The AMA Contest Boards are starting to consider rule changes that will become effective in January 2015. Because of the lead time for this column, I cannot list proposals on which the CL Navy Carrier Contest Board will be voting. The proposals are available on the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org, under the Competitions and Events section and headings of “Rules and Regulations,” and “Rules Proposals.”
All proposals will be published on the website before the initial voting by the various Contest Boards takes place. You are invited and encouraged to research the proposals that relate to your events—especially Navy Carrier—and to let your Contest Board representative know your views concerning each proposal. The addresses for these representatives are also listed on the AMA website.
The deadline for the initial voting is May 1, so your comments should be directed to your representative in the early part of April to ensure your opinion is heard and considered.
New Carrier Modelers
I received some photos and information from Tony Livaudais, editor of the Probable Cause newsletter for the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers (RAM). Tony is starting to fly Carrier with the encouragement of longtime Carrier fliers and RAM members, Larry and Leroy Fuehrer.
Larry’s first Carrier model is a profile Grumman Hellcat designed by Andy Housden and intended for Northwest Sport 40 flying. The O.S. FP40 is the power required by the event.
Larry is working to provide a new carrier deck that is more compact and portable than the RAM’s original deck. The new deck would be suitable for transporting to and setting up on any of the various sites used by the RAM club.
As you can see in the photo, the club’s current Carrier practice area consists of painted lines on a parking lot.
Eric Conley’s New .15
Eric Conley’s latest design is a new model for .15 Navy Carrier, which he hopes to be an improvement over the Messerschmitt Bf 109T model from roughly 10 years ago. It will use the newly allowed 2.4 GHz radio control for throttle and operate the elevator on two lines. He has some interesting ideas, as you can see from the photos.
Eric is using an internal-combustion engine on this model, which is a change from the electric .15 model he has been flying for the last few years. He believes that the current battery technology does not allow for optimum low-speed performance because of limited battery capacity within the 2.5-pound weight limit of the electric .15 rules.
The new Bf 109T will be enlarged for better low-speed performance. The new wing has two additional bays on each tip, bringing the wingspan to 33.5 inches and the wing area to 247 square inches.
The horizontal stabilizer is also increased to a 15-inch span and 48 square inches, including a 27-square-inch elevator. The stabilizer is asymmetrical with the inboard side an inch longer than the outboard side. Eric believes that this feature will result in better control as the engine’s 11° offset results in most of the propeller blast being concentrated on the inboard elevator.
Power will be a Nelson .15 FISE fitted with a Perry 2400 carburetor and turning an APC sport 7 x 4 propeller.
The radio system used to control the throttle results in an additional 2.7 ounces of weight. Most of this is battery weight. In Eric’s opinion, the extra weight is more than offset by the simplicity of setting up and operating the system compared to the more traditional three-line control setup.
Nats
Only three months remain to get ready for the Nats. Navy Carrier events will be flown Tuesday through Thursday, July 15-17, with processing starting on Monday evening. The annual Navy Carrier Society banquet will take place on Wednesday evening.
I hope to see many of you there!
