Just spent the last two days flying two ESL contests in Lancaster PA. One day contest on Sat. and one on Sun. We flew a 9 round contest on Sat and an 8 round contest Sun. Oh Yeah, BTW, Gordy was there and we kick his butt again this year. Thanks for coming out to play Gordy.
There are many different TE configurations for launch. What works for one plane may not be right for another. Usually less droop in a good head wind and less line speed. The headwind will do most of the work. In a tail wind more line tension and speed. Some keep the TE clean till they get up some initial speed and then come out with more TE droop after establishing the climb. Others start out with lots of TE down. Try them out and see what works for you and your plane. Landings. Years ago it was more common to make a steep, short approach. These usually ended up in a semi dork. Sometimes breaking things and generally not looking too nice. These days most competent flyers come in from farther out and at a slower speed and lesser angle. Final legs are usually 200 to 300 feet and take approx 15 to 20 seconds. Usually starting a downwind leg at 30 seconds left carrying some speed while descending from approx 100 feet or less, and then starting a turn onto final at about 20 seconds left and heading back at 15 seconds left. Maybe 50 feet high at the final turn and then gradually lose altitude on the way in and try to get the speed down low by the time you are at the spot. Makes for a nicer more controlled landing and is easier on the airframe. In more of a head wind you can adjust to carry more altitude so you don't get caught short. More wind helps you slow down much quicker. Watch out you don't come on the flaps too early in heavier wind as you will bleed all your airspeed off way too soon and end up short. In a tailwind landing you have to make a shallower approach than normal and start bleeding off speed earlier in the final leg or you'll over shoot or have to really dork it in to hit the spot, and take the chance of damaging the plane in the process. Hope this helps. Later... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Johns" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 6:07 PM Subject: [RCSE] Yet more questions. > Greetings! > > I'm just full of questions. Today, I have questions on launching and > landing techniques. > > 1. Given a "standard" trailing edge/elevator setting for a calm day, how > do you alter this for a good head wind? Tail wind? How else do you change > your launch for head or tail wind launches? > > 2. How long are you on final?? 5 sec? 10 sec? 20 sec? > > 3. When you are 50 feet away from where you hope/expect the airplane to be > motionless on the ground, how high are you?? How about at 100 feet? > > (I ask these landing question because I just spent a good bit of time > watching folks who know what they are doing. When they are just fooling > around, most come in very shallow with a long time on final and are quite > slow before touchdown. During competition they come in very fast, in a > steep angle of descent after being on final a very short period of > time. I'm wondering why?) > > Thanks, > > Bill > > -- > Never test the depth of the water with both feet. > > Bill Johns > Pullman, WA > > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
