Last weekend was the 5th Annual Ringmaster Roundup at George Bush Park in Houston, TX. The competition is restricted to the S-1 version of the Matt Kania 1950 Sterling Ringmaster. Saturday competition is in Old Time and PAMPA stunt. Sunday is a fun event dubbed Team Stunt. Teams of 4 or 5 fliers are chosen by the top fliers from the Saturday events. The team events are Old Time Stunt, PAMPA Stunt and Unknown Stunt. One member of each Team flies one of these events. Unknown Stunt, by the way, consists of a set of maneuvers which is handed out shortly before the flights take place. Some of the Unknown maneuvers are tough if not impossible (square overhead four leaf clover for instance). The final team event is Pursuit Combat. This competition has two S-1 Ringmasters with tail streamers and one is designated the "drone." The "drone" flier must try to fly straight and level while the pursuit plane tries to make as many cuts as possible in 5 minutes. The pursuit pilot may also cut his own tail streamer by dropping in front of the "drone."
I showed up with four electric Ringmasters, 3 S-1s and a Pat King Ringmaster 150 (a kit that he has for sale). No awards for my flying of my electrics but I did get to fly "drone" on Dale Gleason's team! Teammate Don Cranfill made 8 cuts from my "drone" and his pursuit plane to lock up first place in the team event!
The highlight for me was that my S-1 electric Ringmasters were voted the Pilot's Choice for S-1s!
Here are a couple of photos. By the way, that is expert pilot Joe Gilbert standing behind me with his "Master of the Ring" award for having the highest score overall. I believe that Joe has won that award for all five years that the Ringmaster Roundup has been held.
This is a really fun event and anyone within striking distance of Houston, TX and with an S-1 Ringmaster should try to attend next year.