MASTERS CLASS
These contestants do it all: They design, build, engineer, and fly the aircraft they compete with. This class is static-judged, and the entrants fly four scored flight rounds. After their lowest flight score is deleted, the average is added to their static points for their overall score. Six contestants entered this class in 2018.
1st // Lance Campbell // SR-71
Lance designed the plans for this 1/8-scale model of the Lockheed spy plane and spent nine years finishing the project. It earned 99.167 static points, and Lance used a Futaba radio to fly it to a total of 198.042 points. The 85-pound SR-71 is 13 feet long and is powered by a JetCat 140-RXi turbine.
2nd // Dave Wigley // Westland Wyvern
After badly damaging his Wyvern in a cartwheeling crash at Top Gun in 2015, Dave rebuilt his 100-inch-span warbird and earned 98.25 points from the static judges. The 1/5-scale Wyvern is powered by a modified BME 100cc gas engine with a custom-made prop extension, and it spins a Mejzlik 24x12 3-blade prop. Dave flew it with his Spektrum DX18 to score a total of 196.125 points.
3rd // Gwyn Avenell // Hawker Fury Mk I
Gwyn’s 1/4-scale warbird weighs 29 pounds and has a 90-inch wingspan. It earned 99.500 points from the static judges, and Gwyn used his JR XG14E radio to earn 193.375 total points. Gwyn notes that his Hawker Fury was a 10-year project and that it’s powered by a Laser 300 engine turning a Xoar 28x10 prop.
4th // Richard Feroldi // Albatros D.V
This 1/3-scale biplane had a static score of 96.667, and Rich flew it with his Futaba 9G to earn an overall score of 192.667. The 118-inch-span model is powered by a Quadra 100 gas engine turning a Xoar 28x10 prop.
5th // David Lovitt // Bellanca Viking
This 86-inch-span, 1/5-scale model is powered by a Saito 182 twin gas engine turning a 16x10 prop. It earned David 98.750 static points, and he flew it with a JR12 radio to earn a total of 190.938 points. David notes that he owns the full-size aircraft it’s modeled after!
6th // David Hudson // F-8H Crusader
After earning 95.667 points on the static judges’ table, David flew his jet with a Spektrum DX18 radio to earn 123.355 total points. This 1/6-scale, 109-inch-long jet is powered by a KingTech 180 turbine and has scratch-built landing gear.