Participation

[Randy]

I think electric are weighted without the pack.  At least I have seen it written on this list that way/

Randy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKMSG at aol.com 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 2:32 PM
  Subject: Re: Participation


  In a message dated 1/9/05 12:57:21 PM Central Standard Time, Norm500 at comcast.net writes:
    Just some thoughts from an electric flyer that hasn't started in 
    Pattern yet.  I have flown electric power in IMAC, but am 
    interested in Pattern because of the 2-meter size limit.  My IMAC 
    plane, a 2-meter Staudacher which weighs just over 13 lbs. RTF, 
    and is as large as I want to go.  In larger electrics the price 
    starts going up exponentially, but 2-meters start looking rather 
    small alongside of the now typical IMAC planes.

    BTW, my battery pack weighs just under 3 lbs. so if the rules were 
    ever changed to allow electrics to be weighed without the pack, 
    I'd only be at about 10 lbs.  Not too bad for a plane that was 
    originally built and flown with a Quadra gas engine.

    Anyway, the point of all this is that you might be able to start 
    attracting some electric powered flyers that want to compete 
    simply because of the 2-meter limit on size.  I know it's not 
    something that's going to happen overnight, but changing the rule 
    about weighing with the battery installed would surely help.  I 
    also know that some of the top rung people are already flying 
    electric pattern, but with state of the art planes that's hard for 
    entry level builders to achieve.

    I've been trying to decide on a pattern plane to build for some 
    weeks now.  I'd like it to be a 2-meter if for no other reason 
    than my eyesight isn't very good and the larger planes are easier 
    to see.  Thinking of building a Typhoon 2K with Mike Hester's 
    modifications, but the project looks daunting to someone who's 
    never built a wing with tubes, adjustable wing and stabs, etc. 
    Also have been considering the Focus II, but figure it will be 
    overweight with the batteries.

    Oh well, that's my input for today.

    Norm

  Norm: Because most pattern enthusiasts fly glow powered models, there really hasn't been much discussion or concern regarding how glow/gas/electric pattern aircraft are weighed.  Competition rules should be as fair as possible when applied across the board to all the different types of models authorized to compete in a given category.  Rather than weigh electric pattern ships without batteries, it's my personal view that either 1) the weight limit for pattern should be eliminated, or 2) weigh all aircraft types  -- gas, glow, or electric -- ready to fly....with fuel or batteries as the case may be.  I'm not pro or con any particular type of power plant.  I've used glow engines for nearly 55 years and currently have two electric pattern ships on the workbench.  Our AMA competition rules are guided and influenced by international FAI rules and it will be interesting to see how this issue is handled as more and more modelers move to forms of power other than glow fuel.

  Mike Moritko  
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