Absolutely Pat.
Once I figured out which end was up, I could pretty much count on going through several rounds - against good competition - with one airplane in the late '50s, '60s and '70s.
When the Nelsons became commonplace, what I saw was (1) Big, big dollars to compete (teens typically have great reactions and learn quickly, but how many could afford Nelsons?), and (2) Wholesale destruction of airplanes because too many (dare I say most?) competing couldn't possibly handle the speeds.
For me, it became a non-event.
With all due respect: Thank goodness we're all built a little differently. Perhaps I didn't clarify that I'm speaking for myself. That others have continued to enjoy Fast in the Nelson era is great!
Two things that have always been a "big deal" to me: Team and Mentoring.
I learned about serious competition as a high school wrestler, part of a state championship Team. If you think about it, Combat is so much like wrestling it's crazy:
- One on One
- Time limit; most points at the end wins
- "Sudden death' - you can be behind by a dozen points, yet win with a kill (pin)
- Confinement to a circle
I most enjoyed combat as part of a team. I won a lot of contests Thanks to 1-flip starts and dead-on engine settings by teammates. My teammates and I were asked by several competitors at Nats circles in the '70s to set their Fox engines. Our offer was this: grab the handle, shut your mouth, and be ready for the launch; we don't give a tinker's damn what you think of the starting procedure or setting, cuz we'll ignore you anyway.
Jordan Segal - who I believe is currently a MACA officer - was one of our happiest "customers".
But the proudest moment for me dates to a contest in the '70s here: only 17 entries, but at least 4 of us had finished in the top 4 at the Nats. I believe 3 were in the MACA Top 20 at the time. I finished 1st, my teammates 2nd and 3rd.
We also won Goodyear, beating some very good teams and the Speed Column writer from Chicago (Glenn Lee?).
Believe me, I don't even remember several of the other contests I won. Not a single match. The camaraderie, practice sessions (frequent!) and just general bull sessions we had were the best part!
I also enjoyed mentoring "kids". One selfish reason: I was always looking for a Junior or Senior to team with. In a number of contests, I won the Open age group while my younger teammate won Junior/Senior.
But regardless of their specific interests or flying ability, I just enjoyed working with young men who shared my interest. My house resembled a drop-in center for boys on summer weekends, and I've watched some of those kids become aero engineers, an FAA Traffic Controller, and a Marine Corps Pilot. Two others tragically died in training accidents early in their military careers.
None of their fathers showed any interest in aviation. Do you think they would cheerfully buy the boys a couple of Nelsons?
I would much prefer to fly combat against an accomplished flyer than against a rookie - or someone who simply couldn’t handle the speed they had. My approach against that flyer in contests was simply “get up first, get a cut, and then avoid them at all costs”.
What I saw here in the “Day of the Nelson” was too many - dare I say it, unskilled? - flyers shelling out money to go way too fast, and destroying dozens of airplanes at every contest.
Remember: I built my own airplanes, didn’t buy them, and was sometimes asked “Are you really gonna fly that one in combat?”.
So I’m the guy who became unwilling to build dozens of planes only to fly in a Destruction Derby”.
PS: I've known Phil Cartier - a great guy, incidentally - since he was a teenager, and we've flown against each other a few times. I even offered to teach the young'un about combat many years ago; today, it would definitely need to be the other way around!
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