RADIO CONTROL AEROBATICS
Eric Henderson, 303 Shady Ln., Marlton NJ 08053; E-mail: [email protected]
GiantScalePlanes Swallow ARF — Test Flight
Previously I got into what it takes to attend a contest. This month I will peep behind the curtain and look at what it takes to put on and run a contest. But first I have the results of test-flying the GiantScalePlanes Swallow Almost Ready to Fly (ARF).
Courtesy of Mother Nature smiling briefly on South Jersey, my Swallow was test-flown on March 21. I "flew the pants" off the thing. Immediately after takeoff I could feel that this airplane was "right." A few clicks of down, and we were immediately into the P-02 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) routine.
I had a YS 91 engine on the front of the model, with a 14 x 6 APC propeller. The airplane had digital servos; they were not required, but were selected to give the same feel as my Hydeout/Focus/Temptation.
There was too much control throw even at low rates. For test flights it is a good idea to set multiple rates per control surface to give you some in-flight options. The initial snaps were too deep and entertainingly over-rotated, but the spin was easy on rudder + elevator only.
Reducing the throws to about 20% less than the recommended amounts made the snaps much more predictable. The wing is heavier than a custom-built Pattern airplane's, so you do have to unload the "45 Degrees Up, 1-1/2" snap a little early.
Rolls were smooth and required little correction. The "Two Half Rolls with Four-Point Roll in Opposite Direction" was easy to perform. Loops could be made huge and round. Stall turns were on command!
Spins could be done with rudder + elevator only, and the inverted spin reversed with a flick of opposite aileron during the control-surface transition. Knife-edge flight had no mixing needed, and the four-point roll transitioned easily on the rudder hand. The power-hog Hourglass was well within this airplane's power/speed/climb capability.
When I wrote that I "flew the pants off the Swallow," I was being figurative and literal. The big downer of the day was that the wheel pants were far too flimsy. They cracked and split like eggshells in the air! They are now history. They are unnecessary for flight performance and were always vulnerable to hangar rash.
The first propeller-pitch choice was too low and was changed to a more Pattern-like 14 x 10 APC. The YS 91 loved it. The Performance Specialties muffler and 90° bend kept the noise down and made for a simple-to-set-up, viable contest-airplane power plant. This model flies 401 and 402 classes with no problems. It takes off in a straight line and sinks to the grass with a nice, shallow glide path that allows it to "kiss" the runway. Some practice would be required to do the "45 Degrees Down, One Negative Snap" in event 403, but it was achievable with this model as long as you did not use huge 3-D-type throws. The Avalanche was no problem. Event 403 was well within this airplane's capability, and if I did not have other models in my stable I could fly it in FAI. This model is not slow and will surprise you if you do a full-throttle pass. It will roll vertically with this engine. A YS 110 would probably give it a bit more edge in hot weather. It's a good entry-level airplane that will not leave you poor.
Tempting Temptations
I've included a picture of a brace of the new Temptation Pattern airplanes from Piedmont Models. David Cepas—who has his own business, if you couldn't tell from the advertising on his airplane—owns one of them. The other is mine, built by Dave Guerin. Dave's finish is much more epoxy-tolerant than mine!
One model has an O.S. 1.40 RX engine in it, and the other has an O.S. 1.60 FX-FI (fuel injection). I added a touch more right thrust to handle the bigger propeller on the 1.60. Expect to see quite a few of these aircraft on the competition circuit this year.
Lithium‑Ion Transmitter Pack
Longer-lasting batteries are always worth a look. How about a Lithium‑Ion pack in your transmitter that lasts for several days? Bern Furgang of Simi Valley, California ((805) 577-8664 or [email protected]), has produced a transmitter pack with two pairs of three-cell packs for your transmitter using Lithium‑Ion batteries.
I flew three consecutive days before I needed to recharge. The transmitter shows 12.5 volts when fully charged and lets you fly at least twice as long as other packs. Tests so far have proven satisfactory.
Putting on a Contest
What follows is a condensed explanation of what it takes to put on a contest. Understanding how a contest is run may help you navigate your way through one. My thinly veiled agenda is to stir you to run a contest of your own.
To CD or Not to CD?
- It helps to be an AMA contest director (CD), but you can run a contest with the help of an existing CD.
- You will need the license or the help of a licensed person if you want the contest to be AMA-sanctioned; this is recommended unless you just plan to run a local club event.
- It is a good idea to get a CD license from AMA; it can be obtained by passing a short open-book exam. If you are a CD, you can also get an optional cool "low" AMA number.
- Read and understand the "Radio Control Aerobatics" section in the current AMA Competition Regulations (the AMA rule book).
Scheduling and Sanctioning
- Check the AMA competition calendar for possible date conflicts. General guideline: do not clash with another similar contest within a day's drive or within about 300 miles.
- If you are near an AMA district border, also check adjacent district calendars.
- For a Pattern contest, contact your district National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA) vice president for contest-date assistance. It is their job to coordinate contest scheduling within the district.
- Once you have a date (or several possible dates), work with your local club. If the club approves, complete the AMA sanction paperwork and send it to the AMA district coordinator for approval.
Club Support and Finance
- Clubs are often more enthusiastic about giving up the field if there is financial benefit. The club coffers can receive as much as all of the entry fees, minus contest expenses.
- Clubs can also earn money from food and drink sales.
- A neat option is to open the field for all members at the end of the day or early Sunday afternoon if it's a two-day contest.
- Not every club welcomes losing its site for a weekend; consider a one-day event or a nonclub location if needed.
Possible Sites
- Pattern contests tend to be quiet and unobtrusive. Possible nonclub locations include:
- Recreational parks
- Military-aviation reserve sites
- Private runways
- Certain public parks and parking lots
- Country locations, horse-racing courses, or drag-racing strips
Promotion
- Promote your event with an informative flyer that includes local hotel information, directions, and contact numbers for travelers.
- Use AMA national and district websites, NSRCA national and local websites, your club's website, and local hobby shops to publicize the contest.
Scoring and Equipment
- There is an NSRCA computer-based scoring program; for details contact Derek Koopowitz at [email protected].
- Scoring can also be done manually, but using a laptop and a printer running off a 12-volt DC inverter is much easier than running a noisy generator all day.
- You will most likely use the pilots as judges, but for higher classes it's important to have scribes who write down scores as judges call them out. These judging teams should be supported by helpers who carry the score sheets to the scoring team.
- Most Pattern contests run six rounds and need many copies of the score sheets. Download score sheets from the "Download Score Sheets" section of the NSRCA website (www.nsrca.org).
- You will need one score sheet per judge per contestant per round. Do the math (for example, 30 contestants × 6 rounds × number of judges) and then double it to be safe.
Site Preparation
- At a minimum, mark aerobatic box guidelines on the runway as outlined in the AMA rule book. Where practical, make end poles, brightly painted or with flags, to mark the ends of the maneuvering box.
- Using three yardsticks, you can make a simple tool to measure angles when laying out the field. (See the "Tips and Tricks" section on the NSRCA website for details.)
- Athletic field paint is great for drawing temporary lines on the grass.
- Provide several folding chairs and sunshades for judges and scribes. Shade reduces heat exhaustion and helps maintain concentration.
Judging Logistics
- Balance judging duties among contestants so no one is overworked. Consider reshuffling flight orders to give pilots who have just judged some time before they fly again.
- Have contingency plans for extra helpers and replacements.
Trophies and Awards
- Trophies are usually awarded for the first three places, but you can go deeper if the budget allows.
- A nice touch is to photograph pilots individually and give them framed pictures of themselves and their airplanes.
Closing
When you are a pilot at a contest in the future, you will appreciate what the CD and volunteers are doing for you. If you may never take on the task of being a CD, now you know what goes on behind the scenes, and that will help you move through a contest with more understanding.
To all CDs: the service you provide is invaluable to the preservation of our sport. A big thank you from me!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
