The US Nationals

1987 Our lives in America»July 1987 US Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska
July 12, 1987 We spend the day on the road driving in convoy. That's Kaz and Miyako behind us and Bob and Jim are in the red/white car. We drive straight through to Lincoln, Nebraska July 14, 1987   Appearance judging, mine is the light purple plane with San Diego on the fin.   Kaz Minato's plane is on my left I get 17 appearance points. These points are important because they are added to every contest flight. Bob Hunt's Crossfire. It has an OPS 40 with a tuned pipe, one of the first appearances of a tuned pipe.
Bob and I look at the piped model. Lou Wolgast's Mirage Bob's new Laser. Windy Urtnowski's plane; this plane won the Concours d' Elegance.
Bob Gialdini's plane. He won the 1993 Nationals with this plane. Spectrum by Jim Casale Bob chats with Bart Klapinski Ted Fancher, Paul Walker, Kaz Minato.
Bob launching Jim's plane Wynn Paul and his wife Gid Addkison pull testing. Bart Klapinski is in the background. Bob Hunt and Jim Casale, both former US Nationals champions.
Karen Meador, Glenn's wife. Lou Wolgast Jenni judging. Note the wind. The wind howls.
Frank McMillan makes it to the final five. Glenn Meador assists Frank McMillan during the flyoffs. 1987 July NationalsLincolnNebraska 0105 a Ted tests the wind.
Bill Fitzgerald launches Ted Fancher's plane during the flyoffs. Windy getting ready to fly; he comes third. Kaz and Miyako prior to becoming parents. Paul Walker during the flyoffs.
Jim Casale tunes his engine before takeoff. He comes a very close second. Bill Fitzgerald launches Ted Fancher during flyoffs Eventual champion, Paul Walker. The scoreboard for the flyoffs. Three flyers pass the final round because of the wind.
The top twenty compete for a position in the final five. My name isn't among them. The final five 1987 July NationalsLincolnNebraska 0114 a Paul Walker - winner
Todd Lee wins the Junior Championship. We then tour the giant scale, radio control event for a look see. 1987 July NationalsLincolnNebraska 0118 a Jack Sheiks with a control line scale chipmunk.
Jenni investigates a giant scale Laser. Jenni sleeps on the floor while my plane takes the bed. Kaz takes videos of everything. Art Adamisin with his granddaughter Amy.
Art in the pool. Kaz. He's a lovely man and we still communicate a little. Jim Casale. Kaz being initiated. I remember yelling to check if he can swim before throwing him in. Kaz said it's OK.
Then it is Jenni's turn. Our travelling partners. Tod Lee with his parents, Jim and Lila. The Nats judges, scorers, runners and helpers. Jenni judged at three US Nationals.
That's Tom Dixon behind Jenni. Pampa Banquet Saturday July 18. Don McLave, Randy ?, Paul Walker all from Washington. Shareen Fancher is in the foreground. Bob gets a special prize Jim Levell gets a special prize for having the highest placed Magnum.
Rookie of the year, Mike Rogers. Jim Casale receiving second place prize. Bob Gialdina is a very nice gentleman, very much into sailing at the time. Kaz and Miyako with Betty Adamisin to their right
The next day July 19, 1987 We leave at 6:00am in convoy with Bob, Jim & Kaz. Jenni and I drive on I80 to Cheyenne Wyoming where we part company with our friends. We continue into the Rocky Mountains. The end of this segment