I think it was Tom Copp that started this thread and the comments have been fascinating. Obviously everybody has their own idea about what RES/3-Function/Bent Wing is. Well here's my stab at it. Feel free to hit delete at any point.
Built up RES airplanes have always been fun to fly and hard to land. They often break wings on launch, and have relatively short legs when trying to cover ground. Spot landing are a test of energy management and skill, especially in the wind. For the most part the older designs use flat bottom or other funky airfoils, (Remember the "Mark Why"?). The airfoils have always been rather thick to maintain strength in the wing. Not to much experimentation was ever published, or at least no definite conclusion was ever reached about optimum airfoil design for this class. When computer radios and stronger composite sailplanes came on the scene RES airplanes died the death they deserved as "prime" contest sailplanes. After all full house composite planes could launch higher, range further, and land slower than the RES ships. Airfoil design for camber changing full house ships became a hot topic and airfoil experimentation really took off, (pun intended). Understandably, further development on RES ships pretty much slowed down and died at this point. That doesn't mean that they couldn't be competitive today in the hands of a good pilot. If you recall Joe did ok with one at a contest here in Socal in the last year or two. As a RES coordinator for the Gulls here in San Diego I have run 4 to 6 RES contests a year for the last few years. We have had Nostalgia legal ships, a wide variety of both kit based built up, and scratch built composite ships and even the new molded RES ships all flying in the same contest. The only thing they had in common was that they were all Rudder/Elevator/Spoiler. The trick as always, has been to get enough people interested in flying RES to take the time and trouble to build something and bring it out to fly. To that end, why not consider an Open Unlimited RES class. The rules are Rudder/Elevator/Spoiler period. Open up some interest in developing higher performance RES ships without mandating that somebody spend 100 hours at the bench meticulously gluing balsa pieces. Anything goes... I'll bet after a few years of development there would be several designs that could give the majority of full house pilots a run for their money, (no I'm not crazy, RES design are getting better). Like anything else it's going to be practice and skill. You may have noticed in one of Tom's comments he made a rather "veiled" reference to a new "toy". Given enough interest, designers and manufacturers will come out with new high performance toys. Tom, if you need a beta tester give me a call. I love to fly RES. As for classes, fly what your local club will support. I don't see a nationwide trend in any direction for RES. If you can come up with a designation that can get enough of a popular movement going nationwide, then that class should be the AMA class. Your opinion may vary... Garth RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
