There is another solution for us CD's although it might initially
reduce contest attendance. Add a "Unlimited to 130" (or whatever)
wingspan" limit to your contest rules. If you want your contest to
proceed with fewer line break interruptions, keep the battery power
from dying at the end of the day and preserve your winch motors you
can simply start limiting the planes that you will accept in the
contest. If this became routine there would probably be a new rule
(or modification) to the AMA Competition rules. Save the big planes
for fun-fly or the F3J route. Something will have to be done
eventually because growth to these huge planes isn't sustainable
indefinitely even as the technology to produce them advances. As we
use bigger winches and stronger line "full scale" planes will be
enterable in contests.
Oops, I guess in unlimited that is technically possible now! -I
suspect that "authorities having jurisdiction" might have some
thoughts on that matter.
Rick
PS I fly a Perfect but 2 meter is lots more fun.
At 01:06 PM 12/20/2007, Darwin N. Barrie wrote:
Who cares what is driving the size wars? F3J is a very miniscule
part of the soaring scene is the US. Most of the people buy the
Perfects, High Ends and the new Icons are buying them to compete in
TD contests and not F3J. So the problem exists when they show up at
a contest and the lines start breaking.
It is more than the "fly it out" mentality, it is contest
management. When the line(s) break they need to be fixed. That is
down time. It is not fair to the contestants and the contest staff.
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
On Dec 20, 2007, at 10:38 AM, David Klein wrote:
You guys really aren't looking at the international trends that are
driving the size wars. These planes are designed as the ultimate
F3J plane. In F3J, the launch power is as much as you can use,
figuring you higher some offensive lineman to tow. If F3J were to
switch to using F3b winches, the launch power is regulated. F3b
has evolved to smaller planes, that launch higher in a no wind, or
downwind launch situation. If F3J planes were to go to a regulated
launching system, the planes would get smaller, in order to launch
higher faster in weak launch conditions.
So the planes will continue to grow as long as there are large
towers with a lot of power to launch them. Bigger planes are more
efficient, so If you can launch them, you are at an
advantage. Planes will grow unless we regulate launching power.
BTW
We don't have a winch power problem we have a winch line
problem. We use crappy/heavy braided line rather than high
performance Mono filament spectra. The mono is temperamental, so I
don't recommend switching out club winch lines, but just understand
the problem.
If F3J switches to F3b style regulated winches, the planes will
come back down in size, or at least stop growing.
On Dec 20, 2007 9:32 AM, tony estep <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
----- Original Message ----
From: Darwin N. Barrie <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
...My concern is the launching equipment. With the current crop of
moldies, line breaks and winch bogging and ultimate failure are
becoming more prevelant....
======================
I wonder about this too. The Pike Perfect is the current WC plane
and the current Nats champ, at a bit over 140", and has apparently
set a new benchmark that eclipses the 132" planes, which in turn
pushed out the 3-meter (118") planes. It's all too easy to break
the line with a PP, and line breaks will presumably be even more
likely with 150" planes that have larger wing areas and can
generate more pull.
The 2-man tow setup puts a practical limit on F3J, but apparently
that limit is not fully compatible with the standard U.S. winch
setup; that is, it seems that the F3J scheme can launch bigger
planes than our typical winches like to handle. One imagines a
nightmare scenario where the planes keep getting bigger, and
eventually as clubs need to replace their launch gear, they'll turn
to super-power Injoy or similar winches, and the cycle will repeat,
and finally we'll be flying models 40% of full-scale like the gas-power boys.
--
David Klein
Graduate Research Student
Department of Structural Engineering
Jacobs School of Engineering
University of California San Diego
