Weight rules discussion ( my opinion)

[Mike Hester]

Just to chime in, I had 2 identical planes a couple of years ago. One was 
DEAD on 11 lbs, the other was right at 10.5. Same exact set up on both 
planes, except for the light one had digital servos.

Here's what I found: the heavy one was easier to handle in the wind. It just 
took less correction. But there's a catch, keep reading. The light one was 
far better in calm air, and had better vertical both ways. I ended up using 
a higher pitch prop on the heavy plane, and flew it faster. The other one 
was better for calm days, but I didn't spend too much time with it.

The big difference I suppose: I don't fly FAI. Yet ;)

Momentum made the heavier plane present better, but I could still slow it 
down when I wanted to. I didn't really notice much difference in pulls and 
down lines for instance, but the vertical was apparent. I solved this, as I 
said, with a higher pitched prop and just flew it faster overall. And the 
heavier one was easier to land, but this was an 1150 inch wing too.

Not exactly scientific, but just something I DID make note of, my 
observations.

-Mike
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Ivey" <jivey61 at bellsouth.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 11:19 PM
Subject: Re: Re: Weight rules discussion ( my opinion)


> Matt
> The 12.5 lb dead pig in the sunshine will get better scores because it 
> doesn't appear antsy.
> Like Dave L says the bigger  the plane the better. I agree here.I also 
> agree if you keep the same wing area and raise the weight the wing loading 
> changes.You can keep the same 2meter limits with more wing area and have 
> the bigger plane Dave talks about. None of these suppositions were in the 
> original thread.>
> If Bob has 2 of the same type planes, same wing area one 9.5 lbs and the 
> other 12.5 lbs I still say the 12.5 would have the advantage of being 
> smoother in the wind(blows at every contest).Does this make it illegal? 
> Only if the CD weighs you.
>
> Jim Ivey
>> From: Rcmaster199 at aol.com
>> Date: 2005/02/24 Thu PM 11:04:15 EST
>> To: discussion at nsrca.org
>> Subject: Re: Weight rules discussion ( my opinion)
>>
>>
>> Jimmy, I've read Don Lowe's columns for years and his rationale (one that 
>> I
>> agree with) is that a light plane bounces more but damps quicker than the
>> heavy  plane.
>>
>> I don't doubt that increasing the DR wing loading by 15% as you  did in 
>> your
>> experiment, would likely result in better flying fro that plane. It 
>> would be
>> more interesting to know what the wing loading was and is before and 
>> after
>> the change.
>>
>> Now translate that to a 2 meter job and see what happens. Try increasing 
>> the
>> weight of your standard pattern model by 15% and see what it does. How 
>> does
>> the wing loading compare to your DR b4 and after the changes?
>>
>> I'd be interested in that experimental result
>>
>> Matt
>>
>> In a message dated 2/24/2005 10:44:50 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> jivey61 at bellsouth.net writes:
>>
>> Bob
>> I  assume you want to disregard the 11 lb limit. You will have advantage 
>> over
>> the  9.5 lb plane. The 12.5 lb plane will be much more stable in the wind
>> than the  9.5 lb plane. The engines of today will handle the heavier 
>> plane just
>> as well  as the 9.5 lb plane.   The difference is you're more stable 
>> because
>> of your weight. Now if you throw in the weight limit 11 lbs that makes 
>> you not
>> legal.
>> I have a 6.25lb Daddy Rabbit that I had to add 1 lb lead to the CG  to 
>> calm
>> the plane down so I could fly it smoothly .
>> Same thing.
>> Don't know if this is a rational reason to be legal or not,but there is 
>> an
>> advantage to a heavier plane.
>>
>> Jim Ivey
>> >
>> > From: "Bob  Pastorello" <rcaerobob at cox.net>
>> > Date: 2005/02/24 Thu PM 10:19:36  EST
>> > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
>> > Subject: Re: Weight rules  discussion ( my opinion)
>> >
>> > Let's say I decide, for my own  reasons, that I want to fly a 12.5lb 
>> > (dry)
>> 2M pattern airplane against 9.5 lb  (dry) 2M pattern airplanes in Masters
>> class.
>> >
>> > Somebody,  anybody, give me a rational reason why I should NOT be 
>> > "legal"
>> to fly at a  sanctioned event?
>> >
>> > Bob Pastorello
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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