[NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing

Mon Aug 3 15:30:43 AKDT 2009

Verne, there is an easy way that Dave and I took care of it. Dave put the plane down outside the tent (aimed away from everyone towards the runway), standing over the tail and did not move until I arrived. I then had the official watch me as I pulled open the canopy and unplugged the battery, then put the canopy back on. Then I spun the prop and stuck my finger in there... he usually laughed and nodded. I think everyone knows not to get around a prop when the battery is plugged in. At least I hope so. 

But having the fully enclosed tent was great. It was closed off to the high winds and it didn't matter what battery you weighed with during processing. I always weigh with my heaviest battery during processing so that I know I'm safe with the lighter one's. This month it wont be a problem as I will be running all the same batteries with short leads.

Regards,
Jason
www.shulmanaviation.com
www.composite-arf.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Verne Koester 
  To: 'General pattern discussion' 
  Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 6:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing

  In Argentina, there was a tent set up solely for that purpose right off the runway. The scale had a sheet of what appeared to be drywall sitting on it so the plane was weighed sitting on its wheels (as opposed to a belly pan crushing stand). The only downside was having to try and explain in English to the Spanish speaking official why it was necessary to unplug the motor batteries before being weighed for safety's sake.

  Verne

  From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of krishlan fitzsimmons
  Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 4:33 PM
  To: dkrev at shaw.ca; General pattern discussion
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing

        Where do they weigh at a worlds event? Outside in the wind?

        Just curious. 

        Thx!

        Chris 

        --- On Mon, 8/3/09, dkrev at shaw.ca <dkrev at shaw.ca> wrote:

        From: dkrev at shaw.ca <dkrev at shaw.ca>
        Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing
        To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
        Date: Monday, August 3, 2009, 12:30 PM

        We got weighed after each round at the worlds..... Just saying :-)
        Sent from Dave's Crackberry

        -----Original Message-----
        From: John Fuqua <johnfuqua at embarqmail.com>

        Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:35:25 
        To: 'General pattern discussion'<nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
        Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing

        Better be prepared to weigh 4 or 5 sets of batteries with each competitor as
        well as airplanes.  

        That's the thing with glow.  Only dry weight counts.  You can load as much
        fuel as you wish to any weight!  Electric stuck at a fixed max T.O. Weight.

        -----Original Message-----
        From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
        [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Derek
        Koopowitz
        Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:37 PM
        To: General pattern discussion
        Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Inspection & Weighing

        I don't see an issue with this... we will put a sticker on all items
        including all packs that a competitor will use.  If a competitor really
        wants to cheat then they will do it... nothing we can do will stop that.
        I'm also hoping that random inspections will keep people honest and the fear
        that if you do fail then you will be disqualified.

        On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 9:06 AM, Jay Marshall <lightfoot at sc.rr.com> wrote:

            I have some concern that the proposals put forward will really work.
        If the plane is inspected at check-in then there is too much opportunity to
        change things. In particular, batteries, which are a normally removable
        item, can be changed to decrease on increase the weight. Do we "sticker" the
        battery pack? This means the plane must be disassembled for inspection and
        that only that battery pack can be used. At present fuel tanks can also be
        under/over filled to adjust ballast for windy conditions.

            If this is a serious problem, perhaps there are other solutions. 

            Planes could be placed in an impound/inspection area immediately
        before a flight and fully fueled. The inspection could happen here and
        shouldn't delay the flow of the contest.

            Another possibility is to adopt a "standard" weight for a battery
        pack, then weigh electric planes empty. The "standard" could change as
        technology changes.

            As John Pavlick will tell you, all major race winners undergo a
        teardown and inspection.

            Jay Marshall 

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