NatsNews

By Rachelle Haughn

Control Line Combat began Sunday, June 20. There are approximately 30 contestants this year. Here are some photos from the action on Monday.

By William Drumm III

We started out the second day with GNAT Combat. GNAT airplanes are easy to build and are quite rugged as they are built out of coroplast and are all of the same design. They use a .15 engine that is legal for SSC and use the same 8 x 3 propeller without an rpm limit. Electrics are also able to compete and be competitive.

By Matt Neumann

By Gary Freeman Jr.

On Monday, June 21, we competed in EF1. It is an electric class. It was a very windy day and made things challenging at times, but most handled it well.

EF1 is the only electric class that we race at the Nats. This is a box stock class that makes for some really great racing. We had 32 entries. There were lots of tight races and, unfortunately, a few lost airplanes.

By Tim Stone

Three events were to be run Monday, but Muncie’s weather had other plans! Wind gusts of over 25 mph led to the postponement of all of the racing schedules.

F2C is the only international racing event that’s run at the US Nationals. Due to the cost, difficulty, and complexity, it has shrunk to even smaller participation than in past years. Three teams were entered, but due to weather conditions, the event was postponed indefinitely.

By Warren Gregory

(Photos from the 2019 Nats.)

Greetings to the 22 Control Line Speed fliers who are registered for the 2021 Nationals. Howard Doering was registered this year but will not be here due to health issues. We wish him well.

There are 12 states represented by Control Line Speed contestants this year: Florida, Virginia, Texas, California, New Jersey, Oregon, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

By William Drumm III

RC Combat kicked off once again Sunday, June 20, with Slow Survivable Combat (SSC). SSC is the most popular class that RC Combat has to offer. Only having a .15 engine and an rpm limit reduces the speed and the severity of the crashes that are bound to happen. We were slated to have five pilots at the start the day, but, unfortunately, we lost Bob Loescher due to another prop strike on the hand. It’s another reminder to always walk around to the back of the airplane to remove the glow igniter and adjust the needle valve.

By Gary Freeman Jr.

I would first like to start off by wishing all fathers a very happy Father’s Day.

Opening report by Tim Stone

The sun shines once again on Muncie! Last year’s Nats for Control Line Racing was run, but the turnout was dismal. If I believe the forum vibe that I get, there is a greater sense of enthusiasm for this year’s contest than there has been for quite a while! Pre-entries in some events are double from 2020.

By Rich Whitlow

Friday started out blustery, but with no rain. So 8 a.m. came and pilots hit the air … and LOTS OF AIR there was! The wind was brutal, and pilots had to use all of their skills to get through their Unknowns … and LAND! Many pilots had to land across the runway the short way! That was quite a site.

Then the rain came. 

We had a flying break until around noon. Then the rain let off and flying started again.

We were able to get through one Unknown round and on Known round—well accomplished rounds, I might add.