The USS Small Fry.
By Melvin Schuette
Tuesday, August 6, was the start of the official flying of the 2024 AMA Control Line (CL) Navy Carrier Nats events. Both Profile (powered by internal combustion engines) and Electric Profile (powered by electric motors) classes were flown.
If you are wondering, the simulated carrier deck is referred to as the USS Small Fry.
Prior to each flight, the models go through safety checks. First, the line length is checked. The line length is measured from the centerline of the fuselage to the centerline of the grip portion of the handle. Then, the lines are measured to ensure that they meet the minimum diameter. Finally, the model, the lines, the handle, and the safety thong must pass a pull test. The pull test is determined by the weight of the model multiplied by a given amount. In the case of Profile models, the pull test is 20 times the weight of the model.
In years past, the MO-1 was the predominant model. However, this year, the predominant model was the Guardian.
Junior contestant Angstrom Eberenz has flown the Navy Carrier events in one other contest before entering it for the first time at the AMA Nats. Angstrom ended up placing second overall in Profile Carrier and third overall in Electric Profile Carrier. I am certain that we will be seeing Angstrom entered in future AMA Nats.
The wind on Tuesday made flying challenging, and the scores below reflect that.
|
Profile Carrier |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contestant |
High Speed Time |
Low Speed Time |
Landing |
Scale |
Score Total |
Place |
|
Paul Smith |
26.95 |
1:47.22 |
100 |
10 |
216.6 |
First |
|
Angstrom Eberenz |
37.45 |
1:10.26 |
100 |
10 |
177 |
Second |
|
Jo Shoemaker |
26.64 |
1:01.16 |
0 |
10 |
100.4 |
Third |
|
Electric Profile |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contestant |
High Speed Time |
Low Speed Time |
Landing |
Scale |
Score Total |
Place |
|
Pete Mazur |
17.44 |
1:56.82 |
100 |
10 |
279.1 |
First |
|
Evert Shoemaker |
23.85 |
2:40.26 |
100 |
10 |
252.4 |
Second |
|
Angstrom Aberenz |
25.66 |
143.22 |
95 |
10 |
213.7 |
Third |
Thanks go out to Event Director Dick Perry, Center Judge Bob Heywood, and all of the contestants who helped time flights when they were not flying.
Wednesday, August 7, will be Class I and Class II Carrier and Electric Class I and Class II Carrier.
Note from AMA: Do you have photos from the Nats that you’d like to share? If so, email them to Clarissa Poston at clarissap@modelaircraft.org. Please include a brief description in your email, naming any individuals pictured in the photo(s), the name of the event that the photo(s) were taken during, and the name of the individual who took the photo(s). Your submission(s) might be posted on AMA’s Flickr page, which can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums!