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Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out […]
Top Gun 2020 – Pro-Am Jet Class
Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out […]
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Despite the expected fewer participants, the 2020 Top Gun Rubber-Power Free-Flight mass launch event was fun as always. Dave Platt started holding this early morning scale fly-off way back in the beginning years of Top Gun. Entry is open to Top Gun participants in any capacity, including the staff. We start at 8:00 am on […]
Free-Flight Scale – The Tradition Lives On at Top Gun 2020!
Despite the expected fewer participants, the 2020 Top Gun Rubber-Power Free-Flight mass launch event was fun as always. Dave Platt started holding this early morning scale fly-off way back in the beginning years of Top Gun. Entry is open to Top Gun participants in any capacity, including the staff. We start at 8:00 am on […]
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Masters High Static Richard Feroldi/Albatros (97.75 pts.) Award sponsored by Zap Glue Best WW II Mike Fetyko/SBD Dauntless Award sponsored DM Pack-Italy Unlimited High Static David Hayes/Thrush (98.25 pts.) Award sponsored by PowerBox Americas Team High Static Trond Hammerstadt (builder), Ali Machinchy (pilot)/ Me 262 (97.25 pts.) Award sponsored by Model Airplane News Expert High […]
Top Gun 2020 Special Awards
Masters High Static Richard Feroldi/Albatros (97.75 pts.) Award sponsored by Zap Glue Best WW II Mike Fetyko/SBD Dauntless Award sponsored DM Pack-Italy Unlimited High Static David Hayes/Thrush (98.25 pts.) Award sponsored by PowerBox Americas Team High Static Trond Hammerstadt (builder), Ali Machinchy (pilot)/ Me 262 (97.25 pts.) Award sponsored by Model Airplane News Expert High […]
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As the name implies, adverse yaw is an adverse or unfavorable condition that, among other things, delays achieving solo abilities. Traditionally, until his or her skills improve, struggling and committing to many hours of practice before soloing has been the assumed burden of a student pilot. Unknowingly and unnecessarily, novices have been fighting the additional […]
Aileron/Rudder Mixing Explained – Build good habits now and fly better tomorrow
As the name implies, adverse yaw is an adverse or unfavorable condition that, among other things, delays achieving solo abilities. Traditionally, until his or her skills improve, struggling and committing to many hours of practice before soloing has been the assumed burden of a student pilot. Unknowingly and unnecessarily, novices have been fighting the additional […]
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Flying aircraft they built from plans or kits, entrants in this class add scale detail and modify as needed. All airplanes in the Expert class receive a static score and fly four flight rounds. After their lowest flight score is dropped, the average of the rest is added to their static score for a final […]
Top Gun 2020 – Expert Class
Flying aircraft they built from plans or kits, entrants in this class add scale detail and modify as needed. All airplanes in the Expert class receive a static score and fly four flight rounds. After their lowest flight score is dropped, the average of the rest is added to their static score for a final […]
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This category doesn’t have a “builder of the model” rule, but it does have a single pilot throughout the event. Aircraft are static-judged, and the average of the three best flight rounds (out of four) is added to the static score. All members of the seven teams competing this year wore matching shirts. 1st // […]
Top Gun 2020 – Unlimited Class
This category doesn’t have a “builder of the model” rule, but it does have a single pilot throughout the event. Aircraft are static-judged, and the average of the three best flight rounds (out of four) is added to the static score. All members of the seven teams competing this year wore matching shirts. 1st // […]
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I have built countless RC models, from kits, plans and even my own scratch designs. For the most part, building an RC model is a lot easier than most beginners might think. If you have assembled a few ARFs in the past however, you’ll have the basic knowledge of how things go together so by […]
Building Bench & Workshop Tips
I have built countless RC models, from kits, plans and even my own scratch designs. For the most part, building an RC model is a lot easier than most beginners might think. If you have assembled a few ARFs in the past however, you’ll have the basic knowledge of how things go together so by […]
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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. Three teams competed this year. […]
Top Gun 2020 – 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. Three teams competed this year. […]
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Building scale model aircraft takes a great amount of creativity, patience, and skill. With features like retractable landing gear, flaps and navigation lights, the detail possibilities are just about endless! My latest project is a CARF-Models Supermarine Spitfire, and to improve its overall scale appearance, I decided to re-hinge the flaps making them scale while […]
Heavy-duty Scale Flaps – Functional control surfaces with added detail
Building scale model aircraft takes a great amount of creativity, patience, and skill. With features like retractable landing gear, flaps and navigation lights, the detail possibilities are just about endless! My latest project is a CARF-Models Supermarine Spitfire, and to improve its overall scale appearance, I decided to re-hinge the flaps making them scale while […]
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For several years, Model Airplane News has covered a plethora of RC events, and many have something in common: the amazing photography of our longtime contributor David Hart. Articles like this issue’s Top Gun coverage would not be possible without David’s camera skills. We asked David about his incredible photography techniques, and here’s what he […]
The Man Behind the Camera – David Hart’s plane photography
For several years, Model Airplane News has covered a plethora of RC events, and many have something in common: the amazing photography of our longtime contributor David Hart. Articles like this issue’s Top Gun coverage would not be possible without David’s camera skills. We asked David about his incredible photography techniques, and here’s what he […]
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Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
Top Gun 2020 – Pro-Am Prop Class
Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
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Model Airplane News has covered the Top Gun Scale Invitational right from the start, and now in its 32nd year, Top Gun went off without a hitch in its new time slot, from October 28 to November 1, 2020. With the Covid-19 pandemic shutting down most if not all RC events in 2020, Top Gun […]
Top Gun Scale Invitational – The 32nd year of excellence!
Model Airplane News has covered the Top Gun Scale Invitational right from the start, and now in its 32nd year, Top Gun went off without a hitch in its new time slot, from October 28 to November 1, 2020. With the Covid-19 pandemic shutting down most if not all RC events in 2020, Top Gun […]
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Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
Top Gun 2020 – Pro-Am Sport Prop Class
Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
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These contestants do it all: They design, build, engineer, and fly the aircraft with which they compete. 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. Due to the change in venue date, […]
Top Gun 2021 – Masters Class
These contestants do it all: They design, build, engineer, and fly the aircraft with which they compete. 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. Due to the change in venue date, […]
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I’ve always wanted to explore the world of FPV drones, but I found myself intimidated by its complex nature. I knew that entering FPV required strategic selection and assembly of certain components that were required for flying. For example you need the drone, controller, goggles, camera (transmitter), receiver, batteries, and charger, and they all need […]
Getting Started in FPV – BetaFPV makes getting a bird’s-eye-view easier than ever!
I’ve always wanted to explore the world of FPV drones, but I found myself intimidated by its complex nature. I knew that entering FPV required strategic selection and assembly of certain components that were required for flying. For example you need the drone, controller, goggles, camera (transmitter), receiver, batteries, and charger, and they all need […]
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The Top Gun X class is for almost ready-to-fly (ARF) models only, either painted in the mold or covered from the manufacturer. Builders are encouraged to add additional paint and markings, but no covering may be removed or replaced. Scale details like hatches, Pitot tubes, and ordnance are allowed. All these models are static-judged, and […]
Top Gun 2020 – X Class
The Top Gun X class is for almost ready-to-fly (ARF) models only, either painted in the mold or covered from the manufacturer. Builders are encouraged to add additional paint and markings, but no covering may be removed or replaced. Scale details like hatches, Pitot tubes, and ordnance are allowed. All these models are static-judged, and […]
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Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
Top Gun 2020 – Pro-Am Sport Jet Class
Pilots in this class must have already placed (twice!) in the top three spots of an AMA competition or in the top 30 percent of a Top Gun field. Each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation; this is added to the average of the best three (out of four) flight rounds […]
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This new class introduced at the 2020 Top Gun event is intended for electric-powered jet aircraft. It has the same rules as for the Pro Jet class except it is for “foamie jets” only, and each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation. The fan units are limited to 120mm maximum. To […]
Top Gun 2020 – Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) Class
This new class introduced at the 2020 Top Gun event is intended for electric-powered jet aircraft. It has the same rules as for the Pro Jet class except it is for “foamie jets” only, and each pilot is awarded 25 static points for showing scale documentation. The fan units are limited to 120mm maximum. To […]
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