OK, I'm no engineer, aerodynamicist or a physicist but the question I would like to pose to the collective knowledge concerns the zoom after release from the tow line. If this has been discussed ad nausium previously, please let me know. I have seen many techniques for this period before the aircraft slows to normal airspeed. Some pull up into a vertical ascent, others climb at an angle some where between 45 and 60 degrees and others just come off the line and let the aircraft climb as if it was not piloted.
I know that many factors apply, total drag of the air frame, the amount of kinetic energy at release, airfoil lift, ETC. What puzzles me is that my practical experience would indicate that if the lift vector from the airfoil is not directed upwards, one is losing the advantage to be gained from the wing moving through the air. I.E, if the vector is horizontal, the airplane is not using that force to increase the eventual launch height. This would tend to suggest that a completely vertical climb out after release is less than ideal. Flying a Sapphire with Fred Sage CGT wings for the last few years I tend toward the 45 to 60 degree profile, which seems to work reasonably well. What is the ideal profile, or is it totally dependant on the design of the specific aircraft? Mark Williams RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off.
