Radio Control: Sport-Aerobatics
Ron Van Putte
WHILE AT THE Nats I met Dr. Barry Groves, an old friend from my tour several years ago at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Barry suggested that this column should include features on control inputs which are required to do various maneuvers and, in particular, discussions of the rationale for differential throw on aileron and elevator control surfaces.
This type of information has been published in various magazines and newsletters in the past. In my opinion, the best series was in the K-Factor (newsletter of the National Society of Radio-Controlled Aerobatics), when it was edited by Dick McGraw. Dick included discussions on rolling maneuvers by Dave Brown, spins by Ron Chidgey, takeoffs and loops by Rhett Miller and several Novice class maneuvers by Tony Howze (1974 Nats winner). These discussions have been reprinted in newsletters all over the country. While they were included in the K-Factor and subsequently reprinted in newsletters, I saw no reason for me to get into the act.
However, since Dick was replaced as K-Factor editor, the maneuver discussions have ceased. Consequently, I plan to start publishing maneuver discussions by soliciting contributions from various fliers around the country. If you have certain maneuvers you'd like to see, please let me know. I don't intend to turn the whole column into this sort of thing, but it may become a feature of every month's or every other month's column depending on the interest expressed. Now the ball is in your court.
IN MY MONTHLY stack of newsletters was one priceless item by Moe Atun who edits The Antenna, the voice of the Pennsylvania Avenue Radio Control Society, N.Y. It goes as follows: "Questions—Everyone knows the questions asked by spectators, so we will omit them and supply only the answers. You can hand this sheet to any spectator and he could easily select the appropriate reply to his query."
- About $500.
- Five weeks at four hours per night.
- Twelve ounces.
- Balsa wood, silk and dope.
- Elevator, rudder, ailerons, throttle and retractable landing gear.
- As far as you can see.
- Two-cycle, one horsepower.
- Alcohol, oil and something else.
- Fifteen at one time.
- I can't because my engine won't start.
"You can help by supplying the spectator with the proper number of the answer, but this may not be necessary."
ONE QUESTION that always seems to be asked is, "How long does it take to learn how to fly these things?" During the last two weekends I observed why it is so difficult to answer that question. A beginner, Dave Hand, came out to the flying field on a Saturday with his new OS 40 RC-powered Sweet Stick. With some help he managed four flights; he performed three of the takeoffs. The next day he was coached through the landing pattern and on his eighth flight he proceeded to per-
Radio Control: Sport-Aerobatics
WHILE AT the Nats I met Dr. Barry Groves, an old friend on tour several years ago at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Barry suggested the column should include features on control inputs required for various maneuvers, particular discussions on rationale, differential throw of aileron and elevator control surfaces, and type information. He has published in various magazines and newsletters in the past. In my opinion the best series was the K‑Factor newsletter of the National Society of Radio‑Controlled Aerobatics, edited by Dick McGraw. Dick included discussions of rolling maneuvers (Dave Brown), spins (Ron Chidgey), takeoffs and loops (Rhett Miller), and several Novice class maneuvers (Tony Howze, 1974 Nats winner). These discussions have been reprinted in newsletters around the country, and when K‑Factor reprinted newsletters I saw no reason not to act. However, since Dick left the K‑Factor editorship, maneuver discussions have ceased. Consequently, I plan to start publishing maneuver discussions, soliciting contributions from various fliers around the country. If there are certain maneuvers you'd like to see, please let me know. I don't intend to turn the whole column into that sort of thing — it may become a feature some months and not others, depending on the interest expressed.
IN MY MONTHLY stack of newsletters, a priceless item Moe Atun edits is Antenna Voice of the Pennsylvania Avenue Radio Control Society, N.Y. It goes as follows:
"Questions — Everyone knows the questions asked by spectators, so we will omit them and supply only the answers. You can hand this sheet to any spectator and he could easily select the appropriate reply to his query."
- About $500.
- Five weeks at four hours per night.
- Twelve ounces.
- Balsa wood, silk and dope.
- As far as you can see.
- Two‑cycle, one horsepower.
- Alcohol, oil and something else.
- Fifteen at a time.
- I can't because my engine won't start.
You can help by supplying the spectator with the proper number of the answer, but this may not be necessary.
ONE QUESTION that always seems to be asked is, "How long does it take to learn to fly these things?" During the last two weekends I observed why it is so difficult to answer that question. A beginner, Dave Hand, came out to the flying field on a Saturday with his new OS .40 RC‑powered Sweet Stick. With some help he managed four flights; he performed three takeoffs. The next day he was coached through the landing pattern and on his eighth flight he proceeded to perform three touch‑and‑go landings and finally nicked the prop on the fourth landing. The next weekend he was flying with no more than occasional suggestions from the instructor.
How long did it take you to learn how to fly? If you were like most of the rest of us, it probably took several months and many repair jobs. Some people never seem to learn how to manage the landing. One hapless pilot I know has gone through several airplanes, engines and radios during the past four years and still cannot land a powered airplane. I'd tell you his name, but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
My old, reliable Super Tigre G60 Bluehead, which has been going strong for the last three years, didn't have quite enough power for some vertical maneuvers, so when World Engines made the Perry Directional Porting sleeve available for the Bluehead I purchased one. I didn't purchase the matching crankcase because I was sure the old crankcase could be mated to the sleeve with a little work. It can and I did. All that was required was some grinding with a ball‑type cutter on a Dremel tool to open up the bypass area to include the ports. There is plenty of material to do the job and all that is required is the necessary tools and a little care. The whole job from tear‑down through reassembly took only 75 minutes.
Was it worth the effort? Well, my engine turned 11,900 rpm on the ground with a Top Flite 11x7 Super M Power prop before and about 12,100 rpm after the modification. More important, though, is that my Phoenix 6 now pulls strongly through all the vertical maneuvers.
By now almost everyone has heard that we will not lose the 27 MHz frequencies in the near future. Because of hard work and effective writing by several AMA officials, the Frequency Committee and many individuals, the FCC did not pass Docket 20120. According to reports, the FCC officials did not realize how many of us there were, partly because many people use club licenses. When the cost of an FCC license was $20, there was justification for using the club license approach. However, now that a five‑year license is only $4, individual licenses are reasonable and the FCC should know we are around. I still think the club license has its place by enabling beginners to get their airplanes in the air while waiting for their individual licenses to be processed by the FCC, but club license holders should be encouraged to get their own licenses as soon as possible.
Ron Van Putte, 12 Connie Drive, Shalimar, Fla. 32579.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
