Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
Introduction
Pylon racing is one of the most exciting and competitive events in model aviation, both to the competitor and the spectator. There is nothing more thrilling than a good race. Pylon racing in any form can be a lot of fun.
As your new pylon racing editor, I hope to share some of my past experiences and racing tips. We will try to keep you up-to-date on the contest scene — who is going fast, and where.
A lot of readers have neat ideas or helpful hints they've come up with. Why not share them? Send your ideas, hints, and suggestions to me and I will pass them along.
The N.M.P.R.A.
Pylon racing has come a long way in the last 14 years. The pylon racers owe most of this to an organization called the N.M.P.R.A. (National Miniature Pylon Racing Assoc.). This organization works directly with the AMA in making rules and safety requirements for pylon racing. It was started in 1965 and is still going strong.
For the pylon racer — no matter how serious, even if a beginner or someone just thinking about racing — this is a good organization to belong to. The dues are only $13.00 per year. Send your dues to me, as I am the 1979 President of the N.M.P.R.A.
Events and Where to Start
Pylon racing is very competitive. Let’s look at the fastest event, Formula I. Many people think a Formula I racer is difficult to fly. Not so. Most of the FIs sold today fly better than most faster sport planes. These planes do not have bad stalling tendencies and are very maneuverable. I have even seen many used as sport planes.
A new flier may not want to start in Formula I. There are many kinds of racing:
- Quickie (or Club, Sport) 500
- 1/2A
- Quarter Midget
- Sport Pylon
- Formula I
There is also a move afoot to get FAI pylon racing going again.
Perhaps the new racer would want to start out in 500. This event has become very popular throughout the country. A 500 racer can be built in just a few evenings. These planes typically use a .40 engine for power. The 500 is a great sport plane — you don't have to hang it up between races.
There are several 500 Club or Sport kits available; one only has to check the ads. A word of caution: certain areas have different rules, so check them out before you buy anything.
Club/500 Rules (example)
This event seems most popular where everything is kept stock. Here are examples of rules various clubs throughout the U.S. use. In Ohio, we only allow the Spickler 500 kit. We supply the 15% nitro fuel. The planes must:
- weigh a minimum of 3-1/2 pounds,
- use a stock K&B .40 engine and stock muffler,
- use 2-1/4-inch diameter wheels,
- use stock props.
At some of our big races, planes and engines are checked. The idea is to keep the rules simple and easy to enforce. These rules are what we use around here and they work very well.
Some areas allow any Club or Sport 500 kit, modified engines, and props. As I said before, check with the people in the area in which you plan to race.
Tips for 500 Racing
As in most racing events, you only get out of it what you put into it. If you want to win, you must put in an extra effort.
- Build the plane light. A racing airplane must be well built, so don't skimp.
- Spend time checking the wood in your kit for light weight. Replace any pieces that seem heavy.
- Use the proper amount of glue. Glue running down the inside of the plane only adds extra weight. The weight of the plane is very important, so don't use too much glue — but do make a well-built plane.
- Take a little extra time and effort in building; it will benefit you in the end. A crooked plane will be a disadvantage from the start.
- If you use an iron-on covering, make sure all the edges are down.
- Seal all control surfaces. I use Super MonoKote to seal hinge lines. A sealed hinge line creates less drag and makes control surfaces more effective.
Next time you are at a contest, look at some of the faster pilots' planes. You will find that they are well built.
It takes a lot of practice to fly a good course. The neat thing about the 500 is that you are going to use this plane as a sport plane, so every time you fly, it can be a practice session.
Looking Ahead
In future issues we will discuss other types of racing. Next month we will go into safety. This is something we all need to get involved in, no matter what we fly.
This column is for you, the reader. Any comments on things you would like to read about, please let me know. You can send mail directly to me.
Contact
Bill Hager 5200 Rye Drive Dayton, OH 45424
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
