Free Flight: Old-Timers
KEEPING TRIM: The flying season is officially here. Time to get those old birds out for a check of the trim or do the initial trimming on a brand-new ship. Even if your model has several successful seasons on it, winter storage may take its toll in the form of unwanted warps, sticky timers or congealed oil in the fuel system. Better to check it out before the big contest than to spend the day troubleshooting or retrimming. Trimming the old-timer is a little different than checking out the typical AMA power ship. Start by locating the center of gravity or balance point. Many old-timer plans do not indicate the C.G. Generally speaking, cabin ships balance at 1/3 of the chord back from the leading edge. Pylon models should balance at 1/2 chord.
Mountaineer
ALL MY MODELING LIFE I have been plagued by wind. Everytime I have had a new free-flight model to trim or the need to practice the pattern for an upcoming control-line meet, the wind failed my efforts. A couple years ago, fate intervened and my good Canadian friend Greg Davis introduced me to RC slope soaring. Greg had been riding down from Vancouver, BC each summer on his motorcycle. This time he had a mysterious has lashed to die luggage rack. From it, he produced a sleek.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
THE WINNING SYNDROME: When the Old-Timer movement began, its major thrust was nostalgia, low pressure, comradeship and, most of all, fun. To a great extent these factors are still present. However, people being what they are are competitive by nature. Competition to some degree is basic to living, be it children at play, shopping for bargains, or performance on the job. Competition flying dominates the AMA free-flight events. Sport flying is rare and usually boils down to competition preparation and training or trimming sessions in anticipation of an upcoming contest.
Free Flight: Old-Timers
OFTEN TIMES the choices of A models to build are somewhat limited by engine availability. Given the fact that ignition engines are a bit more flexible than their glow counterparts and can be operated satisfactorily through a wider rpm range, one still must match engine power to airframe size. Original ignition engines seem to be more readily available in the larger displacements. Installing a large engine in a medium size model can be a handicap if the 80 ounce per cubic inch displacement rule is enforced. This will bring the wing loading above the required 8 oz. per square foot, and will detract from glide performance.
Que el'Coupe
BABY WAKEFIELD! You never hear the term anymore, but this "in a nutshell" phrase did more to attract me to Coupe d'Hiver than any other factor. Maybe you have given a longing look at Wakefield, but have stopped short after noticing the seemingly complexity of the typical competition model. The Coupe event offers the perfect introduction to rubber competition and ultimately to Wakefield. Experience gained handling the Coupe is directly applicable to the larger models. Construction methods, trimming techniques, pre-flight procedures, air picking and launch are all basically similar.
