Radio Control Scale Aerobatics
Jason Noll [[email protected]]
MA’s newest columnist has a winning history
Also included in this column:
- Wood vs. composite models
- Preparing for the next invitational
- The author’s projects
It's getting to be that time of year again! It’s the time when you start wrapping up a long but hopefully productive and exciting outdoor season and head to your hobby shop to stock up on foam-safe glue and Depron.
I’m the new Scale Aerobatics columnist. I have huge shoes to fill, following Mike Hurley and his great columns. I will do my best to bring you what is new and neat in the RC Scale Aerobatics modeling world, and I hope to answer some of your questions.
I started flying at the age of 7 out in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada, on the same dry lakebed that many of the Tournament of Champions (TOC) pilots used as their practice field. Because of their influence I was determined to do what they did, and I watched them all day long.
My father, Frank Noll Jr., was also a huge inspiration, as was my late grandfather, Frank Noll Sr. I started flying with a Carl Goldberg 25-size Eaglet trainer. I can remember it like it was yesterday. My dad walked over to me after months of my bugging him and handed me a radio. He simply said, “This does... this does... and this does...” We walked out to the flight line, and he took the airplane off for me. When it was up to altitude he handed me the radio and stood by while I flew for the first time—without a buddy cord.
After roughly 10 minutes of his correcting my every mistake, I suddenly noticed he wasn't there. I turned around for a split second to find that everyone was watching me from their cars. With some verbal guidance from my dad I was able to land the airplane somewhere way out on one of the thousands of flat-clay acres in the distance. I only broke the propeller. From that point, my father has shown me the ropes and has taught me everything I know about being a smooth, disciplined RC pilot.
I began competing in RC Aerobatics (Pattern) in the early 1990s; that is where I learned many lessons in the value of flying straight lines and maneuver geometry. From there I progressed to Giant Scale Aerobatics and performed at hundreds of air shows all over the world with my dad. My first flight on a Giant Scale airplane was with a 1/4-scale Ohio R/C Ultimate 10-300S. That was considered big then.
When International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) competition hit the circuit, I was instantly hooked. The successes I earned flying in IMAC have provided invitations to numerous Don Lowe Masters Championships, Tucson Shootouts, Extreme Flight Championships (XFC), and Electric Tournament of Champions (ETOC) invitational competitions. As with anything in life, you have to pay your dues, learn from your mistakes, and earn the respect of all the top fliers.
In the spring of 2006 I married my amazing wife Amanda, who you might know through Hobbico. She, my daughter Savannah, and my father have been my biggest fans in the last two years, allowing me to take my flying even further. I can’t forget Don Anderson, who was my biggest supporter at Hobbico. He allowed me to travel to all the events before my resignation there last summer. We need more people like Don in this hobby.
That's enough about me; let's talk about what has been going on in the last few months.
It seems that Freestyle has moved to the next level in the last year, with high-intensity, high-G maneuvers instead of the traditional slow and graceful approach. All I have to say is, wow!
Airplanes have to be much stronger these days to handle the pilots' demands. I saw more wings flexing at the 2006 XFC than I have seen in my whole life.
Composite airplanes take advantage of the evolution in materials technology. They allow an RC pilot to do virtually anything he or she can imagine.
There is nothing wrong with wood aircraft; they just do not last as long as composite models in these situations. For instance, a wood airplane would have to be lightened to match the weight of a composite airplane because of its natural structure.
You might get one to two seasons out of a wood airplane if you push it hard, whereas a composite airplane will last for a seemingly infinite number of seasons. I have chosen to fly composite models for exactly that reason.
A few sources for composite aircraft are Krill Model, Composite-ARF, and 3W Modellmotoren. A few wood-airplane suppliers are Hangar 9, Carden Aircraft, Aeroworks, and Quique's Aircraft Company.
Another factor in your choice of model is the time and cost required for building. A Carden Yak-54 kit costs $1,199. If you don't have the workspace or the time to build it, you usually have to pay a builder "kit cost" to have it framed up. The next step is to buy covering and have it applied, which adds anywhere from $800 to $1,000.
Last, you have to paint the model. A typical paint job costs $300–$400 plus the cost of the paint, which typically runs an additional $200, depending on the brand and how many colors you choose to use.
All in, you can have a Carden kit framed up and painted to "ARF" stage for roughly $3,800. The airplane's overall quality will be slightly better if you choose to do this, or you can do it yourself to save some money.
Another option is an airplane such as the Krill Katana, which is all composite and painted in the mold. This model can be purchased for roughly $2,700, and it will arrive almost as complete as the Carden described above.
The question is, do you want a wood "showroom"-quality airplane or a composite airplane that will give you longevity? It's a personal choice.
In the last few months I have been practicing for the Don Lowe Masters World Aerobatic Championships. I want to give it my best since this is another invitational event. I try to fly three to four hours a day. That typically boils down to approximately 15 gallons of gas burned each week.
My main focus when practicing is to make each flight count, just as if I were flying in the contest. If I make a mistake in a maneuver, I keep flying as if it never happened and assume the judges still have their eyes keen on my flight.
You cannot turn around, look at the judges, put your hands in a "T" shape, and call time out. If you blow a maneuver in the contest, you get a zero for it, but you cannot let that one incident destroy the whole flight.
Consistency is the key to winning a large contest such as the Don Lowe Masters. You may not have the best flight, but you need to keep going.
While I am burning that much gas in a week, I make it a habit to do a twice-daily checkup on the airplane. This consists of pulling off the cowl; making sure the header bolts, muffler bolts, and engine bolts are tight; and making sure nothing is rubbing, cracking, or chafing on anything else.
This is also a good time to check all servos to make sure all the screws are tight and unusual slop hasn't developed. Lately I have been using JR 8611As, which have been absolutely flawless for me. At the same time they have made me feel more connected with the airplane because of the tremendous torque and amazing centering.
Between practicing sessions I have been designing my 2007 indoor aircraft that Fancy Foam Models will be selling shortly. This will be an airplane you can take out of the box and go directly to the floor of the E-TOC. It weighs only 6.5 ounces, and there will be two versions: one for freestyle and one for sequence work.
It seems that Pattern is probably going to take off and be the next exciting indoor gig. Airplanes for this type of flying will be CNC-cut for better accuracy, also allowing control surfaces and fuselage stiffeners to be prebeveled. They will be available in two eye-catching preprinted schemes.
Another thing I have been working on lately is variable-pitch (VP) propeller systems on large gas engines. Right now I have a VP unit designed by Eddie Weeks on a DA-100 engine. This setup has been well thought out, and much effort has been put into it. This is going to put a whole new twist on things.
Eddie has designed a first-class unit that will lead the way for more exciting 3-D aerobatics. I will write more about this in my next column, so don't miss out.
I am off to practice again. I'm looking forward to receiving all your comments!
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
