THIRTY-SEVEN PILOTS from across the US made the trip to
Detroit, Michigan, for the 2009 Labor Day weekend (September 5-
6), to do battle with F2D—FAI CL Combat—models for the honor
and responsibility of representing the US at the 2010 Control Line
World Championships.
The F2D Team Selection Committee (TSC) is composed of one
representative from each of the 11 AMA districts, and it is charged
with putting together the program by which the three-member
team along with a Junior member is chosen. The TSC adopts the
Official United States F2D FAI Combat Team Selection Program
every two odd-numbered years.
This document is currently nine pages long and is broken down
into seven sections: Format, Rules, Budget, Schedule (Guidelines),
Current Planning, Additional Duties, and Junior Award. At some
point during the two-year cycle, bids to host the Team Selection
Contest are requested and then the TSC votes.
The Strathmoor Model Airplane Club of
Detroit was awarded the honor of hosting
the 2009 Team Trials. Mark Warwashana
was in charge of the contest; he had the
task of running the Friday-night pilots’
meeting and the competition’s daily
operation. Ron Colombo, who is retired,
spent a great deal of time preparing the
field and had a hand in installing a
permanent concrete center circle of the
required F2D dimensions.
With so many pilots entered in the
Team Trials and its being a tripleelimination
format, there were many
matches to be flown in two days. It is a
good thing that Mother Nature gave her full
cooperation by providing beautiful
weather; otherwise, it could have been an
ordeal to complete the competition.
The River Rouge facility has unique
attributes that can be tricky for pilots to get
used to. The flying area sits in a valley,
with a set of hills nearby and a tall set of
trees next to one side of the competition
circle. Models are momentarily visually
“lost” when flown in this area. This is a
distinct advantage for those who have
grown up flying at this site. The wind is
unpredictable, because it comes off of the
nearby hills or the trees.
The bottom line is that everyone had to
fly in the same conditions. The downside to
the River Rouge site is that it lacks practice
fields. Many of us like to make a test flight
or two during the wait time between
matches, to trim and adjust models.
A good public-address system would
have helped move the contest along and
given pilots a heads up when their matches
were coming up. The officials’ tent was
located at one end of the pit area. Because
of space restrictions, some pilots had to set
up some 75 yards away.
A knowledgeable announcer would
have made the competition more enjoyable
for the spectators. Perhaps we will get to
the point in future Team Trials where each
score is announced after each match.
Thanks to all of the judges for doing
their best during the two long days of
flying and to circle marshals Jordy Segal
and Steve Kott. Paul Smith spent two days
inspecting models, to make certain that the
venturi openings were no larger than the
4mm that the rules specify.
Equipment at the Team Trials: Most of the
models used were either Ukrainian or
Russian purchased units. Three or four
pilots flew homemade foam designs.
Pete Athans had some great-flying
airplanes powered by Cyclon PC8 and PC9
engines. Phil Cartier used his own design
powered by the Cyclon Top Combat
engine. None of the foam-model pilots
made it to the final rounds of the contest.
At first glance, the store-bought models
appear to be the same. However, upon
closer inspection, there are subtle
differences in them that can make a huge
difference in flying performance.
I like aircraft that are stable and
responsive when given control input and
remain tight on the lines at all times, both
downwind and upwind. I want to be able to
fly the model “eyes off” at all times. At
times, all that is needed to achieve a perfect
model is a bit of extra tip weight or tail
weight.
Bobby and Andy Mears used their
Cyclon PC7s, which were well sorted out
and exhibited good power. Andy and Cary
Minor used Profi engines. Andrew Nadien,
Alexsey Voyenkov, Greg Hill, and Chuck
Rudner used AKM power plants at one time
or another.
Ron Colombo, Ed Brzys, and Mike
Evans flew using older Profi “Billy Goat”
engines. Ron likes to rework engines, to get
the last ounce of power out of them.
Most of the other pilots used FORA
engines. I might have been the only flier
who used a ZALP in conjunction with
FORAs. Everyone had equipment that
started easily and ran reasonably well.
There are a few engines at any contest that
are a “cut above” the rest, and these can
come in almost any shape and form.
Having the right propellers for the right
day and having the head clearance set
properly can make a big difference. The
only way to find out what will work is to
experiment.
All sorts of fuel-shutoff devices were
used, and most seemed to work very well. I
saw only Justin Ehlen’s model fly off into
the trees under full power, with no signs of
the shutoff working at all.
Some pilots had premature shutdowns
during launch. Others had good-working
devices that shut down when the model
became slack on the lines. Mike Willcox
and a couple other pilots used Alex
Porkofiev’s electronic units.
Flying at the Team Trials: Probably 50%
of the pilots who entered were capable of
making the team, with a bit of luck. There
were many matches between many good
pilots.
The first alternate—Mark Rudner—was
just one win away from being on the team. He
flew well throughout the contest, and a mental
mistake at the end cost him his opportunity.
Richard Stubblefield is the second
alternate, and he can still fly amazingly well
for a man in his mid-60s. There were four
pilots tied for the third alternate spot, with
identical five-three records: George
Cleveland, Tom Seigler, James McKinney,
and me.
It was no surprise that Mike “Emo”
Willcox made the team again. He had the
best record, with nine wins and only one
loss.
Mike puts a lot of effort into flying
F2D, and that includes several trips to
competitions in Europe each year. He is
comfortable in the circle and thinks quickly
to take advantage of any mistake that his
opponent makes. You would expect no less
from a former World Champion.
Norman Lester Haury has been paying
his dues for several years, and it finally
paid off. He went undefeated through most
of the contest and finished with eight wins
and one loss.
Lester is a keen student of the rules and
of F2D strategy. He will make a fine
representative at the 2010 World
Championships.
Greg Hill has been knocking at the door
for many years and finally decided to pry it
open, to take a spot on the team. He
finished with eight wins and two losses.
Greg has plenty of natural ability and
spends a good amount of time practicing at
the sod farm in San Diego, California, with
Frank Tomich, Sean Dea, Darrin Albert,
Charlie Johnson, Roger Ochoa, Stewart
Mossman, and others.
The Stubblefield/Cleveland team had a
couple of brain failures that cost them
matches. One was when the wrong pilot
entered the circle to fly a match, and the
other involved an early launch before the
start of the bout.
Darryl Ellison was at the contest, to
help his sons, Josh and Derek, go through
their first Team Trials and gain valuable
experience. I am sad to report that, for the
second cycle in a row, the US will not be
sending a Junior pilot to the World
Championships, because none entered.
Mike, Lester, and Greg form a strong team
and will represent the US wonderfully in
Gyula, Hungary, in July 2010.
Congratulations
