VSC Stunt Championships XXXV

Control Line Aerobatics By Joe Daly | stunt38060@gmail.com As seen in the July 2024 issue of Model Aviation. THE VINTAGE STUNT CHAMPIONSHIPS (VSC) XXXV was held March 13-16 at Christopher Columbus Park in Tucson, Arizona. It was great that this year’s attendance was on the upswing. It has taken awhile in the post-COVID era for events such as this to gain momentum when it comes to attendance. We can only hope that the attendance will continue to improve in the years to come.

Chris Brainard, of Arvada CO, won the Super 70s event with a Stilares, a redo of the first 35-size airplane that he built in 1978. A Magnum 36 powers the model. Photo by Ivan Murphy. For those who have never attended a VSC, you really need to put this event on your bucket list. The Control Line (CL) Aerobatics community is a small, diverse, and (I might add) older group of modelers from all walks of life who enjoy CL model aviation, yet it’s like a large, close-knit family. Individuals from across the US make the venture to be at this unique event that really is a showcase of aerobatic CL aviation of yesteryear. Attendees arrived as early as Friday, March 8, to practice and enjoy the Tucson weather. The festivities kicked off on Wednesday, March 13, with the Old-Time Stunt (OTS) event, paying homage to model aviation’s bygone era. Against the backdrop of a crisp morning sky, pilots gathered for a solemn moment of remembrance, honoring those who had departed in the preceding year. With reverence in their hearts, they embarked on a journey through time, piloting meticulously crafted models dating back to 1952 and earlier. Joe Gilbert’s masterful performance with his Ringmaster, a testament to the enduring legacy of classic designs, clinched the day’s victory amid a backdrop of swirling wind. Wednesday afternoon was also scheduled for Classic and Super 70s appearance judging. The appearance judges for this year were Jim Allen and Roy Andrassy. Both individuals are champions in the RC Pylon Racing world. There were many well-built and beautiful models on display. Many of the pilots stood very close to their models during the appearance judging because of the windy conditions that prevailed in the late afternoon.

Jerry Higgins, of Golden CO, is shown with his Ringmaster. Jerry is part of a good-size crew from CO that has been VSC regulars for a long time. Photo by Jim Hoffman.

Jim Lee flew his Go-Devil in OTS Ignition and also brought inventory from Lee Machine. Jim invents, develops, and manufactures unique hardware for the CL community. Hoffman photo. Thursday heralded the commencement of the Classic event against a backdrop of an azure sky and a gentle breeze, where competitors vied for supremacy. Concurrently, the Ignition OTS event presented its own unique challenges, testing the mettle of participants as they grappled with the idiosyncrasies of vintage engines. Friday witnessed the unfolding drama of the Classic event’s culmination. As they say, "The cream rises to the top." This was certainly the case as Paul Walker, Joe, and Dennis Adamisin continued to score well. In the end, it was Paul in first place, Joe in second place, and Dennis in third place. Meanwhile, Ringmaster OTS provided a thrilling spectacle, with competitors deftly navigating the changing wind to claim their rightful place in history.

Colleen Gilbert remains a huge part of the Gilbert Stunt program and is a longtime member of the VSC family. Murphy photo.

Jim Hoffman flew an I-beam Lunar that was designed by Art Pawloski. It’s powered by an Aerotiger 36. He captured fourth place in Classic and a Pilots’ Choice award in between his contest director duties. Murphy photo.

Saturday dawned with a sense of anticipation as the final events of the VSC unfolded amidst a clear sky and a gentle breeze. Joe’s mastery of the Ringmaster once again secured him the top spot—a testament to his skill and dedication to the craft. Now it was time for the final event, Super 70s. These airplanes had to be published, designed, or kitted between the years 1970 and 1979, hence the name Super 70s. There were seven entries, but only four put in official flights. Chris Brainard took first place, Jim Lee took second place, and Steven MacBride took third place. The highlight of the VSC Stunt Championships is the evening banquet. For most, it was a busy week of activity and now it all comes to an end. The banquet room was filled with people from across the country. Before long, it was time to sit down for an excellent dinner. Boy, were the stories flying! It was then time to present the beautiful flying awards, along with the special awards. There was a moment during the awards presentation when Joe presented a unique gift to Dennis. It was a framed and labeled CL handle from the late De Hill collection. This handle was used by Dennis in the 1972 Glenview Nats. That year, he went on to win the Senior division and the Walker Cup. He was the last Senior to accomplish such a feat. Another special moment at the awards presentation was more emotional when Warren Tiahrt presented Dennis with the prestigious Keeper of the Flame award. Lanny Shorts, of Truckee, California, has made it an annual ritual to award hats to those amongst us who have achieved their 80th-plus and 90th-plus birthdays. Although Lanny and his wife, Joyce, could not attend this year, they sent us hats and we were able to award an 80th-plus hat to Jim Renkar. Although not in attendance this year, both Joe Dill and Dale Gleason will be receiving 80th-plus hats by United States Postal Service. As the sun set on VSC XXXV, a sense of fulfillment permeated the air, mingling with the echoes of laughter and camaraderie that defined the event. The memories created and the friendships forged will endure long after the last model has touched down. With heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, organizers, and participants who made it all possible, the VSC bid farewell, leaving behind a legacy of tradition, triumph, and timeless camaraderie. I would like to give special thanks to Jim Hoffman and Dennis Nunes for their contributions to this report. For Dennis’ more detailed review of the competition, visit the Flying Lines website, listed in "Sources."