Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
Ron Van Putte
Sometimes I get complaints that I place too great an emphasis on Pattern subjects. I'm probably guilty, but the reason I write about them so much is because Pattern involves competition—and I love competition. Someone asked me recently how much longer I plan to compete in Pattern, and I told him I didn't plan to stop. A lot of people get burned out and quit, and they usually fall into one of two types.
The first type treats Pattern as an obsession. He must own the very best airplane, engine, radio, etc., and he practices all the time. No matter how dedicated this person appears, sooner or later he will burn out and often drop completely out of the R/C hobby.
The second type cannot stand to lose. He may not practice a lot but usually has a lot of natural talent, which will take him a long way. Finally this type reaches the point when he's not winning all the time, and he just quits.
There's a little of both of these types in all of us, me included. So why do I plan to keep flying Pattern when I'm probably 20 years older than the average Pattern flier? I enjoy competition, but the real kicker is that my flying continues to improve. Perhaps it's efficient use of recent radio developments or the selection of better airplanes, but I don't think that's the whole answer.
The key, which took me a while to figure out, is that I enjoy competing with myself. I know what I can do now, so I strive to get better in areas that are weaker than others. Right now my weakness is the Figure M with quarter rolls, but I'm doing them better than six months ago, and next spring they'll be even better. Next summer, when we're competing, you may beat me—but as long as I'm still beating myself I'll keep smiling (and competing).
Fun Fly and other competition
What about those of you who don't like Pattern flying but might like to try competition at a different level? Have you tried a Fun Fly? Some of the most enjoyable competition I've had was in club Fun Fly events.
The airplanes I've flown in these events have ranged from a Pattern competition ship (Phoenix VI) to an aerobatic sport airplane (Trainermaster), to a Quickie 500 racer (Scat Cat), and a Sig Colt. All were fun in their own way, but one combination I recently saw was especially impressive.
Several fliers from the Acadian R/C Club (Lafayette, LA) have been competing in Fun Fly and racing events with Sig Super Sport airplanes powered by the new K&B .20. They put on a demonstration after Pattern events at a recent Jackson, MS contest. When throttled back these little jewels are as docile as any trainer, but when the throttle is advanced it's "hang onto your hat" time.
You might assume the K&B .20 can't have much power because it doesn't use ball bearings or piston rings. Wrong—there's lots of guts in that little engine. The conventional Super Sport doesn't come with ailerons, but they're not difficult to add if a flier feels hampered by having only rudder. One pilot who was invited to fly a Super Sport didn't even notice the lack of ailerons until after the flight. Nice airplane.
Fun Fly clubs can have a lot of fun. A good equalizer is to develop events that emphasize competition without endangering airplanes and that include an element of luck.
Fun Fly events
- Le Mans Start
- The pilot turns the transmitter/receiver off and removes the prop nut. The airplane and prop are placed at a starting line some distance away (about 50 feet).
- At the signal the time starts. The pilot carries the prop and nut, threads the prop on, runs or walks to his airplane, installs the prop and nut (if he drops the nut he must stop and put it back on), starts the engine, and takes off.
- Time stops when the airplane breaks ground. The lowest time wins.
- Climb-and-Glide
- The airplane is held while the throttle is advanced to full. Time starts when the airplane is released.
- After a set climb time (commonly 30 or 60 seconds) the engine is shut down. Time stops when the airplane touches down.
- This event favors a good airplane over pure piloting skill; flights of over four minutes on a 60-second climb have been claimed.
- Slalom Taxi
- Place gallon milk jugs filled with about a quart of water in a straight line about 15 feet apart.
- Time starts when the competitor's airplane passes the first jug. The pilot must guide the airplane in an S pattern—right of the first jug, left of the next, and so on—until passing the last jug, where time stops.
- Pilots with highly maneuverable ships have an advantage.
- Wildcard Poker
- Chalk or line six 20-foot-square boxes in a row and label them Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, and Wildcard.
- To be eligible, a pilot must perform five touch-and-gos. Each touch in a box represents a card in a poker hand; the pilot "plays" the hand as the event progresses.
- The best hand would be four Aces and a Wildcard. I once led with five Kings and was beaten by the last flier, who had five Aces. I was flying a Sig Colt without ailerons, so you don't need a trick airplane to compete.
There are many events that encourage competition by being fun and safe while minimizing the pilot-skill factor. Of course, you should include at least one event to challenge the best club pilots.
If your club hasn't sponsored a Fun Fly, give it a try. Lighthearted competition is enjoyable to virtually all R/C fliers, and with proper event selection it can become one of the club's favorite activities.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
