Classic 320
(propeller, tank, and transmitter installed). With the propeller, tank, and transmitter installed, I use a 6 x 2 (cut down from 6.5 x 2) carbon-fiber propeller of my own design that was developed for F1J and 1/4A use. See the "Sources" list for availability. Alternatives are the 6 x 2 or 5.5 x 2 APC propellers. Be sure to do your testing and trimming with whatever propeller you intend to use.
Initial glide and trim
Initial hand-gliding should assure a moderate turn with little tendency to stall or dive. Adjust as required with stabilizer tilt and/or ballast. The Classic is designed to fly a right/right power-to-glide pattern.
Engine runs on the first few flights should not exceed three seconds, with a slightly rich needle adjustment to reduce power a bit. Use a short (one to five seconds) dethermalizer setting, and don't worry about glide trim at this point unless whatever glide pattern is discernible seems dangerous.
Power pattern and adjustments
Adjust the power pattern using horizontal stabilizer (decalage) and rudder trim. Side-thrust adjustments can be made if deemed necessary, but they are only effective immediately after launch and diminish as the model accelerates and rudder, stabilizer, and wing trim take over.
Experimenting with washin and/or washout on the inboard wing panels is the usual way to correct or induce rolling tendencies. I prefer washout to washin because the drag created by any significant amount of washin can induce a turning effect that overpowers the intended rolling effect. Conversely, any drag and turning effects from washin tend to work in concert with the intended rolling effect.
As the flights progress, gradually tune the engine to full power and increase the run duration to the maximum (generally seven seconds at most fields here in the East and in the Midwest). The final power pattern should be a steep climb (almost vertical) with roughly three-quarters of a turn from launch to engine cutoff and subsequent transition to the glide pattern.
Launch attitude and safety
The model's attitude at launch should be 75–85° to the right and forward; with a "locked-up" model without auto surfaces, a vertical (90°) launch attitude could lead to disaster if an errant gust of wind forces the model to the left or onto its back.
As you become more secure in the safety and consistency of the power pattern, you can begin to extend the glide duration and observe the glide pattern more closely. A slow, flat circle with an almost-stalled glide attitude is the goal.
Adjustments to stabilizer tilt and ballasting to vary the CG are the means to the desired end. Remember that they must be done in small increments and with caution because stabilizer-tilt changes in particular will probably alter the decalage, which will affect the power pattern. Once you've gotten to this stage, it's a matter of fine-tuning, tweaking, and compromising to obtain the optimum balance between the powered and gliding flight cycles.
Contest performance
At record trials at Palm Bay, FL in January, the model flew five consecutive two-minute maxes and a sixth flight of 86 seconds, for a total flight time of 686 seconds. Contest Director Ron Sharpton is submitting a record claim for Category III in the new Classic Power 1/2A event. Since this is a new class, it is probably the first such record claim and should be certified by the AMA.
Although not fully trimmed and adjusted to be ready for the 1/2A Classic Power event at the 2001 King Orange contest (to be held December 29–31), the model did eke out a third place in the regular 1/2A Power event.
Good luck, and here's hoping that the Classic 320 turns in some classic performances for you!
JG
Jean G. Paillet 30 Emerson Rd. Brookville, NY 11545
Sources
- Carbon-fiber rods: Aerospace Composite Products, 14210 Doolittle Dr., San Leandro, CA 94577 — (800) 811-2009
- Hang-Em High Fabrics, 1420 Yale Ave., Richmond, VA 23224 — (804) 233-6155
- Timers and fuel cutoffs: Texas Timers, 3317 Pine Timbers Dr., Johnson City, TN 37604 — (423) 282-6423
- Cyclon engines: Doug Galbreath, 3408 Topsail Pl., Davis, CA 95616 — (530) 757-6058
- Paillet/Hazel propellers: Mike Hazel, 1073 Windemere Dr. N.W., Salem, OR 97304 — (503) 364-8593
- Polyspan and miscellaneous free-flight supplies: Campbell's Custom Kits, Box 3104, Muncie, IN 47307 — (765) 289-7753
- Retrieval systems: Jim Walston, 725 Cooper Lake Rd. S.E., Smyrna, GA 30082 — (800) 657-4672
- Rudder adjustment fittings and miscellaneous free-flight supplies: FAI Model Supply, Box 366, Sayre, PA 18840-0366 — (717) 882-9873
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
