1929~2009
80 Years of Modeling
Competitions are as popular as ever!
MoreOnline!
modelairplanenews.com
Over the years, very
popular parts of Model
Airplane News have been
the photos and reports of
regional and national
airplane contests. It’s
hard to decide whether it
was model development
that drove competition or
the other way around. One
thing is for sure,
competitions and
modeling events remain
as popular as ever. Let’s
check out some of the
more noteworthy event
news MAN has brought to
its readers.
THE NATIONALS ON PARADE—THE 1940
NATIONAL MODEL AIRPLANE COMPETITION
After seeing the 1940 Nationals, editor Charles
Hampton Grant wrote, “Without exception, this
was the greatest model airplane contest that has
ever been held.” And you had to know that
national and regional competition was extremely
important to the readers. Almost all the advertisements featured “record breaking,” and “award
winning” model kits and plans to buy. Sponsored
broke 120mph! The new FAI Speed record holder
was Don Maths with an averaged 110.4mph—
this was almost 50 years ago!
SCALE 80
In the November 1980 issue, Al Novotnik
reported on the 1980 Scale World Championships for the FAI’s F4C Stand-off Scale and
Scale classes of competition. Held in Ottawa,
Canada, this event was an eye-opener when it
came to quality and craftsmanship. Familiar
names like Bob Nelitz ( ⁄3-scale Cub), Duncan
1
Hudson (Fournier RF- 5), Mick Reeves (Superma-
by the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Daily
Times, outdoor and indoor competitions brought
out all the favorite competitors such as Leon Shul-man in Class-A Gas and Walter and Bill Good in
the radio category.
DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY
In February 1960, long-time competitor and MAN
contributor, Harold “Pappy” deBolt proposed
new rules for the “Multi-Channel” class for RC
planes. His article, “Change the Multi Rules” set
rine Spitfire) and Bob Underwood (Hiperbipe) all
competed at the highest level of scale excellence.
SHARE YOUR
MEMORIES WITH US!
As we revisit 80 years’ worth of
our favorite articles, we invite
you to share your stories at
modelairplanenews.com.
From your first plane to your
flying-field friendships, we want
to hear from you! We’ll post
your stories online throughout
the year and in print in our
December 2009 issue.
the path for future precision aerobatic competitions. In March 1960, Ken Willard reported on
The Fast Club Speed Trial, “where AMA and
World records fell like hickory nuts!” This article
showed basic model layout, with .60-size engines
and 7-percent thick airfoils controlled with 8-
channel reed systems. Some upwind speed passes
AEROBATICS Y2K STYLE
In the November 2000 issue, Guy Revel reported
on a precision aerobatic competition held in Singapore. This FAI F3A event was known as the
Combined Asian-Oceanic Continental Championships, and it showed the rapid growth this
segment of our hobby has enjoyed.
Even today, with all our must-attend events
such as Top Gun, the U.S. Scale Masters Championships, IMAC aerobatics, the NEAT Fair,
E-Fest, S.E.F.F. and any of the jet and turbine
events from around the country, it’s easier than
ever to get an up-close and personal look at what
happening with our hobby.
