January 18, 2003 Event Report
Photos and Video Below
We had a new record turnout this past session. The pilot roster topped out at 37 and we had well over 120 spectators over the course of the day. We had a lot of new folks show up this weekend. However, we missed a few of the regulars.
Our event this weekend was a touch and go contest. This was the first contest I have seen where we did not have total carnage all over the building. I guess you guys are getting better on the sticks. We used four 6 foot tables pushed together as the target pad. We had about a dozen or so folks competing to win a new GWS P-51D Mustang donated by The Hobby Shop of Stockbridge, GA. Thanks to Glen for donating such a wonderful prize.
Check out his plane...seems like an even trade huh???
:-)
Wayne Ray was the winner of the event with something like 9 touch and goes in one minute. Wayne flew a speed 280 powered Crazy Max with great precision. Those who competed quickly found out that touching down on the tables was not as easy as it looked. One of the highlights of the contest was Matt Chester with his fan fold foam GWS powered plane. Matt's plane crash landed on the table and almost fell off as it rolled backwards. Matt powered up right before the plane fell off the table and successfully took off for another circuit. It was pretty funny. Take a moment to look at the video below.
There were a few new creations at this session. Unfortunately, I did not get the gentleman's name, (Mike Davis maybe??) but he brought a hand launch "five and dime store" glider and added and RC system and a speed 280 motor. If flew very well.
Another participant brought a Lite Machines heli and performed some demo flying in the corner of the building. We will have to make time for a demo flight out in the middle of the building next time he attends.
My Learjet had an unfortunate "incident" with a Wattage Crazy Max. Both planes were rounding a turn when we collided. The Crazy Max came out on top as the Lear was put into a tight loop. The Lear almost completed the loop but the concrete caught up and resulted in a pretty hard splat. Fortunately, the Lear landed on the gear and damage was limited to a few stringers behind F2. A few on-site repairs and we had her flying a few laps around the building that night. I sent her home with Glen as she is going to get a scale lighting system for the next session.
Ernie Schlumberger had a few of his 24 inch wings for sale at the event. If I overheard correctly, they were a steal at $20. Ernie had one of the wings flying with a geared N20 and the other with an IPS direct drive. Both flew great!
Batteries
This week I would like to talk about Lithium Polymer batteries. Most people are having tremendous success with these packs in the smaller parkflyers. These batteries have enabled the typical GWS Pico Stick and Tigermoth type planes to get 45 minute flights on one charge. These cells are the wave of the future of electric flight. They are not right for every power system yet...but the technology is right around the corner where you will see them powering 1/4 scale planes. The primary downside right now is the long charge times and initial cost per pack. They are very reasonable in price for the small parkflyers. The battery in my Hobby Lobby Rare Bear only cost $30 and I can fly for 45 minutes. However, my Sig Kadet Senior would require about a $500 battery pack. OUCH!!! The lithium polymer cells require a special charger. The chargers range in price from abut $12 up to well over $100 depending on what features you are looking for. There's a lot of information about these batteries on the internet. Consequently, I'm going to just highlight where you can get them. For some in-depth reading....pour a cup of coffee and click here.
The "drop in replacement" for a GWS Pico Stick or Tigermoth is a 2-cell 1020 mah LiPoly pack. This pack weighs about 1.5 oz. and will power a Tigermoth for 40 minutes to an hour depending on throttle.
A speed 280 plane will fly forever with a 2 cell 2100 mah pack. You may need to prop up a little as the voltage on a 2 cell pack is only 7.4 volts under load.
Radical RC's page on Lithium Batteries (Ready Made Packs available)
Bishop Power Products (Ready Made Packs available)
FMA Direct (Single cells only at the moment...but I know they expect packs to be ready soon)
Proposed Events for February 6 session
(submitted by Mark Murdock.....self proclaimed "Crazy Murdock")
One I thought of was to have a 1 minute timed flight,
followed by a spot landing.
No watches or timers or people coughing at the 5 second mark.
The goal is to fly as close to 1 minute as possible.
Tape off a 8' circle on the concrete. Time starts when your wheels leave the
ground. time stops when the model stops all motion. If your initial touchdown is
in the circle, you are allowed to add or subtract 5 seconds from your flight
time. No more , no less. If you are less than 5 seconds off, you can waive the +
or - correction.
I think Mark has a great idea here. This event would be a little more inclusive as not everyone likes my "self inflicted total carnage" events. I think we will do this event and the touch and go contest again. The timed flight can be done without closing open flying. Please bring your stop watches for this event.
The Hobby Shop of Stockbridge, GA will be sponsoring our events again at the February 6 session. I know we have a $20 gift certificate for one of the events and expect we will have something else for the second event. Thanks again to Glen Gladis for supporting the hobby. Support the guys that are supporting you. Glen's hobby shop is right off hwy 138 in Stockbridge. Call him at (770)389-0686 for directions and information.
I would like to thank Hobby Lobby again for all their support as well. Hobby Lobby has been helping us out ever since we got this group started. Take some time to check out all their new products here.
Missing Pins
Check your transmitter....we are missing a few frequency pins. Email me
if you have one so I don't have to make new ones.
Next Session
Saturday February 8 from noon to 10 pm
Get those planes glued back together! :-)
Note from the Treasurer:
Pilot fees collected at January 18 session totaled $370 resulting in a $170
balance after the rental fee. Consequently, our rainy day fund is up to
$275.
