This year the weather was not a good as last year but still very flyable. The first day had F1G, H, J and Q. It started out a little cool, for us anyhow, in the 40’s but warmed up nicely and we were able to start on time and completer all of the rounds. It was a little windy in the afternoon of the second day F1A, B, C, and P and the direction forced a mid-day move of the flight line and reduction of the maxes to 2 ½ minutes the last round because of another late afternoon wind direction change. Once again the attendance was down with only one Americas Cup events, F1G, still undecided.

F1G had 3 flyers but the Americas cup was at stake again this year. John Clapp would win the Americas F1G Cup if he won. John started of with good test flights and a strong first round max but he dropped the second round by 29 seconds and third round by 51. John came down only to fly F1G and when there was no chance of his winning he packed up and got an early start on heading home. John flew very well this year in f1G but it was one of those years where several other people also flew very well. Eddie Vanlandingham put up 4 maxes for the win and that moved him up to 4^th in the final Americas Cup F1G standing.

F1J also had 3 flyers and kept it petty tight through round 3. Round 4 saw Jean Pailet and Brian Pacelli, who was flying his F1P in F1J, drop. Gil Morris stayed clean for a win and 2^nd and 3^rd would have been a lot closer if Jean had not had a very uncommon flight of 22 seconds in the last round.

Rex Hinson was the only flyer in F1Q and he was flying a brand new model. What was neat about the model was that it looked like a 70’s 1/2A gas model and only used a 31 gram battery; note that the F1Q rules allow up to a 90 gram battery. The motor runs were cut to 15 seconds but the maxes were 3 minutes. At 15 seconds Rex’s model was up to about the height of a F1J or F1P.

F1B had 3 entries this year.   The scores remained close for 3 rounds but by then a change in the wind required a move, thus delaying the start of round 4. Brian Pacelli had his F1B come down near the power line but he was unable to pick up a signal. He stopped flying to look for his model, which was found the next day. It appears the model may have come into contact with the power lines on it way down from a DT’ing and that blew out the transmitter.  Round 4 was started after everyone moved to the new flying location but the wind was picking up. By round 6 the wind was up to 10 to 13 MPH and the direction had changed which put models that maxed in good air close to the dreaded Pepper trees. The decision was made to cut the maxes to 2 ½ minutes. After more close encounters with the Pepper trees in round 6 Eddie and Jim decided to hang it up and not fly Round 7.

F1C only had Gil Morris flying and F1P only had Brian Pacelli flying. Gil was working on his launching methods in the wind and must have figured it out as he maxed out. Brian only flew 4 rounds because he was looking for his lost F1B.

F1G, 3 flyers                                                   F1H, 1 flyer                                        F1J, 3 flyers

1. Eddie Vanlandingham        480                 1. Jean Pailet               536                  1. Gill Morris               600

2. John Clapp                         280                                                                             2. Brian Pacelli            576

3. Chris Lalishek                       69                                                                             3. Jean Pailet               476

                                                            1. Eddie Vanlandingham        1035                1. Gill Morris               1230

                                                            2. Jim  Bradley                        964

                                                            3. Brian Pacelli                         521