The 2007 Corvin Miller Memorial Scale Contest

By Bud Roane

I left for the contest at 20 minuets before 5 AM on Saturday morning. I could have gone over on Friday and stayed with my friend Dick Neumann on Long Boat Key but I wanted to be there for my wife when she had a doctor’s visit. I like leaving early in the morning for a long drive, there is little traffic and I get a good night’s sleep at home. Does anyone sleep well in a motel?

The drive over was uneventful, down I-95 from Melbourne, then across SR70 to Arcadia, then onto SR72 and finally on to Bee Ridge road and at 8AM I arrive.

Shortly after arriving at the field I met Kevin Knebel and found out that we both had come to the contest unescorted, we agreed to spot and call for each other. This is a good thing, I get to know a fellow contestant better and we became better friends. We both were staying at the Comfort Inn so we also went to dinner together that night.

The only thing better than calling for some one, is judging. I always learn something when I call for someone else and then I try to use what I learned. When you are judging you get to see how all the contestants do their flights and you really learn what’s good and bad. The problem is that I go into information over load and can only use part of what I learned.

I am always trying to be a better builder and pilot and contests measure whether you have improved or not. I have always had goals of trying to beat the pilots that finish ahead of me but I think everyone else must have the same goals.

Anyway, about the contest, there was a good turn out for the meet. I didn’t get a count but I was contestant 31 and that by itself is a good number these days. Registration was handled by Linc Hay and Eva Winter and went smoothly, Linc even let me borrow a pen since the one I try to keep in my field box went missing again. Yes it was a loan, return the pen or else. I don’t know what the or else was, may be and I didn’t want to find out, so I made sure the pen was returned.

Static judging went smoothly with George Jenkins running the show.

After judging I got my old Sopwith Pup ready to fly, install the batteries, fuel up, and check every thing over. I called Kevin’s first flight and he did very well. I gave him a critique of what I thought of the flight and he didn’t get upset as far as I could tell, so I guess it was OK.

Now its time for my first flight, I got up OK, did my routine and got down OK. On first flight I am always tense, is every thing the same as the test flight at home? After the first flight I usually settle down a little and try to visit with friends new and old. I am not 100% normal as things are zipping through my mind but I am not tired yet and the brain hasn’t gone into a total lock down. Had lunch with Dick Neumann and tried to relax a little.

Second round, I called for Kevin again, and thought he did a lot better, he is a very good pilot and I thought he would have scored higher. The judges are the judges and a caller doesn’t see what they see.

My second flight was OK, I still need to work on landing on pavement, but the judges liked it.

Time to pack up for the day, I got my new.25 size electric design out and tried it on the paved runway. I did a lot of touch and go’s and thought I had the gear stumble fixed with the heaver wire until the last landing, ouch.

Day 2, back to the field at 8AM, and get ready for round three. I fly first and Kevin calls for me. I get distracted, the brain stops working, and I flub the Stall. Oh well, on to the landing. I try landing with a little power on, I learned that landing to slow is a mistake, and maybe a little power will help. I leave a couple of clicks of throttle in until the tail drops down and then cut it and get a good landing. I have learned something new.

I call Kevin’s third flight and am again am impressed with his ability.

Round 4 starts again after a lunch break, I fly a good flight with a good landing keeping a little power on, I am happy. Kevin flies a really good flight and the judges agree. I think he had an 89 flight and he was happy with that.

My overall impressions of the contest:

The weather was great, a little cool on Saturday, but that was good.

The attendance was good with Ramon Torres returning after being away for 4 years and AL Kretz driving down from Alabama.

The contest was run well, with good flight line control and fair judging.

I was happy; I got to know Kevin better and that I didn’t screw up when calling for him.

The brain fog was its normal self, not remembering people’s names, but I did notice I am not alone, just worse than other people

The drive home was OK, I was very tired, and it seemed a lot longer that the drive over.