Radio Control Scale Aerobatics
John Glezellis <[email protected]>
The new RC Scale Aerobatics columnist introduces himself
Also included in this column:
- Presenting your model in competition
- A flight-mix rundown
If you are an avid reader of Sport Flyer, Quiet Flyer, or Backyard Flyer, you may be aware of my background in the fine sport of RC Aerobatics (Pattern). This is my first column for MA, and I would like to thank this publication for giving me this opportunity. Now I’ll tell you a little about myself.
I am currently 23 and am a full-time student at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. I am pursuing a degree in business management.
Regarding the sport of RC, I began flying at age six. My father taught me how, and during the course of one summer I soloed with a Kadet Senior. I became interested in aerobatics shortly afterward.
Seeing this, my father gave me one of his aerobatic models: a Carl Goldberg Super Chipmunk. It taught me a lot, but I didn’t realize my goal until my family and I went to the 1994 Tournament of Champions. After watching such pilots as Quique Somenzini, Christophe Paysant-Le Roux, and Mike McConville (to name a few) fly, I realized I wanted to be able to compete with the best one day. In 1995 I began competing in local Pattern competitions, and in 1997 I competed at my first IMAC competition.
If you are new to IMAC, it stands for the International Miniature Aerobatic Club. This organization was founded in 1974 with the intent to emulate full-scale aerobatic competition, which is known as IAC (International Aerobatic Club). You can learn more by visiting the official IMAC website at www.mini-iac.com. I strongly urge you to do so even if you do not plan to attend a local competition. I encourage you to look at the specific sequences that are flown (Basic, Sportsman, Intermediate, Advanced, and Unlimited) and practice individual maneuvers in a given sequence.
Many claim to be able to perform a loop or a roll. However, to execute it precisely can be tedious. In the world of aerobatics, all maneuvers are flown in an imaginary “box.” This imaginary portion of airspace has two axes: X and Y. The X axis is the main axis of flight (and is parallel to the runway/flightline). The Y axis is perpendicular to the X axis (and is across the flightline).
IMAC competitions usually include a separate event called “Freestyle.” In that class the pilot will perform a four-minute routine that is choreographed to music. When done properly, it is truly a beautiful flight; it is similar to watching a perfectly choreographed ice-skating routine.
Flying Presentation
Flying too close or too far away can hurt your overall flight scores. When flying too close, judges may not be able to see the maneuver clearly, and when flying too far the maneuvers will appear small and imprecise. Find a consistent distance that presents your aircraft clearly and keeps maneuvers centered in the imaginary box.
Several control mixes can assist the pilot during flight. The most common are:
- Rudder-to-elevator:
This mix is needed in knife-edge flight. To see if your model needs this, fly parallel to the runway and apply full throttle. Then roll the airplane so the top of the airframe is visible. Apply enough rudder to maintain your altitude and pay special attention to the model’s tracking. If it pitches toward the undercarriage, you will need a mix that adds up-elevator when rudder is deflected. (The rudder channel will be the master channel and the elevator channel the slave.) If the model pulls toward the canopy, a mix that adds down-elevator when rudder is applied is necessary.
- Rudder-to-aileron:
This mix is also used in knife-edge flight. To see if your model needs it, fly parallel to the runway, apply full throttle, and roll the airplane so the top is visible. Apply enough rudder to maintain altitude, and pay special attention to roll tracking. If it rolls to the right, for instance, you will need a mix that applies a touch of left aileron when that rudder direction is applied (and vice versa). Again, the rudder channel will be the master and the aileron channel the slave.
- Throttle-to-elevator:
Although this mix may not appear traditional, it is commonly used. To check, climb to an exceptionally high altitude and lower the throttle to idle. Push the model to a vertical down line and observe its tracking. If the aircraft “pulls” toward the canopy, you need a throttle-to-elevator mix that adds a touch of down-elevator when the throttle stick is at idle. If the model pushes toward the undercarriage, you need a mix that adds a touch of up-elevator when the throttle is at idle.
During the course of the next few columns I plan to familiarize you with the Basic class. We will break down the 2007 Basic sequence, maneuver by maneuver, and describe each one in the language of aerobatics, which is Aresti.
In the meantime, please review what I have written. Then go out to the flying field and make sure your airframe requires none of the aforementioned mixes. If you find that it does, mix away!
Until next time, fly hard! MA
Sources
- International Miniature Aerobatic Club
Box 1010 King, NC 27021 www.mini-iac.com
- Fliton USA
4790 Irvine Blvd., Ste. 105-299 Irvine, CA 92620 www.fliton.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
