Lil'Quickie
COMPETITIVE PERFORMANCE in Scale Racing (Goodyear) requires a combination of engine, airplane, pilot, and pit man. The Lil'Quickie had been one of the most successful designs. It has dominated the event in the years 1977, '78, '80, '81, and '82. Racing requires an airplane which combines maneuverability, quickness, and impeccable landing and takeoff characteristics. The Lil'Quickie has excellent size relationship of wing, body, and elevator. In addition, ample fuselage area is available for engine, fuel shut-off, tank, and landing gear positioning. The performance of this design has enabled me to record a record Open category Nats time of 5:47 in 1978 for a 160-lap race.
Control Line: Racing
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY of aluminum. I have had several inquiries concerning the proper aluminum alloy which can be utilized to produce various parts for racing engines, such as connecting rods, front bearing housings, and heads. A quick look at the available literature indicates that one alloy-7075-T6-has exceptional strength. I have had many people recommend this particular alloy, and I know of commercially available rods and parts made from it. By observing a typical tensile properties graph in a materials handbook, one finds that most definitely 7075-T6 is exceptionally strong at room temperature, but it rapidly decreases in strength as the temperature increases.
Control Line: Racing
SLOW RAT. The telephone lines and the mail service have been kept busy with a variety of requests and opinions sent to me relative to rules proposals and/or personal opinions concerning the Slow Rat event. Basically, the opinions seem to revolve around the concept of slowing the event down to a reasonable speed, at which the expertise of flying the model is within the average pilot's ability and the desirability of reducing the amount of "high-technology" equipment involving the fuel tank, fillers, fuel, and venturi combinations. I have had some correspondence which indicates that possibly the best avenue would be to lower the nitro content of the fuel to either 80-20 alcohol/oil (with no nitro) or go to, say, 10% nitro with both fuels being furnished by the contest management. I personally have run most of my equipment on 10% nitro and on 80-20 blends and find that the airspeed is only reduced by approximately one second per seven laps.
Control Line: Racing
This month, I want to talk about Modified Racing - that is, standard AMA events with local modifications. I have been getting more and more mail concerning how the speeds in events like Rat Race and Slow Rat have been reduced by specific rules in a particular locale. I received a letter from WAM (Western Associated Modelers), and they enclosed some photos concerning their August 8, 1982 contest. Apparently, for some time they have been flying the Fast Rat event with mufflers. These mufflers must be attached to either side-exhaust or rear-exhaust engines and have made a substantial reduction in performance as well as in noise. They have also initiated a .29 class called "Class B Rat,"" using the same type of aircraft and with, of course, reduced airspeed.
Control Line: Racing
USE 10% NITRO? I must say the response from Racing enthusiasts all over the country on the subject of limiting the nitro content of fuel has been overwhelming. I received over 50 written responses from Racers from almost every state. In addition, I received numerous long-distance phone calls with additional input. It seems that, in many areas of the country, the 10%-nitro rule has been tried with great success. I must admit that in our Midwest area, it has not been tried; however, I notice that at the May 1 Control Line contest in St. Louis, all Racing events will be run with 10% nitro furnished by the con-
