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Control line (CL) carrier flying is one
of those things I've always wanted to try, but have never gotten around to it. Unlike
with radio control (RC) modeling, CL has not changed much over the decades. A lot
of people have made the switch from glow fuel power to electric power, but the overall
methods and technology has been pretty consistent. CL carrier events are still,
it seems from my reading, dominated by glow fuel power, a three-line systems, and
some form of the old standard
Martin MO−1 airplane
model. Prior to the 1970s, before all the major commercial and residential development
took place all over the country, control line flying could be found in many community
and industrial area vacant lots. There was plenty of room and opportunities to build
and fly models were abundant (if there were no neighbors complaining of the noise.
Nowadays, you're lucky to find a public control line flying area, and you almost
never just happen to be driving by someplace and see model aviation of any sort
being carried out. ...but I digress. In the era this article appeared in American
Modeler magazine, CL clubs often had sophisticated facilities for all kinds of flying,
including this elaborate carrier deck.
See "Portable
Control Line Aircraft Carrier Deck" (March 1962 American Modeler), "Livingston
(NJ) Club Builds Carrier Deck" (September 1967 American Modeler), and "Flying the Carrier
Event" (July 1951 Air Trails).
Livingston (NJ) Club Builds Carrier Deck
 Take one small but enthusiastic model airplane
club, one big dream, lots of wood, paint, nails, hard work, Coke and hamburgers
and you come up with the Livingston, New Jersey Model Airplane Club, and Essex County's
newest carrier deck.
Early in 1966 the club decided to enter the carrier event competition by constructing
a carrier deck at G.V. Controls Co., Livingston, N.J. The carrier deck, complete
with a scale island, was carefully blueprinted by senior club members. U.S. Plywood
Company's 3/4-in. 4x8 AC fir panels and Petitt Paint Company's epoxy and marine
paint were the materials chosen by the club to withstand the rigors of weather resulting
from a permanent outdoor installation.
LMAC carrier assembly line slows down momentarily while technical problem is
solved.
The Club's 18 or so junior and senior members pitched in, laying out panels,
cutting wood, nailing and painting. The island is removable during flight competition
and also serves as a storage area for sandbags, hardware and lines. By June the
carrier deck was completed and ready for the first carrier takeoff.
One cold, wintry day last October the LMAC held its first AMA sanctioned contest.
Carrier was one of the most successful events, ending only when numbness and darkness
drove competition and club members home. The USS Weldwood-Pettit had had its official
christening.
Bob Caso, Livingston (N.J.) MAC senior member (in cap) prepares to take off from
deck of club-made carrier - complete except for side skirt which was added later.
Posted August 15, 2020
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