The new RC Scale Aerobatics columnist introduces himself
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Aerobatics John Glezellis
Peter Glezellis with John Glezellis
Extra 260 by Fliton. The 50cc
models have become popular in
the aerobatic arena. Designs such
as this one are cost effective with
promising flight characteristics.
Also included in this column:
• Presenting your model in
competition
• A flight-mix rundown
Regarding the sport of RC, I began
flying at age 6. 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 Web site at www.miniiac.
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
(which is 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
140 MODEL AVIATION
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.
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October 2007 141
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 it in a manner that is
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 to the undercarriage, you
will need to use a mix that incorporates
enough up-elevator when rudder is
deflected. (The rudder channel will be the
master channel and the elevator channel
will be the slave channel.) If the model
pulls to the canopy, a mix that
incorporates down-elevator when rudder
is applied is necessary.
• Rudder-to-aileron: This mix is needed
in knife-edge flight. To see if your model
needs this, fly it in a manner that is
parallel to the runway and apply full
throttle. Then roll the airplane so the top
of the airframe is visible. Apply enough
Author and designer John Glezellis with his Extra 260.
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 to oneself,
the sequence appears to be “rushed”
because the pilot will fly immediately
from one maneuver into the next.
However, flying too far away makes it
difficult for the judges (and the pilot) to
see the maneuver.
It is usually safe to fly at a distance of
170-200 meters from oneself and slightly
farther out (depending on the size of the
airframe). As Tournament of Champions
Chief Judge Fred Johnson claims, the
clearest presentation of the geometry of
the maneuver is the primary criteria for
the best score.
In addition, it is essential to master the
throttle stick. I prefer flying in a manner
that is called “constant speed.” If I
remember correctly, Hanno Prettner was
one of the first pilots to utilize this, and it
showed.
Flying in a “constant speed” manner is
exactly what its name indicates. The
model should fly at the same rate when it
is tracking on vertical up-lines, downlines,
and in standard horizontal flight.
You may think you need to spend
thousands of dollars on an airframe to be
competitive. It is true that larger models
fly better, but it is even more important to
realize that setting up your aircraft
properly is crucial for your success. As
an aspiring competition pilot you need to
spend time preparing your model perfectly
(regarding mixes, dual rates, etc.).
Mixing: It is common for most airplanes
to require different flight mixes to
rudder to maintain altitude, and pay
special attention to the model’s tracking
regarding roll.
If it rolls to the right, for instance,
you will need to use a mix that
incorporates a touch of left aileron when
that rudder direction is applied (and vice
versa). Please note that the rudder
channel will be the master channel and
the aileron channel will be the slave
channel.
• Throttle-to-elevator: Although this mix
may not appear to be kosher, it is
commonly used. To see if your model
needs to use it, climb it to an
exceptionally high altitude and lower the
throttle setting to idle. Push the model to
a vertical down-line and pay special
attention to its tracking.
If the aircraft “pulls” to the canopy
you need to use a throttle-to-elevator mix
that incorporates a touch of downelevator
when the throttle stick is at idle.
If the model pushes to the undercarriage,
you need to use a mix that incorporates a
touch of up-elevator when the throttle is
at the idle position.
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
The author’s Extra 260 prepares for takeoff.
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