RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/03
a ToTal Fai Lure, Part 2: In the last episode, I gave some background
on Fédération Aéronatique Internationale (FAI) Pylon, or F3D.
To recap, F3D is flown primarily in Europe and the British
Empire. The aircraft are slightly larger and heavier than what we’re
used to in the States, but they are aerodynamically cleaner and go
almost as fast as anything, using full-piped .40s and “cough syrup”
fuel (80% alcohol, 20% castor oil, 0% nitromethane).
The Pylon section of the FAI rule book is only approximately
five pages. Most of the rules are one sentence long. There’s a limit
on engine displacement and there are minimum figures for overall
weight, wing and tail area, wing thickness, and fuselage crosssection,
but that’s basically it. The rest is up to you.
Engine modification? It’s unlimited; make your own from bar
stock, if you like.
Choice of propeller? It’s unlimited; mold your own from carbon
fiber, if you like.
Wingspan? It’s unlimited; give the model a 12-foot span and
three-inch chord, if you like.
The airplanes don’t have to look like a specific “big” airplane,
and there’s no prohibition on wing fillets, engine cowls, retractable
landing gear, or anything else you can think of.
Basically, if you can afford it and it will get off the ground, you
can race it in F3D. And F3D is the only Pylon event in which it is
possible to be crowned World Champion.
All this should make F3D wildly popular—at least if the “don’t
bother us with rules” contingent of the racing fraternity is right.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true.
One contest is held in the US every two years, to pick a threemember
team for the biennial World Championships. The number of
entries range between 10 and 20.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/02
A ToTAl FAI Lure, Part 1: Descend with me into the depths
of insanity—into a Pylon event known by many Europeans, but
by only a handful of Americans. This is “primal scream Pylon,”
the “ultimate Pylon,” “Pylon with no apologies and (almost)
no-holds-barred.”
Unlike Quickie 500, F3D—as the event is code-named by
the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the Paris-based
sanctioning body for full-scale and model aviation
competitions)—was never intended as an “entry level” event,
and has never been marketed for that purpose.
F3D has everything the late, great Formula I had, and more:
sleek five-pound airplanes going nearly 200 mph; tuned exhaust
systems; reworked engines; homemade propellers; and even
retractable landing gear, for those who dare. The only thing it
doesn’t have is nitromethane.
You heard me right—not a drop of nitro is allowed in F3D.
The Europeans write the rules for this event, and not only does
gasoline go for $4 per gallon there, but nitro is all but
impossible to find at any price.
On the theory that allowing nitro would give too much
advantage to the rich and well connected, and therefore depress
attendance at contests, the rule-writers prohibited it from the
very beginning.
Do F3D contestants whine about having this element “taken
away” from them? Do they daydream about how much faster
they “should” be going, if not for the cruel tyranny of those
socialist killjoys on the rules committee?
No. They make do with competing against each other
according to the agreed rules, because this is what
competitors do.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/01
hAve yOU drOPPed enough hints about what sort of presents
you’d like for the Midwinter Glow-Plug Lighting Ceremony (or
whichever seasonal observance you’re into)?
Following is “Where to Get Stuff, Volume 2.” Circle the items
that interest you, and leave this magazine out for the elves to find.
Hints for elves are included.
This list is quite condensed, and is not an endorsement of the
products listed. Many of these sources offer more than the one or two
items listed, and most will send you a complete catalog if you ask.
1) Quickie 500 (Q-500) airplanes: These have rectangular wings,
box fuselages, and usually V-tails. They fly great as sport airplanes.
This is the best choice for the giftee who is thinking about Pylon
Racing, but hasn’t taken the plunge.
Q-500 airplane prices range from $40 to $400, depending on the
degree of completion and how recently the model was used to set a
national record.
RC Pylon Racing
WHAT DO YOU do when you live in a place where paved fields are rare, the grass is thick, and it rains a lot? You race hand-launched airplanes, that's what. I recently received an update from Roy Stubbs (Seattle WA) of the Snohomish Radio Aero Club (SRAC), which holds contests on the third Saturday of each month from October through April for 1/2A (AMA event 423, with variations). Speed 400 electric, and a one-design class for the Sig Doubler with an O.S. Max .15 engine. Over to Roy.
Maximum Splat
How every child's understanding of natural laws can give us more power with less noise. RC FLIERS, especially Racing and Pattern fliers, have a problem with noise. No, I'm not going to discuss in detail the fact that our problem is not so much with noise as with intolerance of our sport by nonparticipants. Nor will I say much about the mentally debilitating effects of staring at a dB meter for too long. I will simply say that by any standard, including that of the dB, the use of a muffled tuned pipe significantly improves the noise situation with no power loss. Tuned pipes, both muffled and nonmuffled, have been around since the 1960s. The use of muffled pipes is now commonplace in RC Pattern. A muffled pipe with an appropriate header can be found to fit virtually any two-stroke engine now on the market. The modern Schnuerle-ported engine designs benefit most from the use of a pipe.
