Wednesday August 1. Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Wednesday August 1. Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships"

Asher Walsh
5 years ago
Views:

Wednesday August 1 Michigan flier Scott Rhoades makes a tip catch and

) Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships

IN website: www.modelaircraft.org; email: nats@modelaircraft.

1 Wednesday August 1 Michigan flier Scott Rhoades makes a tip catch and is quickly ready for his next throw. (Photo by Wolfgang Ludwig.) Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships Academy of Model Aeronautics International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie IN website: nats@modelaircraft.org Copyright Academy of Model Aeronautics 2012 Editors: Ashley Rauen, Rachelle Haughn, Liz Helms

2 Tuesday s Soaring Recap Today s Events: TWO-METER and Discus Launch Soaring Day Two Tuesday s weather threatened to put a serious dent in our second day of Two-Meter and Discus Launch Glider (DLG) competition. Those of us in the campground fastened down anything loose and prepared for the worst. Thankfully, the front passed through with just a bit of wind, a few lightning strikes nearby, and not much rain. Many hung out in the National Model Aviation Museum while the fields dried out, and we only missed a round or two of flying. We had the pilots meetings at 10 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. Marna and the rest of the crew got the Two-Meter rounds going smoothly again today. The wind was steadier, but lift was abundant. Jerry Robertson started the day at the top of the list and hung on for the duration. His response after the final landing: I guess today s my day. I don t think it could have happened to a nicer guy. His consistency sure paid off. Maybe there will be more winglets on the Sprites next year. Jerry designed the winglets and performed the surgery required to mount them. They help recapture some of the wasted energy that rolls off the end of a wing. Darwin Barrie started the day in second place and was just a few points away from the top until the final round, when he fell victim to a sinkhole and captured just 454 of the possible 1,100 points. This put him in fifth place at the end of the two days, and allowed others to move up. In second, third, and fourth we ended with Jim Thomas, David Beach, and Mike Lachowski all of whom scored close to 1,000 or higher on every round of the day. Luke Glaab won the Junior contest. After handing out the awards Rob, Larry, and Sheldon got some help putting new lines on the winches and moving the turnarounds to the north end of the field. Discus Launch Glider Day Two Despite the wet start to the day, the DLG (or F3K) fliers were out with enthusiasm. CD Don Cleveland encouraged the group to continue building this aspect of. There was discussion of growing the AMA event from 40 to 55 pilots next year. I got to look over some of the latest airplanes, as shown in the photos. There is an incredible amount of technology packed into these little 60-inch birds. Every gram saved counts, but you can t take away too much weight, or the airframe will not hold up to strong launches. One designer I talked with is Tom Siler, who is building the Fr3aK (from F3K and Freak ) here in the United States. A few years ago, Tom got together with expert wing builder Phil Barnes and airfoil designer Gerald Taylor. Tom built the CNC machine to carve molds for all components, including the oval boom fuselage. The plane components are now built by three different people, making possible what might be the only molded DLG made here in the US. Get your name on the list if you want one. They are in high demand. The second day of flying finished with a strong showing from Horizon Hobby pilots, with Craig Greening taking the top spot. There was great camaraderie among the group, including an attempt by Robert Samuels and Barney Bauer to form an over 70 age category for DLG/F3K. If you have a chance, be sure to attend an F3K event. There s a reason it is a fast-growing part of the hobby. You may again find yourself making flights straight out of your hand. NN Two-Meter Thermal Duration The flying format for the Two-Meter Thermal Duration contest is similar to the NOS and RES competitions, but there are some important differences: Wingspans are limited to 2 meters maximum (about 78 inches). Full control surfaces rudder, elevator, aileron, and flaps may be used. Any construction materials are permitted. The smaller size of the planes makes them more nimble; they can make use of smaller patches of rising air. The smaller size also makes them harder to see at a distance, so it sometimes requires the ability to find multiple thermals in a single flight to reach the time goal.

3 Ryan Gonsoulin attempts another of his 200-foot launches with a previously repaired Stobel. Ken Bates and Don Harris discuss how to add washout twist to Phil Gieseking s wingtips. The day started out a little scary for glider campers. The old wood skinned Duck design continues to be competitive.

4 Junior winner Alex Trussell. Jim Thomas shows off his second-place wood, making sure that no unnecessary sponsorship occurs. Robert Samuel s took Best Senior in HL Thermal Soaring. A well-deserved win for Jerry Robertson. The Two-Meter winners circle.

5 The Twister III from Atlanta Hobby shows fine fit and finish, plus a distinctive tail design. Darwin Barrie uses a magnet-actuated switch to power up his plane. The unit is available from Zepsus. The Mantis has its electronics as far forward as possible to minimize weight. A few of Tom Siler s Fr3aK planes.

6 These are the guys to beat next year. This week s events: Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday RC Electric Monday RC Electric Free Flight Tuesday RC Electric Free Flight The 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships is proudly sponsored by: Applebee s is a proud sponsor of all AMA 2012 summer events.

Scores HL Thermal Soaring 1 10984 CRAIG R GREENING APTOS CA 2 10684 GAVIN L TRUSSELL LEWIS CENTER OH 3 10425 STEVEN C MEYER RACINE WI 4 10366 PETER G GOLDSMITH MONTICELLO IL 5 10270 WILLIAM B

FREDERICK MD 11 9914 SKIP MILLER BOULDER CO 12 9812 RYAN M GONSOULIN SAINT MARTINVILLE LA 13 9792 THOMAS W COOKE HOUSTON TX 14 9657 JEFF M CASH JR CHAMPAIGN IL 15 9646 JEFFREY S CARR FORT MILL SC 16

BRAMPTON 22 9074 BEN ROBERTO LISLE IL 23 8514 RICHARD J WAITULIONIS CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 24 8489 THOMAS M SCULLY CADIZ KY 25 8474 ROBERT H OLSON GRANGER IN 26 8312 ROBERT A SAMUELS SAINT LOUIS MO 27

7 Scores HL Thermal Soaring CRAIG R GREENING APTOS CA GAVIN L TRUSSELL LEWIS CENTER OH STEVEN C MEYER RACINE WI PETER G GOLDSMITH MONTICELLO IL WILLIAM B DAVIDSON SHELBYVILLE KY SCOTT A ZASTOUPIL WAUPACA WI WAYNE H GEFFON BLOOMINGTON IL MARK D GAUDING WENTZVILLE MO THOMAS W SILER COLUMBUS OH JAMES G COKONIS FREDERICK MD SKIP MILLER BOULDER CO RYAN M GONSOULIN SAINT MARTINVILLE LA THOMAS W COOKE HOUSTON TX JEFF M CASH JR CHAMPAIGN IL JEFFREY S CARR FORT MILL SC RYAN J THOMPSON NEENAH WI DAVID RUNYON GOLDEN CO GARTH H KOLTERJAHN APPLETON WI JOHN B FERGUSON SHELBY TOWNSHIP MI ROBERT A WHITNEY ROCK HILL SC DOUG PIKE BRAMPTON BEN ROBERTO LISLE IL RICHARD J WAITULIONIS CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI THOMAS M SCULLY CADIZ KY ROBERT H OLSON GRANGER IN ROBERT A SAMUELS SAINT LOUIS MO ERICH P SCHLITZKUS STEWARTSTOWN PA JOSEPH P MEKINA UTICA OH MICHAEL J WIZYNAJTYS FENTON MI HOGAN NGUYEN BATAVIA IL ALEX TRUSSELL LEWIS CENTER OH JIM CARLTON MEDINA OH RAY MUNRO HAMILTON SCOTT D RHOADES GAINES MI CHARLES D THOMAS KNOXVILLE TN BARNEY J BAUER ROCHESTER HILLS MI DAN L MYERS CINCINNATI OH DUANE E BECK WARRENTON VA ROBERT C GLOVER II HUNTSVILLE AL 40 ANDREW W TAYLOR WASHINGTON UT 998 DNF JOSH GLAAB HAMPTON VA 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships Thermal Soaring Two Meter JERRY D ROBERTSON FLAGSTAFF AZ JAMES A THOMAS FOLSOM CA DAVID S BEACH AMHERST NH MICHAEL LACHOWSKI PITTSTOWN NJ DARWIN N BARRIE CHANDLER AZ ARTHUR MARKIEWICZ ENCINITAS CA JOSH GLAAB HAMPTON VA L KENT NOGY PASO ROBLES CA KENNETH BATES PORTAGE MI JERRY A GROSS HUTCHINSON KS STEVEN H LUCKE PARSIPPANY NJ ADAM C QUENNOZ HALF WAY MO JOHNNY A BERLIN EFFINGHAM IL PETER J SCHLITZKUS OCEAN VIEW DE NORM D POTI NEW CARLISLE OH RICHARD ECKEL WINTER SPRINGS FL ROBERT F BURSON BRISTOL IN JOHN F NELSON PRINCETON IA MICHAEL STUMP CADILLAC MI DONALD G RICHMOND VIRGINIA BEACH VA THOMAS J BROESKI AFTON VA JOSH GLAAB JR HAMPTON VA LARRY N JEFFERY GRAND HAVEN MI JACK S WALLNER RICHLAND MI SCOTT R SHAW BRENTWOOD TN STEVEN E SCHNEIDER BUFFALO GROVE IL JERRY A GRIFFITH MOUNTAIN HOME AR LUKE GLAAB HAMPTON VA JOHN S LINDSAY MUSCATINE IA CHARLES L PINNELL JR CROZET VA KENNETH C SHAW IRONS MI ARTHUR G HILL JR NEWTOWN CT LUIS J BUSTAMANTE HACKETTSTOWN NJ WALTER K ADASCZIK NASHUA NH GILBERT W GAUGER OAKTOWN IN RONALD P KUKRAL NEW LENOX IL DONALD P HARRIS WESTERVILLE OH PHILIP L GIESEKING FORT WAYNE IN ARTHUR J EARL MAHOMET IL JOHN E LUEKE MIAMISBURG OH WILLIAM A CHRISTIAN ARLINGTON HTS IL 998 DNF ROBERT M GELLART LIMA OH 998 DNF SCOTT F HARTER ERIE MI 998 DNF JOHN N DINIZ MONTICELLO IL DLG contestants gather for the awards presentation.

8 Don t count these guys out. You had to be there.

Monday August 6. Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships

Monday August 6. Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships Monday August 6 Don DeLoach, 2011 Nats. Daily coverage of the 2012 National Aeromodeling Championships Academy of Model Aeronautics International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie IN website: www.modelaircraft.org;