Free Flight: Duration

FREE FLIGHT DURATION U MOTOR MAKEUP first got started flying rubber-powered models just about everybody used -inch-wide rubber strip Youd check plans suggested motor length number strands would next measure out however feet rubber tie ends together trial-and-error arrange motor Sometime early 1 960s switched 1mm diameter Pirelli Lastex typical 50gram Wakefield 104 strandswell over 150 feet spaghetti soon learned make up motors winding rubber onto sheet thick balsa sheet cut required length Id slip off bind ends motor small rubber bands no longer use round rubber having switched 1/s-inch-wide rubber strip method making up motors hadnt really changed much Instead piece balsa simple device made consisting two-foot-long piece 1 x 2 series /4-inch holes drilled along its length couple two-inchlong pieces h-inch diameter dowel could adjusted give desired motor length events have maximum motor weight such Coupe P-30 Wakefield would weigh out length rubber tie Hole for3x0 bond retainer \ Kegs 1/16 ply FIN 1/18 light LE x18LI solid box U TE 1Exl Slots 5x08 CB Clever removable fin design Mike Segrave Sketch Vol Libre shows installation Mikes Coupe 128 Model Aviation rush has come up number clever devices aid Rubber flier making up motors getting out models Balsa ijith ply facing side ends together start winding around two dowels course things didnt work out evenly first time would have unwind rubber move dowels fraction inch try again time-consuming relatively mindless dont think Ive ever made up motor wasnt watching television few months back Al Brush sent new Speedy Spool Stranders try first thought just fancy version familiar stick-and-dowel arrangementnice look no real improvement couple phone conversations Al convinced thing really better Thats because Speedy Spool Strander has free-turning spools end instead dowels After motor wound onto strander grab half strands pull direction few times grab other half strands pull opposite direction few times Since spools rotate will allow rubber strips up really does work Actually variation method described early 1950s Ed Lidgard suggested putting both wrists through end motor having another person same other end typical Wakefield motor back upwards four ounces rubber person would move wrists around other circular motion keeping light tension motor few minutes would out strands Fine big motors bit awkward Coupe motor can order Speedy Spool Strander FAI Model Supply Box 366 Sayer PA 18840-0366 Aerodyne 1924 E Edinger Santa Ana CA 92705 also available directly Al address Al Brush 25500 Aquila Ct Sun City CA 92586 Speedy Spool Strander shown photos $2995 will handle motors up 24 inches length Also available 36-inch Super Strander $3295 48-inch Super Strander $3495 Other products available Flite Tech include Motor Mounter $2995 Peg Pusher $795 field-box-size Spool Strander $2995 Motor Mounter what us call stuffing stickhook end motor over end stick stuff model Peg Pusher specially-made handle aid insertion removal European-style rear pegs Bunt Bunt Jean Pailet took exception statement Free Flight Nats coverage December Model Aviation auto surfaces bunt now necessity win AMA Gas events writes record states otherwise least case smaller /2A Gas Fl J classes last nine Nats decade 90s auto-surfaces have become prevalent members Brooklyn Skyscrapers have won either both events six times flying locked-up non-auto-surface models specifically includes first /2A year 1998 Jean course right should know good number wins honest writing about bunt being necessity thinking /2A several reasons feel /2A different event other Gas events typical 1/2A model about half area third weight average 15 19-powered Gas model lighter wing loading allows much better recovery non-automated 1/2A compared non-auto large Gas model other words can get away auto surfaces light 1/2A F1J especially good picking thermals Jean will agree maximum performance auto stab auto rudder bunt necessary especially true wish stretch wing aspect ratio out better glide Heres low-aspect-ratio wing will have faster roll rate high-aspect ratio wing Try imagine U-2 doing barrel rolls properly-trimmed low-aspectratio power model especially lightlyMarch 1999 129 Flite Tech Speedy Spool Strander desired weight rubber strip weighed out tied loop wrapped around two spools spooi mounted clamp fitting allowing moved along aluminum rule locked place Wide stainless-steel-and-nylon spools turn freely loaded can roll easily spiral climb its glide high-aspectratio wing spiral climb difficult achieve transition power glide could problematic Thats just about FlC power models now use auto surfaces climb typically near vertical slight roll 1800 five seconds climb stab held down trailing edge give near zero decalage difference between wing stab incidence After engine stops model continues coast upward gaining altitude stab briefly tripped down back pushing model over vertical start outside loop whats known bunt model approximately horizontal stab trailing edge comes up glide setting addition performance advantage trimming auto-surface model maximum performance actually easier non-auto model Thats because various phases flight climb bunt glide can adjusted independently disadvantages increased complexity construction involved flight preparation have hook up right lines locked-up model adjustment correct some problem power pattern will also affect glide vice-versa advantages non-auto surface models simpler construction easier flight preparation Because very real differences lot discussion about dividing power two categories autosurface models another locked-up models will hearing about various proposals such Slow Open Power discussed Jean also reminded neglected mention five Free Flight clubs helped daily running Nats Basically club took day help processing models recording scores other tasks required make major meet function smoothly Thanks Brainbusters Central Indiana Aeromodelers Central Ohio Free Flighters Skyscrapers Tn-County Aero Club Off Fin never have big fan fins mounted stabs always chance something shifting back disastrous consequences worst part stab-mounted fin store stab fin slim thing will fit easily narrow slot model box Add fin youve got awkward assembly takes up 10 times much space designing own model can course place fin really belongs firmly attached fuselage However Nostalgia Old-Timer designs have fin attached stab often very large fin Making fin removable will save lot storage space Through years Ive seen few ideas removable fins Usually involve some sort wire-and-tubing arrangement two allowed adjusting entire fin turn Most depended friction wire tubing hold everything place method developed Mike Segrave featured recently French Free Flight magazine Vol Libre best Ive seen uses two plywood keys extending down bottom fin fit corresponding slots top rudder first glance may seem much different old wire-and-tubing setups Mike has carefully shaped keys hooks extending forward fin pressed down stab pushed forward lock front key fits under stabs spar rear key fits under sheeting extends fore-and-aft over stabs center section Once rudder pushed forward effectively locked place make sure stays way Mike runs stab hold-down rubber band through hole fin just behind front key An adjustable rudder can tweaked power glide trim Plans Source vendors saw Nats last summer Bill Brewer An architect profession Bill has put together extensive line Free Flight plans Some subject areas include Rubber endurance Rubber Scale 020 Replica Nostalgia Gas Jimmie Allen PeeWee-30 Gas Scale Old-Time Glider Typical plan prices $5 Zeek 33 $6 Zero 42 $6 Jasco Thermic 50 prices include postage folded plans add $150 rolled plans Bill also has stick-on MylarTM Jimmie Allen decals list available plans send dollar stamped self-addressed envelope Bill Brewer 2370 Old Oxford Rd Hamilton OH 45013 Nats Video attended 1998 Nats didnt youll enjoy video Alan Abriss Homegrown Television Productions has put together lot flying action interviews modelers close-ups models video includes five days Nats Free Flight action Alan also has videos available 1992 1995 1996 1997 Nats 1992 Nats video includes Nats action including RC Control Line Indoor Other videos available include documentary Brooklyn Skyscrapers includes rare footage pre-war flying Silent Magic 20-minute video Indoor written narrated Don Ross good show club meetings school groups prospective Indoor flying site owners types Scale duration Indoor models shown Order Alan Abniss Productions 94-20 66th Ave Forest Hills NY 11374 video $20 except Silent Magic $15 Postage handling $3 buy two videos Alan will pay shipping Move Free Flighters mobile bunch months updates addresses Web sites Tom Coussens new editor Scatter monthly newsletter Southern California Aero Team address Tom Coussens Scatter 25442 Via Dona Christa Valencia CA 91355 can E-mail Tom coussenst@ thevinenet SCAT clubs Web page wwwaeromodel com/scat years subscription $20 12 issues Send club treasurer Bob Wieble 7939 Wish Ave Van Nuys CA 91406 Please make check payable Bob Wiehle new editor Flyoff Skyscrapers newsletter Alan Abriss 94-20 66th Ave Forest Hills NY 11374 Alans E-mail address hgtv@ earthlinknet Lee Campbell has moved Free Flight kit-and-supplies business Muncie can order catalog sending $3 Campbells Custom Kits Box 3104 Muncie IN 47307 Sal Frucianos Starline International has new web site wwwstarlineffcom E-mail address now freeflight@starlineffcom mailing address still Starline International 6146 E Cactus Wren Rd Scottsdale AZ 85253 Jos Meliss ABC Free Flight Supply has moved new address Romershovenstraat II 3b bus 2 3730 Hoeslt Belgium E-mail web site addresses unchanged respectively JosMelisitngbe wwwpingbe/abcjreeflighLsupplies Mike Woodhouses Free Flight Supplies mentioned column last Fall now has web site http/membersaol com/mjwffslhome htm 4130 Model Aviation