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Matt:<br>
Another thing I noticed was that some of the pilots were "bumping" the
point slightly; it looked as if they might have been doing it on
purpose. By "bumping" I mean intentionally over-rolling a very few
degrees, then returning to exactly the right angle of bank nearly
instantly. Did anyone else notice?<br>
Bill Glaze<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Rcmaster199@aol.com">Rcmaster199@aol.com</a> wrote:<br>
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<div>I was on site 1 Wednesday evening after the Masters flying was
over for the day, when the F3A Finalists started their practice
sessions on site 3. Originally, F3A Finals was to be flown on site 3
and Masters on site 1, as had been done in previous years. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I was surprised to see the far side of the Rolling Circle from
site 3, over the runway on site 1. Folks that's around 500-600 meters
or around 1/4-1/3 mile from site 3's pilot station. with a diameter
that large, the circle circumference is pretty close to 1 mile and at
the typical model speed, a 45-50 second circle was being done during
those practice sessions. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>A clearly unsafe situation could have existed if we allowed the
Finals to go on as originally planned. I went to site 3 and discussed
the observation with Don Ramsey and Dave Guerin and we switched sites
for the two Finals</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The good news is that our TEAM members have a whole year to
practice this maneuver and get it looking great in the
appropriate amount of sky. Consider this--At a reduced speed of around
60-70 mph, and a diameter of around 100-120 meters, the model must fly
a circumference of around 400 meters or around 1/4 mile. The maneuver
will still take around 15 seconds to fly</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Another observation I had regarding the circle during the F3A
Finals, was that the roll rate was so slow that the wing tended to
rachet (momentarily stop rolling) on some models. As though the rudder
and elevator inputs were counteracting the ailerons since aileron
deflection was so slight. I recommend that a more defined roll rate
(faster) be established up front and the maneuver size adjusted to fit
the roll rate. Don't give the judges obvious reasons for doubt.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>MattK</div>
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<div class="OutlookMessageHeader" dir="ltr" align="left"><font
face="Tahoma" size="2">-----Original Message-----<br>
<b>From:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org">discussion-request@nsrca.org</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org">mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org</a>]<b>On Behalf Of </b><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:tony@radiosouthrc.com">tony@radiosouthrc.com</a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 29, 2004 7:06 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Proper Distance<br>
<br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Earl:<br>
<br>
What a concept! Flying within the rules gets the best score.......</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">If the contestants were watching
the distance out flights before we started the finals, they could see
that we were calibrating the group to the distance that the group
should start downgrading for being too far out... Flying along a line
about 160-170 meters would seem IDEAL.... Still, as you say, most try
to fly about 150.... Not sure why...</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Tony Stillman<br>
Radio South<br>
3702 N. Pace Blvd.<br>
Pensacola, FL 32505<br>
1-800-962-7802<br>
<a title="http://www.radiosouthrc.com/"
href="http://www.radiosouthrc.com/">http://www.radiosouthrc.com/</a></div>
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<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;">-----
Original Message ----- </div>
<div
style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>From:</b>
<a title="mailto:ehaury@houston.rr.com"
href="mailto:ehaury@houston.rr.com">Earl Haury</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>To:</b>
<a title="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org"
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">Discussion List, NSRCA</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Sent:</b>
Thursday, July 29, 2004 8:56 AM</div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none;"><b>Subject:</b>
Proper Distance</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Distance in pattern has been
(and still is) one of the great unknowns. (Spins & snaps are the
others.) There are varied individual definitions of what is proper,
regardless of how much clarity or definition is inserted into the
rules. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">I've been around long enough to
see the trend move in and out several times, often the out times are
well outside of the rules. Then there are times when others decide that
there are more points in really tight! </font><font face="Arial"
size="2">Unfortunately, distance out is hard for the both the pilot
and the judge to discern with accuracy. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">A pilot can practice with
spotters to establish a good feel for distance. That "feel" comes both
with visible size recognition and time from box line to box line at the
"comfort" speed. In too close and one is rushed or must slow below the
"sweet spot" speed, too far out and the opposite occurs. So the pilot
has the opportunity to tune for his / her chosen distance</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">It seems that, on the judges
side, there are distance police. Anything that might be approaching the
limit is downgraded by them. Then there are others that don't downgrade
if they can see (or hear) something out there! More evidence that
distance evaluation is difficult, especially when viewing airplanes of
different size, visibility, and speed. Maybe the only was to achieve
judging accuracy regarding distance is to use a "distance judge" at 175
& 200m and let them assign distance downgrades? Seems that the
variable application (with good intentions) of distance downgrades
presently experienced dictate consideration of an alternative method. </font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">From the judges chair I find
very few close in flights accurate or smooth. There are usually
inaccuracies brought on by lack of time, box violations, and errors
forced by wind. The good thing about these is that they are over
quickly. Out flights often have better maneuvers as the pilot has more
time, box violations are few, and wind effect is better handled (and/or
less noticeable). But they do take forever and the distance downgrades
offset the advantages. So what to do? Take a clue from the rules "for a
large, highly visible model aircraft a line of flight approximately
175m in front of the competitor may be appropriate". Judges take note
of the "in front of the competitor" statement, as the judges are 7 to
10m behind the competitor. This moves the acceptable flight line 7 to
10m further away, so 185m (from the judges) is not to be downgraded for
the large models (anybody seen small models lately). </font><font
face="Arial" size="2">Even the rolling circle distance issues can then
be handled by rolling in then. A 100 to 125m roller in would still
leave a 50+m buffer between the pilot and airplane.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">So - consider that the rules are
OK. Big airplanes are best flown at the outer range of the rules. Some
judges may need help in accurately assessing distance. Maybe a distance
judge would help. There are no benefits and more risks to flying too
close if to only appease "inaccurate" distance police. Hmmm - imagine
that, flying within the rules gets the best score..</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Earl</font></div>
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