News with photos, hints, contest reports, ads, and features for beginners, sport fliers, and Old‑Time enthusiasts.
  • For more information about PAMPA:
  • Sharen Fancher
  • 158 Flying Cloud Isle, Foster City CA 94404
  • Email: 71352.3203@compuserve.com

Acknowledgments and Thanks

  • Special recognition and custom plaques created by De Hill (Tulsa, OK) — De Hill also runs the Old-Timer Ignition event.
  • Thanks to all volunteers, the Cholla Choppers, and the Tucson Parks & Recreation Department.

Contact / Author Addresses

Until September 29, 1999:

After October 1, 1999:

Join us next March for the 12th annual VSC (VSC‑Y2K) — all are welcome.

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