[NSRCA-discussion] Correct Geometry on N

[Bob Richards]

Ken,
 
I see your point. I would have to read the specific criteria for the horizontal hourglass to see what is stated. I doubt there would be anything relating to "square" in there. Having an unwritten criteria for "square" might be confusing not only for the pilots but also for the judges, that is why I say there should be no mention of it anywhere.  As for the  double immelmann, there IS criteria for the height to be equal to the straight lines.
 
I know we went through all of this way back in '95 or so when there was a vertical hourglass in FAI. If flown correctly, it would be taller than it was wide. Making the last radius (from a downward 45) was the most difficult part. IIRC, Jason had drag plates on his gear struts (retracts) and would extend his gear at the top before pushing over. The added drag gave more consistant airspeed and made it easier to fly. At least it looked that way when Jason did it. :-)
 
That reminds me, I remember making a statement back in the early 90s (early days of turnaround) that fixed gear would be better than retracts for turnaround pattern. Some people thought that was pure blasphemy!!! One very well respected NSRCA member told me in no uncertain terms that "fixed gear would completely mess up the force arrangement. No self respecting pattern flyer would have fixed gear". Blood vessels were popping out of his forehead when he said it, too! (From that description, I'll bet there are a few people on this list that can figure out who I am talking about!!). ;-)

Bob R

--- On Tue, 7/8/08, Ken Velez <kvelez at comcast.net> wrote:





Bob,
 
 I'm talking about the foot print of the maneuver, like in the Double Immelmann. The height of the maneuver should be the same as the straight lines before the loops, not sure if the rule book precisely calls for that to be square shape either but we still look for that. Can you tell that the shape of the horizontal length of given maneuver is 5 feet longer than the vertical? I know I can't. 20 + feet difference it starts to look like a rectangle that's all.
 
Ken
 
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