RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS - 2001/02
IT’S ANoTheR GReAT month for flying
RC (Radio Control) helicopters! It’s also a
good time for building and/or maintaining
for most “Northerners,” since it’s likely to
be unfriendly outside for flying.
Modelers are often asked if it’s
“possible” to fly during cooler weather—if
the helicopter can “take it” in temperatures
just above freezing. I tell people that the
only weak link with their helicopters in cold
weather is the pilot—it’s not possible to fly
well if your thumbs have lost all feeling!
If you are comfortable flying in the weather,
go ahead and fly. The lower temperature means
a lower “density altitude.”
Density altitude describes how much air
is in the air, to paraphrase from my pal Rick
Allison. The colder it is, the more dense the
air is at any given actual altitude.
Cold weather and the accompanying
denser air is good for engines and airfoils.
The engines gain three advantages:
they have cooler air blowing over them
for cooling, the air is denser, and there’s
more “air” in the air, meaning you need to
richen the needle as temperatures drop in
order to keep the fuel/oxygen ratio at the
optimum setting.
Think of it as a climatic supercharger,
allowing a denser fuel/air mix in the
chamber. This allows the engine to put
out more power than it will in warmer
and leaner times.
The blades benefit because they are
flying in denser air, giving them more “bite”
at any given angle of attack. I suspect there
is a point where you should be concerned
about fiberglass or carbon blades becoming
brittle in extreme cold, but I doubt you
would fly in such temperatures.
Qualified engineers can feel free to
write me, and let me know the scoop on
that situation.
There are other parts on your
helicopter besides engines and blades,
and some of them need attention if you
want to fly in cold weather.
When the mercury drops below
approximately 50°, pay close attention to
your gyro—especially the modern headinghold
variety. They come with instructions
that are quite clear about warning you to let
the gyro acclimate to the flying conditions.
If you take your helicopter out of your
warm house and transport it to the field in a
warm vehicle, you do need to let it sit
outside for 10-15 minutes so the gyro can
stabilize at the current temperature. Failure
to do so can—and will—cause you grief!
RADIO CONTROL AEROBATICS - 2001/01
The aMa naTIonaLS is now in the history books. There was
a separate Nationals report last month, so I will not duplicate that
effort.
As the Pattern columnist, I normally could/would have
covered the event, but I was so heavily involved with competing,
judging, and evening meeting administration this year, it would
not have been practical.
As he often does, Tony Stillman stepped into the breach and,
as a veteran reporter and prior Nationals Pattern event director,
was a welcomed person for the job.
For those of you who have not been to a Nationals, it really
is worth the trip. We practically take over the whole site for a
week; the “site” being three runways running two flightlines
all day.
You meet competitors from across the country, and they all
have one major thing in common: they made the journey, and
are determined to have a good time. Despite the pressures of
competing, there are many smiling faces. Years of accumulated
acquaintances metamorphose into camaraderie and
cooperation.
RC Aerobatics
I RECEIVED A note from Dave Villwock, who is the racing-boat driver of Miss Budweiser. I had never thought about Precision Aerobatics-competition flying as relaxing before! Please read on. "I enjoy competition and I also enjoy the social environment of Aerobatics flying. The people I meet at contests around the country are both helpful and friendly. A sharp contrast to the stereotype placed on most Pattern fliers of being ultra-competitive egomaniacs. Most of my best friends are involved in aerobatic flying and I very much value those relationships.
RC Aerobatics
THE MOST VULNERABLE part of a Pattern airplane tends to be the removable wings. The problem is that they are built using light, hence soft, balsa skins and do not store or stand alone very well. They will not lay on top of each other without damaging themselves. They fall over if stored upright and generally slide around in the back of your vehicle. A good solution is to use protective covers, often referred to as wing bags. A new set that is working well for me is appropriately called Wingbags by
