RE: Updated Weight Requirements?
While I wholeheartedly disagree with Tony (or anyone else) that the weight rules are broken and need fixing for any of the reason stated in this discussion...it turns out that there are some things we can agree on...[:D] I totally agree on the point In regard to the alternate proposal that that the board (or at least a member of the board) has proposed. The board proposal in no way reflects the discussion that has gone on in this forum, it is not a compromise, it is just another opinion. Unfortunately, the source of this opinion is the chair of the board and real or percieved it carries a different wieght into the discussion than those proposals submitted by outsiders...Proposals that are generated by the board in a vacuum are exaclty how we ended up with two years of the 0 or 10 takeoff garbage... I also agree with Tony that the access to the board to provide feeedback is currently limited to either snail mail or personally showing up at their houses (since we have their addresses...). While I think providing a phone number should be the personal decision of the board member, some formal access channel to the board members should be provided. I sent an e-mail to Greg Hahn yesterday with regard to this...I've pasted the text below: ______________________________________________________________________________ [color=#CC0000]We can easily find the members of our contest board listed in the AMA magazine and conveniently located on the AMA website. However, the information for them includes only the name, the AMA district they represent, and their physical address. If I had the desire to provide an opinion/feedack to my contest board representative, or any of the other representatives, I am left with only a few choices to do so: 1. I can write them a letter and mail it. 2. I can show up at their house since I have their address..:) 3. I can dig around online in places like mailing lists (nsrca for example) forums, etc....and maybe find a private e-mail address to send an e-mail to. None of these choices are really effective at giving the board member the ability so receive input from their constituents to influence their vote in a way that reflects the needs/desires of the majority of members. If I were a board member, I don't think I would want my home address listed on this public list. Call me paranoid, but I think I would rather use a non-physical communications method, or at least use a PO box. That being said, it would be very easy for the AMA to provide a secure, private means for these people to receive communications from the membership. They could easily do one of the following: 1. Preferred method: An online link next to each board members name that opens a contact form. This form would require a minimum of information to identify the person (Name, AMA number to determine district, e-mail address) and field to type in what the member would like to say. Once the form is filled out properly, the information is sent to board members e-mail address of choice on file with the AMA. This is the contact model is used by many web sites now when you click the "contact us" link and works well to gather some information and prevents having to provide an e-mail address that can be abused by spam forwarding, etc... 2. Alternate method: Give each board member a "modelaircraft.org" e-mail address for official use and publish those on the website. This is more cumbersome for all parties, because the member must now check this e-mail remotely or have it forwarded to a private e-mail address. It also does not force the submiter to provide even the most basic of information to identify themselves to the board member.[/color] - Greg responded right away and indicated that he would check into it and see what he could come up with... Richard
Posted on: 11/13/2009 11:55 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9250957

RE: Cajun Nationals Crowley, LA. Oct 24 & 25
In my eyes, this photo is the symbolizes what Buddy is all about, helping others.....make upi your own caption...[;)]
Posted on: 10/31/2009 9:45 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9218725

RE: Thixotropic epoxy
I use this stuff: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/superfil.php Seems to be more consistent than mixing my own and is very lightweight. Richard
Posted on: 10/27/2009 1:22 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Composites Fabrication And Repair"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9206153

RE: Kevlar pull pull for elevators ?
I have done Pull-Pull elevators a couple of times, and won't do it again. Since you have to setup a Pull-Pull as 1:1 ratio, you end up limiting the servo to a small portion of its travel and do not get any mechanical advantage. The current trendy linkage is Dual Elevator Pushrods (DEPS). It's light and easy to setup and provides a very solid linkage. The four pull-pull lines for separate elevator halve are just too much hassle for little or no benefit. Tension will change as the airframe expands and contracts, but the kevlar itself is pretty stable. I use just enough tension that there is no visible sag in the cables. Too much is just extra, uneccesary load on the servo bearings. Bare kevlar will fray where it touches anything, watch for this. Coated Kevlar is better in this respect. I used copper ferrules crimped on the Kevlar with a little CA wicked in for insurance. I always go through the ferrule three times to make it self clinching if it slips. Richard
Posted on: 10/14/2009 3:22 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9173057

RE: Why we don't see pattern planes for gas?
[quote]ORIGINAL: rcpattern The Pentathalon is not a very draggy airframe to start with, and it was adequate for Advanced. I don't think it would've been a competitive setup in Masters or FAI, but was a very nice proof of concept. Had a very distinctive sound in the air as well. He did have a few deadsticks however, but the idea did work, but was certainly not a competitive setup by todays standards. Arch [/quote] Arch, the very public deadsticks at the debut of the Gas powered OS160 on the Pentathlon were traced to a fuel tank issue, unfortunately, it happened in a very public environment and thus seems to have forever cemeted an "unreliable" label to the project...[:o] The Pentathlon is draggier than you think. Just because it does have the bloated fuselage of some of it's contemporaries, does not mean it does not have a nice drag profile. The Pentathlon derives it's parasitic drag from the flying surface design. I hope to see more of the OS160 Gas model this weekend and hopefullly we can get someone to fly it through the FAI P sequence to see what kind of muscle the OS160 can really muster. Richard
Posted on: 10/1/2009 4:49 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9139289

RE: Why we don't see pattern planes for gas?
Here is a link to an interesting and quite successful gas pattern plane project: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8569736/anchors_8573705/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#8573705 Richard
Posted on: 10/1/2009 9:35 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9138276

RE: Venus II
Won't be a problem. Your kaos is a perfect plane to lead into this one...make sure you have trusted friend (and hopefully an experienced modeller) look it over with you prior to flying it..[:D] Write (or lookup on the net) a pre-flight checklist if you need it. You'll be amazed how much "bigger flies better". Richard...
Posted on: 9/23/2009 8:46 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9119011

RE: Have Oxai invented a Time Machine?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossamer_Albatross
Posted on: 9/16/2009 8:24 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9099922

RE: A Step Change in Judging - Improvement through technology
[quote]ORIGINAL: Brenner Maybe we should put the pilot's caller to work. The caller could also have a clicker and use it to indicte the finish of each maneuver. That way the judges can concentrate on judging without having to worry when the maneuvers start and finish. The only problem that I can see is that the caller might be tempted to extend the judging time for low K factor maneuvers, and shorten the judging time for high K factor maneuvers. [/quote] Hoollllllldddddd Onnnnnnn.....Whoa.....I thought that the flying between maneuvers was is judged and in some vague way, downgrades applied to the prior, next, or all maneuvers....all in the name of smoothness and gracefulness....otherwise I would be able to maneuver between maneuvers to correct distance and/or altitude without penalty................................... I saw a judge once at the Nats using a wooden stick with circumferential grooves cut in it in 1/2 point increments. He would slide his fingers along the stick to tally downgrades. At the end of the maneuver, he would show the stick to his scribe to record the score and move his hand back to the top of the stick and start over for the next maneuver. Basically the same as the aforementioned "clicker", but way too low tech for pattern guys I think. Maybe a $200 Carbon Fiber stick with lithium nanotube powered LED's that weighs 0.00025 grams would work? Richard
Posted on: 9/12/2009 12:33 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9088609

RE: A Step Change in Judging - Improvement through technology
[quote]ORIGINAL: Brenner Two suggestions: Secondly, why not use a ''Clicker System'' for accumulating point deductions during a maneuver. I'm thinking of something like those hand clickers that are used by people who count things by pushing a button on a small handheld device when they want increment their count. I'm thinking that there could be two butons on this clicker. One for indicating the start and finish of a maneuver, and another for decrementing the score by a half point for each button push. Then, as the pilot flies each maneuver the judge just pushes the button each time they see a half point deduction. They can press the same button twice or more for larger deductions. The benefits of something like this are that it forces judges to count actual deductions, and prevents ''impression judging. Also, judges never have to take their eyes of the plane, so no more missing half of each maneuver. [/quote] Hmmm....You would also need a "Smoothness" and a "Gracefulness" button on this "clicker" that would offset the clicker deductions based on the individual judges likes and dislikes of the particular flying style, hairstyle, or chosen footwear. Maybe a strain guage in the sensor to evaluate how hard the button was pushed could be used to weight the downgrade. A soft, gentle push means the error was smooth and graceful, and a firm push means the error was not smooth or graceful and thus requires appropriate punishment. (tongue firmly in cheek....)[;)] As long as we give the judges an "out" to punish or reward a plilot with vague smoothness and gracefulness language with absolutely NO downgrade criteria to be applied then the judges scores are just an opinion of the flight or the flier, not an evaluation of the execution of the maneuvers. Richard
Posted on: 9/11/2009 5:38 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9087587

RE: A Step Change in Judging - Improvement through technology
Browse this link and check out some of the videos....these guys are flying a foamy with nothing but cameras looking at it from different angles and producing and error signal to the transmitter to fly the aiplane into the attitude and location desired....pretty wild stuff...mimics the human vision system which allows us to fly. http://aerobatics.mit.edu/index.html No direct feedback from the plane, just cameras looking at it. Richard
Posted on: 9/9/2009 11:09 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9081438

RE: A Step Change in Judging - Improvement through technology
Honestly, at the size and distances we are working with, a GPS solution is just not viable, not enough resolution of position and slow update time to get where we need to go. Realistically, the answer likely lies in the area of vision trechnology. Vision technology is getting better by leaps and bounds. Do a quick search of 3d vision systems. It is probably possible with today's technology given resources to put the technology into the application. You would have a couple of cameras from different angles viewing the flight area. Properly calibrated, a processing algorithm would measure the position, size, and shape of the aircraft in each frame of each camera viewpoint and from this able to determine 3d position, attitude, velocity, track etc... Richard
Posted on: 9/9/2009 9:13 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9081200

RE: Carbon Help
try... http://www.cstsales.com/terminology.html
Posted on: 9/4/2009 7:53 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Composites Fabrication And Repair"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9068992

RE: Need idea for class project
This is your senior project, not your scientific contribution to model aircraft world. It is also not a poularity contest. Pick something that you can succeed in the process of doing the work that makes a succesful project. Your grade will depend on your success in the process of doing the project, not the perceived value of the results. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see CFD models of airstream from a propellor in relation our aircraft, but you really need to consider the complexity of propellor dynamics that would be involved with modelling it and make sure it is within your capabilities to do. Professors love to teach lesson, and if you go to a professor with a project that is amibitious beyond your capability/understanding, he/she will be more than happy to oblige you. Whether you bite off more than you can chew and struggle through it, or you pick something reasonable, they know that either way a lesson will have been learned...[;)] Richard
Posted on: 9/2/2009 4:07 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9064871

RE: Sport Plane/Pattern Trainer
Just saw this advertised on a banner.... http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1024.html Not an endorsement, but really looks cool..IMO Richard....[8D]
Posted on: 9/1/2009 9:48 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9063026

RE: Need idea for class project
Joe, Good Luck.....:) IMO, the sealed vs. unsealed hinge idea is the real winner. Simple concept, but willl likely yield surprisong result that may confirm or challenge conventional wisdom on the subject. It may seem mundane compared to the others, but your senior project is less about the results and more about learning the process of doing the project. Pick a subject that you are confident you lets you do the process well without bogging yourself down in technical complexities that are not necessary. Richard
Posted on: 9/1/2009 9:46 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9063017

RE: First Pattern Contest
Congrats on your first Pattern Experience. Hope you're hooked now....[:D] Richard
Posted on: 8/19/2009 5:30 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9028916

RE: 2009 World News from Portugal by USA supporter
Awesome.........This is great. We were just wondering where we were gonna get updates from the event. Richard
Posted on: 8/19/2009 8:44 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9027859

RE: NSRCA Membership Year
If I remember correctly...You can pay the whole year now so you don't miss any K-factors, then you get the remaining parital year pro-rated as credit when you renew in December. But like Arch said, best to get with Jim Quinn to be sure. Richard
Posted on: 8/17/2009 1:25 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9023011

RE: Pombal, Portugal - F3A WC Arial View
Nice Job Keith...[8D]
Posted on: 8/12/2009 1:26 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9010647

RE: OS or YS in Cad
Sorry it took me a while to locate it..... Richard
Posted on: 8/12/2009 8:49 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9010048

RE: OS or YS in Cad
I've got a 3d model of a YS110FZ on a Hyde mount, I can do a DXF of a side view of it tomorrow at the office.... Richard
Posted on: 8/5/2009 8:09 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8993248

New Poll on NSRCA Website about 2010 Nats Location
For those not on the NSRCA mailing list and who do not often visit the NSRCA web site, a new poll has been placed there regarding the location of the 2010 Pattern Nats competition. Vote early and Vote often....[:D] [link=http://nsrca.us]Nsrca Website[/link]
Posted on: 7/30/2009 4:10 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8976759

RE: Foam
ummm....The two most popular foams used in hobby airplanes are: EPS - Expanded PolyStryrene. This is the foam that drink cups are made from. Usually 0.75 to 1 lbs per cubic foot density is used in models. It can be purhcased in bulk from foam manufacturers (www.houstonfoam.com). It can also be bought in craft stores in sheets and blocks, but the lighter density stuff is less common. This foam is typically used in balsa sheeted wings, turtledecks, etc...This foam is reactive to some glues (CA, Styrene Resins, etc...) and solvents (acetone, gasoline, etc.). Hot wire cutting can be used to produce wings and other shapes. EPP - Expanded PolyPropylene. This foam is much tougher, rubbery, and heavy and is often seen in electronics and appliance packaging. It can also be purchased from some foam manufacturers, but I have not found an easy source near me.....This foam is also more dense making it less suitable for some aspects of lightweight model construction. In models, it will often be used in these ultra-tough indestructible foamies or in combination with lighter EPS to toughen up certain areas. This foam is fairly inert and not affected by most common glues and solvent used in modelling. Richard
Posted on: 7/28/2009 12:29 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Control Lines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8970750

RE: Better ignition with CD Box save fuel??
Take a look in the Pattern forum. There is an OS160 running on GASOLINE and Ignition, quite succesfully. Around $450 spent to do it, inluding the motor. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8569736/anchors_8569736/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#8569736 Richard
Posted on: 7/27/2009 9:38 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8967336

RE: USA AMA NSRCA Pattern Nats Muncie Indiana
Hmmm. The graduated system has merits, but, I would think just the opposite......but then I am left handed and will likely be branded a heretic......[:D] If the stated goal is to make pattern cheaper and therefore more accessible to the masses, then an increase in anything (size, weight, voltage, etc.....) is not the answer....the answer is to decrease something instead. Fly anything in Sportman, just to set the hook......then 6 lb weight limit/1.5m span limit in Intermediate.....9 lb weight limit/1.75m span limit in Advanced....11lb weight limit/2m span limit in Masters. The intermediate guy can fly a much cheaper setup and not have to be concerned showing up at a contest and competing with Mr. Moneybags and his fleet of Oxai and his gold plated power systems. When he moves to advanced, he can still fly his intermediate rig, or move up to a larger, more powerful, more expensive setup, but still not have to compete with the top class airframe and power systems. When he jumps to masters, the he can spend big bucks to play with the big boys......or, if he's a good pilot he could fly his 6 lb airplane and whoop the snot out of Mr. Moneybags in any class. As guys move up the chain, you would naturally produce a stream of cheap, good used airframes travelling downhill to the guys who need them most. Richard
Posted on: 7/22/2009 9:58 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8954367

RE: entry level pattern rig
http://ecsvr.com/abm/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=15&cat=Special+Overstock+Sales Check out the first item on this page.....I don't know a thing about it, so this is not an endorsement, but at that price it may be worth a shot.....:) Oof.....pre-installed retracts......never mind.....[8|] Richard
Posted on: 7/20/2009 4:49 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8949547

RE: USA AMA NSRCA Pattern Nats Muncie Indiana
Here's a few pics from Site 4.......No controversy this year for us....:) Richard
Posted on: 7/20/2009 9:17 AM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8948332

RE: Saito 56 hunting?
[quote]ORIGINAL: w8ye Use one of these on the fuel pick up http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXF25&P=ML [/quote] This works just as well.......for 5x less money...:) http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXD741&P=7 Richard
Posted on: 7/9/2009 1:38 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8919238

RE: Cowboy Nationals Contest June 27-28 Pre-registration
Nice Job....Archie and the Medina Valley club..... BTW...It was 104-108 degrees on Saturday.....but it was a dry heat....:) Richard
Posted on: 6/28/2009 6:58 PM by Author "rwlewis" in the forum "Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8888915