Author: T. Edmonds
Edition: Model Aviation - 1990/11
Page Numbers: 50, 51, 52, 53, 174, 175
,
,
,
,
,

RC: Soaring

Terry Edmonds

Overview

Many glider-guiders flew in this year's Nats Soaring events — a total of 425 contestants in the six official events (not including no-shows). The 1990 Nats marked the first year three new Soaring classes were flown as official events: Hand Launch, Sportsman F3B, and Sport Scale (under new rules).

The site was Lincoln High School in Vincennes, IN. First thoughts of a school grounds for a Soaring site bring to mind obstacles, but the field at Vincennes was adequate in size and relatively clear. Model Aviation Nats Soaring Events Director Gil Gauger did a fine job keeping events moving along. He announced at pilots' meetings that any contestant flying over the tennis courts or through the corridor between the building and courts below light-pole height would be disqualified.

F3B (Monday)

Sportsman F3B was scheduled as an official event; FAI F3B was run as an unofficial event. When the scheduled ED had a last-minute family emergency, John Grigg stepped in and did an excellent job directing the F3B events on short notice.

Sportsman F3B rules and equipment

  • Rules: Straight FAI rules with three variations.
  • Model weight limit: 75 oz.
  • Organizer-provided winches used.
  • Working times shortened slightly.
  • Weight check: a balance scale consisting of a bucket with 75 oz ballast and a pulley/loop test — if the model lifted the bucket, it was legal.

Twenty-four contestants flew Sportsman F3B. Most used regular duration-type models (typically 100-inch span); a few flew Two-Meter designs. One notable entry was Blayne Chastain’s composite-construction model (designed with his father, Roger).

This writer (Terry Edmonds) won Sportsman F3B flying a Two-Meter model with an E193 airfoil. Though smaller models are generally less efficient than larger ones, a Two-Meter can be ballasted to higher wing loading for Speed and Distance tasks within the overall weight limit and recorded the fastest Speed time of the event.

Following two rounds of Sportsman F3B, one round of unofficial FAI F3B was flown. Jim McCarthy won that event flying a Mueller Comet 89T.

Hand Launch and Sport Scale (Tuesday)

Tuesday’s flying was divided between Hand Launch and the overhauled Sailplane Sport Scale event.

Hand Launch

Four rounds were flown with the following tasks:

  1. Round 1 — achieve three flights totaling five minutes during a 10-minute slot. Maximum three throws.
  2. Round 2 — record as many two-minute maxes as possible in a 10-minute slot. Maximum six throws; best five scored.
  3. Round 3 — achieve one five-minute max in a 10-minute slot. Unlimited throws permitted.
  4. Round 4 — achieve one 10-minute max in a 10-minute slot. Unlimited attempts permitted.

Scoring was man-on-man with scores normalized. Thirty-eight contestants flew; Rusty Shaw topped the group flying a modified Chuparosa with a 7037-airfoil foam-core wing, cap-strip sheeting, and a flying weight of 14 oz.

Sport Scale (new rules)

The overhauled Sailplane Sport Scale event was run by the Scale officials, headed by ED Stan Alexander. Static judging remained similar, but the flying portion changed considerably: each pilot submits a flight plan of 10 maneuvers (five mandatory and five optional) characteristic of the prototype, similar to power Scale events. The intent is to equalize the task for varied types of gliders.

  • Eight models put in official flights.
  • Most pilots chose simple maneuvers; only a few used the five-minute duration option.
  • Gadgets such as a retractable wheel are useful for scoring under the "Scale Operations" option.
  • The new rules should increase interest and participation.

Duration Events

Two Meter (Wednesday)

Two Meter Duration was held in excellent soaring weather (light winds, cumulus clouds). About 110 competitors flew. This was a day where many different designs had a chance to win; the top places went to beginner-type models flown by veterans.

  • 1st: Paul Carlson — flying the new Great Planes kit Spirit (aimed at the novice).
  • 2nd: Don Harris — flying a Goldberg Gentle Lady modified with an E2S airfoil and added spoilers.
  • 3rd: Mike Fox — flying Little Scorpius with a 7032 airfoil, flaps, and ailerons.

Standard-Class Duration (Thursday)

Standard-class Duration drew 122 competitors and was the most hotly contended Duration event. ED Gil Gauger implemented a 6-landing task to reduce ties and flyoffs: runway centerline tape was staked at both ends, and model landings were measured for proximity to the centerline on a 0–100 point scale (points per inch). Eight runways were set up and officials performed the measurements.

  • At the end of round two, John Agnew achieved a perfect score (two flights with exact time and perfect landings).
  • After round three, John led with the author close behind.
  • In round four, Jim Thomas moved ahead and won Standard by one point.

Jim Thomas flew a Falcon 800 (a cut-down version of the Falcon 880) shortened to the 100-inch span limit. Rusty Shaw placed third flying an original design with a Sealy-made Antares replacement fuselage and Antares-style airfoil (E193 to E205 bottom); he added sheeted foam-core tips taped on to reach 100 in. Young Ben Pipic won the Junior Standard-class event — a nice example of junior camaraderie and sportsmanship with fellow junior Bryan Gill.

Unlimited (Friday)

Unlimited had the largest entry with 123 contestants. The day began partly cloudy with about a 15-mph wind. As the day progressed, conditions deteriorated with dark clouds, fickle winds, and a late thunderstorm with lightning. ED Gil Gauger temporarily stopped the contest and then called the event at the end of round two.

With only two rounds completed, scores were tightly bunched and the contest was short — many more rounds could have produced a different outcome. John Gunn put in two very strong scores and won the Unlimited event. Pat Sullivan took second flying a "Duck" — a universal aileron/flap design used by the Michigan team with interchangeable wings and rugged construction.

Awards and Team Results

  • Hi Johnson Award: Jim Thomas (single best Duration score).
  • Lee Renaud Award: Jim Thomas (highest combined Duration score — including a first and two fourths).
  • Dan Pruss Team Award: Michigan Soaring League team — Jim Thomas, Pat Sullivan, and Troy Lawicki.

The week’s soaring competition was capped by a banquet on Friday evening. Featured speakers Michael Selig and John Donovan discussed their latest research on airfoils and model design.

Safety and Site Notes

  • The tennis courts and high light poles downwind, just behind the pit area, were a concern; flying below light-pole height over those areas would disqualify a model.
  • The school buildings and boxed trees tempted skilled pilots to attempt slope-soaring above the structures, which the ED warned against.
  • The contest used organizer winches for F3B and a simple pulley/bucket weight test to check compliance with the Sportsman weight limit.

Major Results (selected)

  • Sportsman F3B: Terry Edmonds (this writer)
  • Unofficial FAI F3B: Jim McCarthy (Mueller Comet 89T)
  • Hand Launch: Rusty Shaw
  • Two Meter Duration: Paul Carlson (Spirit)
  • Standard Duration: Jim Thomas (Falcon 800)
  • Unlimited Duration: John Gunn
  • Junior Standard: Ben Pipic

Notes

  • Several competitors used creative construction techniques (composite layups, glued-on foam-core tips, etc.) to optimize performance within class limits.
  • New and revised event rules (especially for Sport Scale and the use of landing precision in Duration) appeared to be successful in improving competition and reducing ties.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.