Mike Couts holds the starter motor as Bill Hughes holds Dave Rigotti’s 21 Proto, getting ready for another speed run.
By John Moll
Welcome to the first of four days of Control Line Speed. We flew four different classes of Speed today: 21 Profile Proto Speed, Formula 40 Speed, ½A Profile Proto Speed, and Sport Jet Speed. A total of 12 different flyers entered these 4 events. The fastest of these four was Formula 40. This event uses a .40 cubic inch motor. The horsepower these motors put out is incredible!
Chris Montagino went a new personal best speed of 163.42 mph. This event is flown from a standing start. Acceleration is important because the first lap is slower and accelerating and flying for 14 laps. Laps 2 through 14 are well over the final speed. Most of Chris’ lap speeds were close to 170 mph. There were a total of four flyers in this event. Chris Montagino was 1st at 163.42 mph. Paul Gibeault got 2nd at 162.53 mph. Glen VanSant came in 3rd at 158.9 mph.
We also flew ½A Profile Proto Speed. This event is also flown from a standing start. There were a total of eight entries in this event. It’s amazing that these little .049-size motors can go as fast as they can. They really scream at those high RPM’s. Glen VanSant came in 1st at a speed of 97.36 mph. Patrick Hemple came in 2nd at 95.57 mph. James VanSant came in 3rd at 93.45 mph.
The next event was 21 Profile Proto. There were only 3 entries for this event, but competition was really close between first and second. The difference in speed was only 0.84 mph. Glen VanSant took 1st with a score of 120.13 mph. Dave Rigotti came in 2nd at 119.29 mph. Bill Hughes came in 3rd at 106.17 mph.
Now for all that noise we made over at flying site 6! That wonderful noise came from five Sport Jets entries. The difference between first and second was even closer, at only 0.11 mph. That’s close! Those five entries flew a total of 13 flights. The pilots were trying to get just a little bit more power and go just a little or a lot faster.
Jeff Gitchel came in 1st at 150.51 mph. Dave Rigotti came in 2nd at 150.4 mph. and Mike Couts came in 3rd at 140.51 mph. Special Note: Mike Couts last flew his plane at the 2003 Nats. It’s still going strong. He built his plane in 1989. The name is the Fire Phart! Let this be understood, I just report, I don’t name them.
On Monday, July 6, we will be flying B, C, D and Fast Jet Speed. So come by flying site 6 and watch some really fast speed!
