Radio Control: Scale
SUPER-Efficient Airplanes: The annual Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-in and Convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the ideal place to gather information and to seek inspiration for new modeling projects. In connection with the convention a contest is conducted with efficiency as the basis to determine winners. Originated by Ladislao Pazmany, designer of the PL-1, PL-2, PL-4, and Ryson Cloudster, the contest awards a K factor to each competing plane based on its maximum and minimum speeds, engine power, weight and wing area using the following formula: V = speed, P = engine horsepower, S = wing area, and W = weight. Flights are made through a 2000-foot speed trap. In order to minimize the effect of wind the flights are made at dawn. The planes are carefully weighed, with fuel, pilot and passengers. It is obvious from the Pazmany formula that a plane capable of lifting a large load has an advantage. It is permissible to enter twice, once with pilot alone and again loaded up to its legal gross weight. The contest is divided into two sections, one for factory-built planes, the other for custom-made homebuilt designs.
Radio Control: Scale
PRACTICE PLANES: Many scale modelers use training or pattern planes for practice flying. A Precision Scale plane that may take 2000 hours to build over a period of five years is too valuable to risk in every day or every weekend sport flying. We have used scale planes for this kind of flying, but inevitably they begin to show scuffs and nicks, "hangar rash" that means repairs, often not easily disguised. It is most important to use a practice plane that has flight characteristics similar to the scale model, not necessarily identical, so that the switch to the scale job will hold no great surprises. For a low-wing scale plane, the sport counterpart could be any of the popular pattern planes. Like many scale modelers, we find the lack of scale realism in pattern ships to be slightly offensive and therefore modify its appearance to suit our tastes. Possibly, the changes are drastic enough so that the pattern plane would no longer be competitive if flown in a pattern contest, but this is not our purpose in building the plane.
Trans-America R/C Relay Race
Several years ago Johnny Clemens had an idea, a dream. A cross-country model airplane race, starting near the East Coast and finishing at the West Coast. It could generate a lot of national interest and get quite a few people involved. A lot of the people, especially non-modelers, could see model aviation as the great sport it is, not just playing with toy airplanes. Ever since we heard about it in July 1975 we were thrilled by the idea. Meanwhile planning for the cross-country flight of the Liberty Bell that October was far along. But the idea of the race remained in the back of our minds and the flight of the Liberty Bell gave us an insight into the problems and difficulties of a cross-country race. We worked on the idea of how to get many people involved. A relay race gives a lot more people a chance to participate.
Radio Control: Scale
GREATEST Scale Rally: The ninth annual All Scale Rally sponsored by the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Dutchmen Radio Control Model Club, of Ontario, Canada, was the largest collection of Sport and Precision Scale aircraft ever assembled in one location. 158 planes were gathered in September at the club field, a large smooth area with three paved runways, located in a city park. A camping and picnic area adjacent to the field overflowed with visitors. An outdoor corn roast under a full moon on Saturday evening, that featured slides and movies of the Woodvale Scale World Championships, was a popular attraction. No count was made of the actual number of quarter-scale planes present on the field, but an estimated 15 percent were monsters and most were Quadra powered. While some quarter-scale planes were the familiar slow flying types, there were a number that had their Quadras hopped up to produce higher rpm and speed, with spectacular climb and aerobatic capabilities.
Radio Control: Scale
DESIGN TECHNIQUE: Our most frequent correspondence is from modelers in search of information regarding model mechanical design. It is evident that enough has not been said on the subject of scratch-building scale models from drawings of prototype aircraft, such as those by Peter Westburg in Model Builder, Paul Matt in Historical Aviation Album, and the other specialists purveying graphic information. Usually, it is apparent that these modelers are in search of a plane that is different and not available in kit form, with preference for planes not frequently modeled. The availability of these excellent drawings serves to stimulate the desire for an airplane that is distinctively different, and desire is the necessary ingredient in the recipe for scratch-building. In other words, if you want the plane badly enough, patience, skill and knowledge will be acquired.
