RADIO CONTROL SOARING
Darwin Barrie, 4316 W. Rickenbacker Way, Chandler AZ 85226; E-mail: [email protected]
Visalia — Fall Soaring Festival
This month I cover events and new products coming on line. Many are in the midst of their building seasons and are in search of new tools to make the job easier and safer. The first topic is one of the major soaring events in the world: Visalia.
Visalia is a small bedroom community in the Central Valley of California and home to a contest simply known as “Visalia” to the soaring world. Home of one of the largest model contests in the United States, Visalia is an event, a soaring nirvana, and the must-attend gathering of the year. October 2–3, 2004, the Central Valley Radio Control club (CVRC) put on the 31st edition of the Fall Soaring Festival. A total of 257 pilots posted scores, with entries by class as follows:
- Open: 175
- Two-Meter: 12
- RES (Rudder–Elevator–Spoiler): 60
- Youth: 10
In addition to the contest, many vendors take part in a miniature trade show. From electrics to soaring goodies, almost anything you need is available. The vendor area is a great common space to renew friendships and visit those you only get to see once a year. Even the infamous Gordy Stahl is there each year, spreading his philosophy and manning the Volz servo booth.
Motor homes abound, with many arriving as much as a week early to get prime parking spots. Some of these vehicles become mini-compounds, with food and drink available to anyone who walks by.
The CVRC has this contest down to a science. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Seven total rounds of thermal precision duration are flown — four rounds Saturday and three rounds Sunday. Four winches are used and kept busy both days. With 257 pilots flying seven rounds and a few relaunches, more than 1,900 launches take place — an incredible number, with very few problems. Even with Saturday’s rounds, the contest ends at roughly 3 p.m., leaving plenty of time for a Hand Launch contest and Slow Stik combat. Sunday features the great raffle. Activities conclude at approximately 3 p.m., allowing those who must travel to get an early start.
Contest results
Top finishers were:
- Open: Larry Jolly, Daryl Perkins, Keith Kendrick
- Two-Meter: Edgar Vera, Bobby McGowan, Daryl Perkins
- RES: Joe Wurts, Joe Nave, John Erickson
- Youth: Cody Remington, Casey Adamczyk, Manny Gomez
Overall top honors went to Larry Jolly, Daryl Perkins, and Keith Kendrick. Mark your calendars for the first full weekend in October — Visalia is an event to attend. You will not be disappointed.
AMA Convention and the Futaba 14MZ
The AMA Convention was held January 9–11 in Ontario, California — the second year at the new venue. Attendance was up, in part because of the relentless rain that kept people from the flying fields. Pure soaring-type businesses have diminished through the years; at the peak there were 20 or more soaring-related vendors, but this year only two booths had thermal aircraft (Hobby Club and Soaring Specialties), and those were imported models. It seems fiberglass-bagged sailplanes are the exception now, with molded imported models more common — a reflection of industry economics.
Undoubtedly the item generating the most interest was the new Futaba 14MZ radio. Key features include:
- 14 channels, all digital, with 2048 resolution (twice the resolution of the 9Z)
- Two separate internal processors for maximum efficiency and reliability: one custom Futaba processor for flight control and one running Microsoft Windows CE for setup/programming tasks
- HVGA transflective screen with 640 x 240-pixel resolution, adjustable backlighting and contrast; navigation by touch screen or navigation wheel
- Synthesized frequency-selection system: each receiver has a code number entered into the transmitter (two receivers per model can be entered). The transmitter and receiver “talk” to each other; a menu screen allows frequency selection and the receiver automatically changes to that frequency
- Lithium batteries
- CompactFlash card support for pictures of your models and audio files
- Audible countdown timer for sailplanes with prompts for landing preparation
- Sequence recording/playback for aerobatic fliers
- Extensive sailplane software covering virtually every wing type and tail configuration; easy-to-use menus for both thermal duration and flying-wing types
There isn’t enough space here to cover all the 14MZ’s features. The system is extremely easy to program — I was able to go through the steps to program a typical thermal-duration glider in about 30 minutes without a manual. Further preliminary information is available at www.14mz.com.
Tools — Dremel Moto-Tool (10.8V Lithium)
Everyone needs appropriate tools to make construction tasks easier and safer. The cornerstone of my supply is the Dremel Moto-Tool. I keep two available at all times, each chucked with a different-size collet.
Through the years I owned a couple of battery-operated Dremels and had less-than-favorable results. That has changed: Dremel now offers a 10.8-volt Lithium tool that comes extremely close to the serviceability of the plug-in version. I purchased one at the AMA show and found it to have excellent power and long run time. The shape has changed — it’s nice to hold but incompatible with some existing accessories.
Highlights and notes:
- Maximum rpm: 10,000 — close to the performance of the standard tool
- Downsides: does not fit some Dremel accessories (router attachment, drill press) due to new oval shape
- Three-light battery-status indicator; recommended to recharge after one light drops off
- Tool can stall and will shut off immediately; turning the switch off and waiting a second or two restores operation
I’ll follow up with Dremel about accessory compatibility, but overall the Lithium Moto-Tool is a winner.
Closing and contact
Thanks to those who sent E-mails after the initial column. It seems several readers are building full-scale airplanes; crossover knowledge from modeling to full scale certainly makes building easier. I cannot imagine constructing an airplane without some modeling experience.
If there is something you would like covered in this column, please shoot me an E-mail. If you have products you want mentioned, don't hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, I will follow current events and trends as they become known to me.
The next column will cover the Southwest Classic, new information on the Futaba 14MZ, and whatever I get from you. I will also provide a brief update on the RV-7 project.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
