148 MODEL AVIATION
THE ANNUAL
Winterfest Quickie
500 (AMA event
428), or Q-500, race
was held in Phoenix,
Arizona, January
20-21, 2007. Again,
Randy Dauer and
his dedicated team
of SpeedWorld R/C
Flyers volunteers
did an outstanding
job of hosting the
first big race of the year. Jim Allen has been the annual CD and a fierce
competitor.
Everything went as planned except for the weather. Although only
one round was lost because of it, not much practicing was
accomplished during the two days prior.
First there was wind, and then there was rain. The only thing
missing was fire—which would have at least kept us all warmer. Those
smart enough to bring propane heaters were everybody’s best friends.
So much for squeezing six months of desperately needed practice
into two days of flying before the race. My flying buddy Brian Neff
and I were lucky to get in four practice flights (instead of 40) prior to
racing.
After the awards were handed out Sunday it started snowing! Brian
and I drove all the way from Denver to escape the snow, only to find
ourselves shivering between heats in the middle of the desert. Maybe
that’s why they call it “Winterfest”!
Each year there seems to be a new model released at Winterfest.
Several years ago it was Terence Palaschuk’s Neme-Q +, followed by
Winterfest 2007 Q-500 race report
Also included in this column:
• New 33/4-pound Q-500
minimum
• Q-500 rules review
• 2007 Q40 Classic
• 2.4 GHz radio systems
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Kurt Bozarth
Winterfest Q-500 winner Gary Schmidt is
either trying to warm his hands on his justrun
engine or performing basic
maintenance. Dunnavant photo.
Lee Ulinger’s own-design Q-500 Force, at Winterfest 2007, uses
traditional balsa-sheeted foam-core wings and a balsa/plywood
fuselage and tail. Sean Dunnavant photo.
A heat of four Q-500 models ready to launch. A finger over the
carburetor helps keep the engine cool while waiting for takeoff; just
don’t kill it. Dunnavant photo.
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Bruce De Chastel’s Shotgun and Slingshot.
This year it was a laser-cut-fuselage version of
Chuck Bridge’s Vortex. Three finished in the
top 10.
Terence’s Neme-Q + made an excellent
showing this year by taking the top two spots.
I’m sure Gary Schmidt and Jim Allen had a
little something to do with it.
Following are the top 10 finishers in Q-500.
1. Gary Schmidt
2. Jim Allen
3. Randy Bridge
4. Matias Salar
5. Gino Del Ponte
6. Fred Burgdorf
7. Craig Grunkemeyer
8. Lee Von Der Hey (Fast Time 1:06.75)
9. Mike Helsel
10. Tony Lopez
Following are the top 10 finishers in Sport
Quickie (AMA event 424).
1. Tom Skavinsky (Fast Time 1:36.09)
2. Martin Scott
3. Tom Graves
4. Tim Strom
5. Ed Graves
6. Danny Courtier
7. David Gavin
8. Don Leonard
9. Alexandria Russell
10. Jim Padelt
New 33/4-Pound Q-500 Minimum: As of
January 1, 2007, the minimum weight for Q-
500 and Sport Quickie is 33/4 pounds. The old
minimum was 31/2 pounds.
There has been much discussion on the
Internet regarding why and whether it would
have an impact or not. Winterfest 2007 was the
first big race to see this new minimum weight
in effect.
Most of the big-name racers (see the
preceding top-10 lists) had to add 1/4 pound to
their airplanes. Some used larger batteries and
some simply added weight at the CG.
Now some of us have overweight hangar
queens that are no longer considered heavy. If
only we could come up with rules such as this
in other areas of our life.
So did this new increased minimum weight
have an effect? There are a few things to
consider.
The average fast time for the top 10 Q-500
finishers in 2005 was 1:09.10. In 2006 the
average was 1:08.4. This year, with the
increased minimum weight, the average was
1:09.6. That’s not much of a change.
In 2005 Fred Burgdorf set a Winterfest fast
time of 1:07.12. Last year Travis Flynn set a
fast time of 1:05.87. This year Lee Von Der
Hey set a fast time of 1:06.75. Again, not much
of a change.
Following is information directly out of the
AMA rule book addressing when an aircraft
will be weighed.
“3.6. Weight. Weights specified are for the
complete aircraft, ready to fly except for fuel.
At least one aircraft from each heat shall be
weighed immediately after the heat with any
residual fuel remaining in the tank. In addition,
June 2007 149
the Contest Director (CD) may require any
aircraft to be drained of fuel and weighed at
any time.”
Q-500 Rules Review: I thought it would be
useful to review some rules in AMA’s
Competition Regulations that define Q-500
and are common to both Sport Quickie and Q-
500. If you are like me, most of what I do or
use is based on watching the more
experienced and successful racers. I use the
propellers, wheels, models, etc. they use.
Following are some reasons why they do what
they do.
One propeller blade may be sanded on the
top (front) side, and one side of the hub may
be sanded for balancing. Edges and tips may
be sanded, but only as much as necessary to
remove sharp molding flash.
If one servo is used to control the elevator
(pitch), it must be the type with four mounting
holes. The same applies to the ailerons (roll).
If two servos are used in unison to control a
single function, such as in a mixed V-tail
configuration, the servos need only have two
mounting holes each.
Pushrods can have only one threaded end
that is free to turn. The other end needs to
consist of a “Z” bend, an “L” bend with a
keeper, a metal clevis that is soldered on, or a
threaded ball link that is glued or secured in
some way to prevent it from turning.
The minimum Q-500 weight is now 33/4
pounds. The minimum wing area is 500
square inches, and the minimum wingspan is
50 inches. The maximum span is 52 inches.
The chord must be constant for at least
471/2 inches of the span. The airfoil thickness
must be a minimum of 13/16 inches for at least
471/2 inches of the span.
A Q-500 model’s fuselage must be a
minimum of 31/2 inches at its deepest point,
which must occur within the wing chord. Its
width must be a minimum of 27/8 inches at its
widest point, which also must occur within the
wing chord. These minimum width and depth
points do not need to coincide.
The fuselage must have a simple,
rectangular “box” cross-section with a
maximum radius of 1/4 inch at the corners.
Diamond-shaped cross-sections are not
allowed. Neither are fillets or fairings between
the fuselage and the wing.
Canopies and turtledecks are allowed but
are not included when measuring minimum
widths or depths. The front firewall needs to
be a rectangular, flat plate measuring at least
21/4 inches by 21/4 inches.
The engine and engine mount have to be
fully exposed. Neither engine cowlings nor
streamlining is allowed. An aftermarket
backplate-type engine mount is allowed as
long as it displaces the same crankcase
volume as the original backplate.
Fixed landing gear with at least two wheels
is required, and the wheels must have a
minimum 21/4-inch diameter. Tail wheels are
allowed but not required. The main wheels
must be at least 7 inches apart. No wheel pants
or fairings are allowed.
Round music-wire struts must be at least 1/8
inch in diameter. Flat stock or molded gear is
allowed and can be filed or shaped into an airfoil
150 MODEL AVIATION
Every aircraft must be equipped with a
positive means of steering on the ground.
Aerodynamic yaw control by means of a
movable rudder or V-tail is acceptable. And in
case you were wondering, you must be able to
independently control your aircraft in pitch
and roll.
Please do not assume that I covered it all.
If you are in doubt about any of the
requirements, you can find the AMA rule
book online at www.modelaircraft.org.
2007 Q-40 Classic: In addition to hosting
Winterfest 2007, the SpeedWorld R/C Flyers
held the first big Quarter 40 (AMA event
422), or Q-40, race of the year February 24-
25. The turnout was incredible, with 73 racers
in attendance representing 20 states and nine
countries!
The big news of the event was the release
of Henry Nelson’s latest Q-40 engine,
designated “LS” because of its long stroke
dimensions. Rumors were flying that this
would lead to routine subminute times.
Matias Salar set a blazing record on Day
One with a time of 59.24 seconds using his
new Nelson Q-40 LS. However, he was the
only one to break the 1-minute barrier, much
to the dismay of the rumor patrol. Many were
close, but most of the racers had received their
new engines only a few days before and had
little time to dial them in.
Following are the results of the 2007 Q-40
Classic.
1. Gino Del Ponte (1:01.78)
2. Travis Flynn (1:00.29)
3. Lyle Larson (1:01.76)
4. Mathew Van Baren (1:02.70)
5. Dave Shadel (1:00.74)
6. Craig Grunkemeyer (1:01.99)
7. Lee Ulinger (1:06.22)
8. Randy Bridge (1:03.59)
9. Scott McAfee (1:02.89)
10. Matias Salar (0:59.24—record)
2.4 GHz Radio Systems: Fred Burgdorf,
Travis Flynn, Randy Bridge, Tim Lime, Gary
Freeman Jr., and Darrol Cady used the new
Spektrum DX7 2.4 GHz system at the 2007
Winterfest race. No problems were reported,
and several indicated that they will use it
exclusively from now on.
This system should give us some freedom
with the matrix, but the colored stickers on the
wings are still the most efficient and reliable
way of identifying the airplanes and their
respective lanes, especially at the larger races.
Until we come up with a better system of
identification, you will still only race a
maximum potential of 75% of the other
racers.
This is a good thing since Pylon Racing is
a team sport, by which I mean there is a caller
and a racer. If you disagree, you probably
haven’t found a great caller yet!
The only negative side I can find with this
new system is that after I crash from sloppy
thumbs I won’t be able to look at the pits with
my arms raised, yelling “Who turned on?”
I’ll be back in two months. MA
A Message to All AMA Members
Help in maintaining and acquiring flying sites–it’s the heartbeat of
aeromodeling.
The Flying Site Assistance Program consists of volunteers who
serve as the eyes and ears of the Academy of Model
Aeronautics and its members. These volunteers are tasked
with being the best informed members in their local areas with
regard to any public or private activity that could impact an
existing or future flying site.
They accomplish this by reading the newspaper, watching
television, listening to the radio, etc. The accumulation,
dissemination, and distribution of such information could prove
vitally important in maintaining an AMA Chartered Club in any
given area.
If you, as an AMA member, would be interested in volunteering
for such an important and challenging endeavor, please contact:
Districts I-VII
Joe Beshar
198 Merritt Dr.
Oradell NJ 07649
Phone: (201) 261-1281
Fax: (201) 261-0223
[email protected]
Districts VIII-XI
Wes De Cou
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
Phone: (480) 460-9466
Fax: (480) 460-9434
[email protected]
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