Radio Control Scale-2011/08

Author: Stan Alexander

Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 108,109

Radio Control Scale

Flight maneuvers for fun and competition

How many of you have downloaded the new AMA Scale rules and regulations? It's a great resource for learning different types of model competition in which you might be interested, as well as learning more about flight maneuvers, static judging, and documentation.

Because we are in the middle of the flying season, let's take a look at flight maneuvers and completing a flight, not simply getting up there and boring holes in the sky seemingly for no apparent reason—although that's fine too! It helps me to relax sometimes.

Some of the best maneuver descriptions are not listed in the AMA rule book but are included in the FAI Scale F4 Sporting Code. You can download these from the FAI website or the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) site, but be ready with lots of ink and paper.

The FAI sporting code has flight diagrams for all FAI-published Scale maneuvers with descriptions that help you visualize how the maneuver should look from the judge's perspective. This can help improve your flying and make a better scale presentation for spectators at major events.

If you are flying a warbird, you might think about a routine such as this:

Takeoff: This maneuver is required. Take off down the runway, retract your gear, then raise flaps and make your turn around the patch.

Fly-by: A fly-by is also required, and here is a great spot for it. It settles your nerves and helps to ensure that you have everything buttoned up and are ready for the rest of the flight.

Figure 8: Starting parallel to the runway, make your turn in front of the judges; this is your halfway mark for the maneuver. Make one horizontal circle headed away from your position. When you come back to the center, make another circle toward yourself. You come out at the center point again and call the maneuver complete on the same parallel line on which you started. This takes practice to get it right!

Retracts: Use this as one of your options. You should score well on this maneuver unless the gear slaps the inside of the wing or you have a similar error.

Flaps: Use the flaps prototypically with takeoff and landing, and it might be a good idea to see if the judges want you to make a pass with the flaps lowered in a scalelike manner.

Military Roll: Most warbirds can do a roll (although some World War I scouts were limited) with a hump in the middle of the maneuver. This is typical of most World War II fighters. If you are competing, center the maneuver so its top is in front of the judges. Done correctly, this is a nice procedure.

Loop: This can be harder to control and I don't recommend it on a windy day, but a nice loop centered on yourself or the judges is a great maneuver. Airplanes make different-shaped loops. A World War II fighter should make a round loop; a smaller, lightly loaded aircraft would make a somewhat egg-shaped loop. When competing I suggest you show the judges a diagram of how you plan to do this maneuver.

Split S: This maneuver is also called a "Reversal." At the top of your flight pattern, perform a half roll. At the bottom of the half roll, resume straight flight parallel to the runway and judges in the opposite direction. It's a simple maneuver for an aerobatic-type model and is impressive when done correctly. It's also a quick maneuver. Less time in front of the judges with a maneuver such as this increases your chance for a good score. And if you're flying for fun, it's just plain cool!

Landing: Many of us rush our landing maneuvers (or in some cases, all maneuvers) and don't give ourselves proper time to set up the approach and landing for a good score. Take your time, reduce throttle on the back side of the approach maneuver parallel to the runway, deploy landing gear (making sure everything is down), then lower flaps and proceed in the crosswind pattern at the end of the field.

Continue to reduce speed and height while turning on the final leg of the pattern, then smoothly and gently land in front of the judges. Sometimes landing in front of the judges isn't possible, but if there is room on the runway this can help your score.

Realism in Flight: The entire flight is judged after you land. Smoothness and your transition into and out of maneuvers can affect this score. The smoother and more consistent the flight, the better your score will be.

Your Caller

Yes, I used a capital "C" in Caller, because he or she is that important to the pilot in a Scale contest or fly-in. Why? The first reason is safety. Pilots usually concentrate on flying the model and often don't notice what's going on around us. The Caller takes care of that task.

The call sheet lists the maneuvers in the proper order and what you're going to do during that sequence of maneuvers—drop flaps, raise flaps, lower throttle, gain altitude for the descending circle or a Split S maneuver, go past the judges for the stall turn, flaps and gear down for an overshoot, touch-and-go, or landing. The Caller can also help you keep up with your time in the air, especially if you're flying a jet or other model in which fuel consumption is critical.

Around Scale

Fun Scale is a flying event. All you have to do to qualify for static points is to have a photo or plastic model box top showing that there was actually an airplane that existed in that color and with those markings. Each year this event brings out unique and varied airplanes at different contests.

Fun Scale is a great way to enter a Scale contest, as well as enjoy the company of friends who are infected with the same love for scale models as you. Even if you want to borrow a model from a friend, that's okay too.

Ron Hemphill came to the Nats with friends who were competing in Fun Scale. What better way to enjoy flying together than to attend the Scale Nats?

Ron was competing with his RC Guys Cessna 150 Aerobat. The model features a 96-inch wingspan and weighs 13½ pounds. A Saito 1.2 four-stroke engine powers the Aerobat and it features McDaniel flaps and an onboard glow system.

The 150 Aerobat is a trainer much like a Citabria, so you can definitely enjoy doing aerobatics with this model and enjoy the scale realism.

Fair skies and tailwinds. MA

Upcoming Events

2011 Northwest Scale Championships — September 8–11 in Boise, Idaho, at the Boise Area Radio Kontrol Society (BARKS) flying field. Pilots will compete in Expert, Team, Open (Expert and Novice) classes, and Fun Scale Divisions 1 and 2. With a 48 x 500-foot paved field, it sounds like a great site.

Warbirds Over the Rockies — September 23–25, 2011, at Drake Field north of Denver, Colorado. For all warbird models, this event is "saluting the fliers past, present, and future for protecting American soil, its people, and values." It draws roughly 150 pilots and more than 5,000 spectators each year.

For more information, check out the BARKS website and the information listed in "Sources."