what is a contest, and how bad do you need to be the best

fredvon4 Fri Aug 15, 2014 3:49 pm

Free Flight is a engineer/builders event (and to some degree you must have exceptional engines), Stunt is a skills of flying event (and to some degree you must have excellent trimming skills), Speed is a engine expert event (and to some degree you must have precise team coordination skills), and combat requires all of the skills to win.

We all would love our effort in modeling to yield a aircraft that can survive our worst screw ups. Fact is, there are so many modes of failure and brain farts that no ONE method of construction or materiel selection, can be guaranteed to survive the inevitable carnage of a catastrophic event, be it wind gust, mid air collision, or "UP" when "Down" was the correct input.

Fortunately we live in the 21st century, where we have the internet and access to a vast array of experience and modern materials for our construction and flying. In fact we have many many more power options now than ever before. Thus, if you need to build near indestructible (usually heavier) you really have that option.

If you have the cash "contest grade" balsa, or ANY grade balsa may not be the best choice or material. Kevlar, Carbon fiber, Fiber glass, and high density light weight foam are all reasonable alternatives.

I have a kit built Sig 1/2a skyray all balsa and dope finish that weighs 5.1 oz with Cox Black widow. I have a Driscoll/Dawson Lite Hawk that weighs 6.1 oz with Cox Tee Dee .049. Both seem to be near indestructible...but on 35' lines the skyray at full tilt up and over and directly into the ground will damned near completely "re-kit" itself. I take the Lite hawk on 42' lines and do the same dumb mistake and all I need is a new propeller.

My point is, in this hobby it is prudent to steal ideas from each discipline. Lite and tight is good, to some degree, adequately or "over" powered is necessary (IMO), trimmed to fly correctly in turbulent or windy conditions is essential, pilot skills are mandatory, BSEG (big poop eating grin) after every flight can easily be obtained without "contest balsa"...again IMNSHO!.... grin

**RknRusty** Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:41 pm

Fred & Duke I'd really like for that Bladder Grabber to be on my bucket list. Not necessarily to compete at first anyway. It's a little intimidation for me but I think I have the reflexes to allow me to learn. I've about got one of Mike Londke's gladiators outfitted to fly, but I need a fine thread NV for a bladder. The engine is a pylon racer with a backplate tap. I'm going to fly it at our 1/2A day if any combateers show up.

Is it more tame to fly with the streamer on it? Balance the plane without the steamer first?
Rusty

fredvon4 Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:41 am

Rusty

If you have not seen it here is a link the the 2014 Bladder Grabber on Flying Lines combat page
http://flyinglines.org/BG.2014.html

I am the one sitting on the grass in photo 18

Bob Carver I think is 88 years old and competed this year after being away for over 20 years

Ron Colombo won at 60 years old. Most of the folks competing are well over 50

This was my second year to attend as a helper/observer and well worth the trip in my opinion

Duke, his son, and I met there this year and that fulfilled one of my bucket list (meet folks from CEF face 2 face) desires

much closer to you is Ken and you really should go play airplanes with his crowd

Not to dampen your desire of the Bladder Grabber, just a reality check.... Airline for me was only $85 as I used miles for the ticket to Seattle.. from Columbia I bet it is near $600 round trip. Rent car was around $300 for the three days and hotel room was another $300....add $200+ for food and drinks and my trip this year was around $900

While there one of the older guys decided to get out of Fast big block combat and focus only on 1/2a. I bought a LOT of his stuff for $800. SWMBO allows me a generous allowance but I greatly exceeded it this year RC Plane

If you do decide to go next year I would be more than happy to share car and hotel room with you

If I compete next year (the plan right now) I will be shipping my equipment there in advance and flying up.... the event is too close to our WVA family reunion and no way I can cross country in the Winnebago to both events

**RknRusty** Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:40 am

That looks like so much fun. We have a much smaller but still quite wild and entertaining at Huntersville. That's coming up in October. I met the Cooks, Ken and Shawn last year which was one of my highlights, I also met a bunch of other Philly Flyers. Banjock of course is a hoot, as expected. They're a really cool bunch of guys. One of them competed in the same contest I was in and won it. We pitted for each other. They were all at the top of their various sports, taking many awards. Shawn won 1/2A combat and flew in advanced stunt too.

Thanks for the link. I'll have to live it vicariously through you and Duke, Fred.
Rusty

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what is a contest, and how bad do you need to be the best

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