SEN 2239 - 6 Jan 2017

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Category: Archive 2017
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Table of Contents – SEN 2239

 

  1. Eddie the Eagle
  2. Fab Feb And FAI Model Supply
  3. F1A thoughts
  4. This link is only half missing ?
  5. On Curtailing F1As
  6. looking for a Nelson Combat Special
  7. Advertisements and announcements in SEN
  8. Fab Feb Summary

Eddie the Eagle

From: Ken Bauer

We already have a variety of FF events that cover the whole spectrum from
small field simple events to large field high performance events, so why do
we always have these (sorry) silly discussions on reducing the performance
of our wonderful marquee high performance events?  If these events don't
suit you then try the small gliders, or FF scale, or E-20 or E-36, etc...
Or for F1A we have classic towline in the US.  All the existing gliders can
be flown in this already with low tech and no bunt and skinny towlines
etc...  So why do we even consider destroying performance of a great event?

Maybe not everyone has had the chance to enjoy the thrill of releasing a
towline that is pulling 20 or 30 kilos or more and watching a glider zoom
up over 100 meters high, but it is really fun and exciting and we should
not even think about taking this fun away from those that enjoy it.  Once
you've flown one of these models a standard glider does not have the same
appeal.  If this event were neutered I would move on to other events but
wouldn't go back.  Haven't we learned anything from F1C?

Everyone should see the movie "Eddie the Eagle" about a ski jumper from
England.  This is a thrilling high performance Olympic event that is
impossible to practice in the UK for obvious reasons and most reasonable
Englishmen will choose other sports or events more suitable to where they
live.  But no-one ever suggested that the 90 meter ski jump be reduced to
15 meters to suit sites in England.  But Eddie wanted to participate in
this event anyway and he made it happen.  The bob-sledders from Jamaica
didn't complain about non existence of sites to practice their event in
Jamaica and try to reduce the bob sledding event into a slide on cardboard
boxes on grass hills.  They chose that event and accepted the limitations
that go with it.  I'll bet there is probably an F1A flyer or two in the UK
that really get a thrill from a super high speed F1A launch?

The point is that we are all different people with different tastes for fun
and adventure.  FF offers plenty of events already.  Eddie the Eagle was
very inspirational not because he won the event but because he was allowed
to do his very best in something he loved.  I hope we can keep this in mind
when discussing possible changes.

-Ken


Fab Feb And FAI Model Supply


"FAI Model Supply is currently taking orders for rubber, lube and other products that sportsmen would like to purchase and have delivered at the Fab February Contests in Lost Hills. 

Please send us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with the list of products you wish to purchase.  We will confirm back to you with an invoice indicating your total cost to be collected at Lost Hills when the products are delivered. 

We will need to receive your order prior to February 1, 2017 to guarantee delivery to Lost Hills.  All orders received after that date can not be guaranteed to be ready. 

We would like to thank all of our customers for a great year and looking forward to supporting your modeling needs in the future. 

FAI Model Supply - Charlie and Geralyn Jones
 
Charlie Jones

F1A thoughts
 
From:Rick Pangell  

I agree with Dave Edmonson, his input should be noted.  The factors in  F1A 
performance are launch height, model geometry (wing loading) and wing  
loading.  Reducing line length and/or increasing wing loading will limit  
performane a  whole lot better than what has been proposed... i.e. making  it a 
more technical event.  Especially in the wake of flyers complaining  about 
field size and long distance flights.  Structural design/airfoils  will follow 
when line lengths and wing loadings are adjusted.

Watching the "real" competitors and what they go thru just eliminates me  
with the physical requirements, not just the acrobatics, but the tactics.
I personally don't care for the current NFFS Classic glider rules in favor  
of bringing back the old A1 or A2 rules. but that's another subject. In any 
 event, we need to think about increasing the number of flyers rather than  
eliminating them.  Just making it an event for "only those" who can  show 
their stuff with higher sophistication creates the problem.
JMHO
 
Rick Pangell - NFFS Central VP
Editor of "The Max-Out"  Newsletter of
The Magnificent Mountain Men FF Club of Colorado  


This link is only half missing ?

From: Martin Dilly

Weak Link

Dave Edmondson has misunderstood the idea, which I thought I'd made clear. The weak link is in parallel with the actual towline, not in series, to use an electrical analogy, i.e. for a short distance there are two lines connected to the model, though one ( the main line) is slack, or is unless the weak link is broken. Unless the flyer puts on so much tension as to break the main towline and still not start the timer there is no question of the model going off with no timer running if the model launches with a broken weak link.

I'm not sure why it should be that F3B flyers had problems with inconsistent breaking strains on weak links when, as Gene Ulm points out, the fishing fraternity don't seem to have had that difficulty.


On Curtailing F1As

From: Aram Schlosberg

A F1A model’s performance can be curtailed by reducing the energy imparted to the model at launch, increasing the drag of the tow-line, increasing the model’s drag or both and changing the A’s specs. The easiest spec to change is to increase the loading (currently 12 gr/dm^2). Although the glide performance will suffer, the model will actually gain more altitude. (But it will also effect the wing’s sections over time.) Other changes such as areas or auto-surfaces will obsolete lots of models. So let’s consider other approaches. 
Shortening the line to 45 or even 40 meters (maybe only in flyoffs) will reduce the amount of energy imparted to an A model in launch. Of course, a shorter line makes towing more difficult, particularly in (strong) wind. And if different lines are used during a contest, it would require different colored pennants.
A parallel approach would be to increase the line’s drag and/or the model’s drag. The line’s drag can be increased by attaching a foam ball at the end of the line, with the line passing through its center – to prevent line flutter. (Naturally, a foam ball would replace a pennant on the line.) Another possibility is to increase the cross section of the model’s fuselage by attaching symmetrical foam balls on either side or above and below. Symmetry reduces possible velocity induced moments. The balls should be attached to the model’s fuselage to avoid flutter.
If a drag inducing ball detaches from the tow line or the model, it should be considered as an attempt. The foam balls could have standard diameters, ranging from say 3 cm to say 10 cm. The size of the foam balls are easy to verify using plates that have a suitable sized holes. (This idea was discussed with the late Dave Lacey.)
The combination of line lengths, a foam ball on the tow line and a pair of foam balls on the fuselage offer a rich menu of performance suppressors. They may actually only be used in flyoffs – given a field’s constraints and the prevailing weather. (These can also be individualized as handicaps – but that’s a completely different dimension.)
No such changes can apply before 2020, if approved by CIAM in 2019. There is plenty of time to test and refine these approaches – IF curtailing A’s performance is deemed important. 
Aram Schlosberg

looking for a Nelson Combat Special

 

I'm looking for a Nelson Combat Special .41.  Should anyone have one they're willing to part with, contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Bob Beecroft


Advertisements and announcements in SEN

We will put your Advertisements and announcements in SEN but we won’t write them for you. So be sure to send the text of what you want announced to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fab Feb Summary

A summary of the information for Fab Feb can be found on the new SEN web site currently at http://sen.faifreeflight.org/index.php/fab-feb-information
We can’t arrange your on field transportation or accommodation but the web site has information about that.


........

RM