TEAM CLASS

With a designated builder and a designated pilot who is also allowed to work on the aircraft, the aircraft in the Team category are static-judged. Aircraft fly four scored flight rounds. After their lowest flight score is deleted, the average is added to their static points for their overall score. Seventeen teams competed in this class in 2018.

1st // Mike Barbee & Frank Noll // King Air C90

Built by Mike, this 1/4-scale model of the 1960s’ private twin earned 96.083 static points, and Frank flew it with a Futaba 19MZ to earn a total score of 193.833. Built from Bob Patton plans, the 155-inch-span model is powered by two Kontronik 22-16 Varipitch electric motors.

2nd // Peter Goldsmith & Tyson Dodd // F-104 Starfighter

Built from the Airworld kit, Peter’s F-104 earned 96.917 static points, and Tyson flew it with a Spektrum radio to earn a total of 195.355 points. The 11-foot-long jet is powered by a KingTech 180 turbine, and it has a full lighting system from uniLIGHT. Peter won the Mr. Top Gun title with this jet in 2016.

3rd // Phil Noel & Rei Gonzalez // MiG-15

Built by Phil from the Skymaster kit, this 1/4-scale jet is powered by a Jet Central Cheetah turbine. It earned 97.583 static points, and Rei piloted it with a Spektrum DX20 radio to earn 194.896 total points. They moved up from sixth place last year.

4th // Trond Hammerstad & Ali Machinchy // Me 262

With a length of 126 inches, this 1/4-scale jet built from the Airworld kit earned 96 static points, and Ali flew it with his Spektrum radio to earn a total of 194.750 points. The jet is powered by two KingTech 140 turbine engines and weighs in at 45 pounds.

5th // Mike Grady & Dustin Buescher // MiG-15

Built by Mike from the BVM kit, this 1/6-scale jet is powered by an electric VioFan ducted fan. It earned 96.75 static points, and Dustin flew it with a Spektrum DX20 radio to earn a total of 194.563 points.

6th // Kim Foster & Scott Foster // Moth Minor

Kim built his 1/4-scale model of the British 1930s’ tourer/trainer from Bates planes in 1999 and flew it at the 2000 Top Gun event. His 100-inch-span model is powered by a Laser 150 spinning a Zinger 16x8 prop and weighs 16 pounds. It earned 97.250 static points, and Scott flew it with a Futaba 18MZ radio to a total of 193.875 points.

7th // Miguel Alvarez & Jorge Escalona // Hawker Hunter

Powered by a JetCat 200 turbine, this 1/4-scale jet from the Tomahawk kit earned Miguel 95.083 static points, and pilot Jorge flew it with his Futaba radio to earn a total of 192.583 points. The 115-inch-long Hawker Hunter is decked out in the livery of “Miss Demeanor.”

8th // Steve Thomas & Curtis Switzer // RV-4

Powered by a 3W 106cc twin engine turning a Falcon 26x12 3-blade prop, this 44%-scale American light home-built plane earned 94.833 static points. Pilot Curtis flew it with a Jeti DS-16 radio to earn a total of 192.458 points.

9th // Mauro Pirotti & Dimitri Meazza // Fiat G.91

Painted in ’61 U.S. Army colors, this jet built from the Pirotti kit scored 94.917 static points. The 1/3-scale, 140-inch-long fighter jet is powered by a Jet Italia turbine. Pilot Dimitri flew it with his Spektrum DX20 to earn a total of 192.230 points.

10th // Charles Palmer & Stan Johnson // Fi 156 Storch

Built by Charles from the Paola Severia kit, this 1/4-scale, 139-inch-span model earned 95.583 points from the static judges, and Stan flew it with his Futaba 14SG radio to earn 191.583 total points. The 40-pound aircraft is powered by a Hacker A60-18L motor turning a Xoar 23x10 prop. The full-size plane it’s modeled after was captured by the British and carried Winston Churchill.