[NSRCA-discussion] A bit of nastalgia and BPA

[Stuart Chale]

I finally took out my Atlanta after over a year of my son asking.  I kept
using the excuse that I needed to check the fuel tank etc.

Now the Atlanta came out in the late 80’s and was designed for AMA or now
Ballistic Pattern.  Initially mine was set up for a standard short stroke YS
60, Hattori pipe (627 I think), and Rev-Up 11-7 or so.  Eventually I went to
a longer pipe setting and higher pitch prop to cut back on noise. D&W
(remember them) 11-9 wide.  I still have a bunch.  Same speed but less noise
as the early noise regulations came into effect.  Home made soft mounts on
the motor as well.  A Dean Pappas design.  I do not think commercial ones
were available yet.

Servos in it are Futaba 133’s on ailerons, 131S on rudder and 31S on
Elevator.  Felt much slower than current models (running at 6 volts)

Once we went to turn around I remember trying to slow the plane down.  Some
people who were much better at throttle management than I (I only had a two
position throttle) were able to make the Atlanta “work” in turn around.  The
engine was changed to a pumped OS 60 long stroke, Hatori 650 pipe and full
length header.  And, of course bigger props.  Currently an Asano 11½  - 11½
sits on there.  

I must have cleaned the engine out before storing it.  Last time it flew had
to be around 1991 or 92.  I also took it apart earlier this year when I went
over the plane.  Took quite few turns of the prop to get fuel through the
pump and  into the carburetor but it started on the second backwards snap.
Talk about impressing the couple of guys at the field.  It hadn’t run in 15
years and started right away.  Once the high speed needle was adjusted it
ran perfectly as well.

Took off and needed a few clicks of aileron.  Whatever settings and mixes I
had back then were long lost. (I think I had the original Futaba 512 PCM
radio in it.)

Talk about fast! And this was after changes to slow it down to try to fly
turn around.  I can’t imagine how fast it was originally with the YS short
stroke 60.  

Quite a difference from the 2M plane I have been flying (which is electric
as well)

Now interestingly I received comments on how smooth it looked.  More so than
my current plane.  It didn’t feel that way to me, but I guess the perception
of a plane at jet like speeds doing rolling maneuvers is different from our
current flying.  Made me wonder if people were more impressed and therefore
more attracted to the old style pattern than the current one?

Also interesting were people commenting on the strip ailerons, tiny in
comparison to most planes made today.  (they also didn’t believe that you
had to build it and paint it :-) )

It will probably be quite a while before it flies again but it was fun.

Stuart Chale

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