SEN 1490

Table of Contents - SEN 1490

  1. Stefanchuk Parts
  2. Latest FFQ
  3. Conting the Duke
  4. AMA Expo
  5. Am Cup Results

Stefanchuk Parts in the USA


I have received a new shipment of parts from Stepan so my inventory is once again stocked up. I have wings in both 4 and 6 panel, stabs, rudders, props, etc. I can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need anything.

 

Marty

Latest FFQ

Roger,

Could you please insert this announcement in your newsletter? There are some articles that could be of interest to your readers.

with thanks

Sergio

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is another issue with a wide diversity of articles, for which I thank our authors. Ron Moulton is remembered in an eloquent obituary by Martyn Pressnell, who describes his multi-faceted trajectory in modelling. Although best known as Editor of Aeromodeller, Ron  was deeply involved in FAI matters as technical secretary to CIAM; he also served for  24 years  in the council of the SMAE. His effort on behalf of Human Powered Flight were outstanding, who could forget those Aeromodeller issues with their superbly detailed drawings of the British contenders and the ultimately successful Gossamer Condor? On top, he wrote several books that were (and are still) great successes in their field, such his book on Model Aero Engines and his book on Kites.

The great Chet Lanzo was of a more retiring nature.  The second and last part of his biography is presented in this issue, dealing mainly with his gas models and short foray into the early years of Radio Control. One should remember that two of his greatest successes, the "Bomber" and "Airborne" designs, are now exclusively flown in RC, but were originally FF models.

This issue has the second in the series of models designed by Gerald Zeigenfuse-- the Du-All, an attractive  Nostalgia Wakefield and Open Rubber model, that first appeared in print in 1956. Gerald has updated the original article and plan to reflect modern materials and contemporary rubber.The plan is a classic of  an era that appreciated great draughtsmanship.

Allard van Wallene and Rene Limberger discuss the complex nature of servo control in the  electronics contained in many of the modern FAI and some F1C ships. They show that servo electronics can be greatly improved by digital actuation, the servo responding to bytes rather than pulses, although their servos can handle both digital and pulse actuation.

Claudio Bognolo and Roland Koglot describe the several stages of development of their low-drag F1A airfoil, intended to allow extremely high bunt launches (Roland has achieved heights near 110 m while testing), yet preserving good glide abilities. There is a comparison with  similar airfoils developed by Brian Eggleston and Slobodan Midic. This is to provide an the alternative to the successful F1A flapper ships. This battle of technics and ideas is making F1A probably the cutting edge of FF modelling  at present.

The electric motor categories in FF are to be expanded with a new one, a simpler, entry level category: the E-36 (span-limited, locked surfaces) that has already attracted wide attention in USA. Bernie Crowe presents here the "Slick Willie"  design, a model with an already highly successful career in competition. Most valuable is the addition of detailed description and sourcing of the electrical components: motor, controller, timer, DT module and propeller to help the beginners in electric FF.

In a simpler world we relied (and still do)  in Tomy timers for actuation of  the DT, VIT, AR  functions on small models. In this excellent article, John Pool tackles the conversion of the Tomy mechanism to operate with an outside spring, a subtle modification that not only reduces the weight of the timer to less than 3 gr. but also allows an extremely long timer run, 20 minutes can be achieved rather easily. The whole conversion can be done with simple tools and a bit of patience.

Dave Sechrist has been one of the outstanding figures in the P30 category in USA, winning many contests at National level. His latest design, a development of the Marie II of John Kamla, is described here, with an attractive plan drawn by Thurman Bowls. The model is a showcase of refined, yet simple model engineering and a very detailed follow-up construction article will be presented in the April issue of FFQ.

Sean O'Connor analyzes the function of dihedral in a free-flight model and shows that it is possible to optimize the dihedral distribution to obtain best control and quickest recovery after a disturbance. The resulting mathematical shape of the dihedral is very close to the circular or parabolic arcs used intuitively by designers of the past, and of course adopted by many soaring birds. Sean provides a clever basis for this optimal shape.

As always, the cover for this issue and a detailed index can be found in our website : www.freeflightquarterly/wordpress

Sergio Montes

 

Contacting the Duke

 

Roger
I have cancelled my phone # that a lot of people have for me. 530-757-6058 does not exist anymore. The phone co. couldn't keep it working consistently.
If anyoone needs to call me, Please use 530-400-3562. It is my cell # and is normally on from9 a.m. until 9 p.m. PST.

Thanks, and good flying luck in 2011.
Doug Galbreath

 

AMA Expo in Ontario, CA

 

We attended the AMA Expo last week end and met a group of free flighters, unfortunately this year there was not a free flight booth but we have resolved to fix that for next year.

We did meet Randy Archer at show. He was the mechanic to his son Ryan who was part of the R/C demo team.  Randy asked to be remembered to all his FAI Free flight friends. We're hoping that he will come the Maxmen to see you all.   Ryan has been trying to convince his dad to get back to flying F1C, so we may see more of him again.

Much credit to the AMA as they have involved a number aviation minded group such as the Civil Air patrol and the Naval Sea Cadets  with youth membership. I saw some taking part in the Blacksheep's indoor free flight event so we need to be there to with information about our junior programs.


2010 Am Cup Scores and Report-- Jim Parker, Jan 9, 2010

 

[the Am Cup results were published in the last SEN - with the full results, however this did not get to all people because some people's e-mail will not accept mail with more than 500 lines - so we publish this summary again]

2010 Am Cup competition is now in the books. The Am Cup award banquet is coming soon, See SEN 1487 for reservation and payment via the MaxMen entry form.  Please contact me to request vegetarian plate.  Before the banquet the first contest of the 2011 season at Eloy AZ is next week.   Winners please contact me and let me know if you’ll be at the Banquet—your dinner is free. Please wear the customary coat and tie to receive your awards.  2009 perpetual trophy winners, please drop me an email to assure me the perpetual trophies will be at the banquet—polished please.

 I want to thank the many people who have checked the Am Cup score sheets approximately 9000 scores entered. Special thanks to Peter Brocks who identified an issue in the bonus points this year. For 2010, the bonus points for events with more than 5 entrants was changed from an extra point for every 3 additional entrants to 2 additional entrants.  I used this 2 entrant algorithm in the Am Cup scores throughout the year.
However, this  is different than the published the 2010 Am Cup rules (posted on NFFs website early 2010). I had made an error. The rules read:
5) Extra "Bonus" points are scored on the number of contestants in an event:
1 - 5   0 points
6 - 7 +1 point
8 - 9 +2 points
10 - 12 +3 points
13 - 14 +4 points
15 or more +5 points
 
Note that 10-12 entrants is not an increment of 2. The significant of this difference is:
12 entrants was scored with 4 bonus points, the published rules state 3 bonus points
14 entrants was scored with 5 bonus points, the published rules state  4 bonus points

Because the rules were published and have been in place for a year, I re-scored the results to the published bonus points. There were only six events that resulted in a scoring change and only one that changed a flyer’s final position. That was Marty Schroedter  F1G score correction dropped him from a 4 way tie for 22 nd to the 26 th spot. I’m thankful there was not a change in the top 5 positions for then the consequence of this predicament would have gotten far more interesting.
For the 2011 season we will correct the bonus points to the original intent.
1 – 5,   0 points
6 – 7, +1 point
8 – 9, +2 points
10 – 11, +3 points
12- 13, +4 points
14 or more +5 points
 
No other changes to the rules  for 2011 and the 2010 list of contests will be the same for  2011. CDs and clubs, please remit the $30 Am Cup sanction fee. Make out to SCAT and send to Jim Parker, 9524 Ruffner, Northridge, CA 91343. Fees are due by April 1, 2011.
 
Another special thanks to Jim Bradley and his donation for a perpetual trophy for F1Q. This quickly growing event passed the 50p ercent contest requirement. Thanks to Bob Van Nest who is making the base. We hope to have the new trophy at the banquet, Feb 19, 2011, same location, Wasco Elk's Lodge.
 
I’m not doing an event by event description other than to point out that this year we had some outstanding performance by current Juniors and ex- Juniors:
F1A, second, Timothy Barron
F1B, first and F1P second,  Brian Pacelli
F1C second and  F1J first,  Austin Gunder
F1P fifth,  Taron Malkhasyan
 
Congratulations to the 2010 AmCup Winners:
F1A, Jim Parker
F1B, Brian Pacelli
F1C, Don Chesson
F1P, Bob Hanford
F1G, Ed Vanlandingham
F1H, Brian Van Nest
F1J, Austin Gunder
F1Q, Julie Parker
F1E, Peter Brocks
 
 
 
Thermals,  Jim  <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

....................................

Roger Morrell