National Free Flight Society

SEN 2035

Table of Contents – SEN 2035

  1. Looking for …
  2. Another kit?
  3. J O’D on D/T FO (How’s that for a string of letters)
  4. AM Cup and USA Jnr Team Update
  5. Victor Stamov Memorial and Free Flight Revival
  6. SCAT Black Cup #1


Looking for Valensa F1b plan

From: Peter Brecker

Hello Roger,
I recently received a kit of the above mentioned model, marketed by W-Hobby and distributed thru John Clapp at FAI Supply in the States back around the turn of the century.

I received it with the flying surfaces already built but what was NOT included in the box was the plan! A call to Vidas at W-Hobby brought no relief – plan and “instructions” are no longer available. I would like to have the full set of documentation for the model öas there are some idiosyncrasies peculiar to this model. I DO have most of the “instruction diagrams” but there are some parts that I can’t identify. Hard or electronic copy (pdf) would be fine

Would you please post this in the “Help Wanted” section (if there is such).

Respectfully,
Pete Brecker

Suggestion for another Class/Camp kit
From: Rick Pangell

Regarding the kids program at Lost Hills
Lost Hills Kids Summer Camp
For any kids programs. The racers and darts are nice, but there is a very
suitable replacement from John McGrath, a HS science teacher and member of
the MMM club of Colorado. The models are designed specifically for kids
and build type programs. We used his Hawk P-18 kit developed for the AMA
Indoor NATs here in Colorado and there was nothing but success. It goes
together in a snap and the instructions are very clear. Nothing flimsy nor
cheap. We had over 2 dozen kids and some adults too! The whole session took
less than 4 hours. Plenty of time to fly.

A highly recommended kit for rookies is his Mountain Lion. Steve Riley is
planning on using them at the Springerville/Eager Az Dome contest next
April.

Give them a look: at: lasercutplanes.com

Rick Pangell
Editor of “The Max-Out” Newsletter of
The Magnificent Mountain Men FF Club of Colorado

DT Flyoffs

From: John O’Donnell

Hi Roger and readers,

Of late there has been much discussion in SEN about DT Flyoffs – precipitaed by their use at a couple of European Internationals.
The idea is not new. Over here (England) the DT Flyoff has been employed on a number of occasions, particularly at the SAM Vintage events – where it has become accepted. This is far from universal as was demonstrated a year or so ago at the British FF Nationals when its use was announced for the FAI and other events. This was not favoured by the competitors to the extent of an immediate and heated reaction – quite the biggest ‘row’ that I have seen on the contest field. Following a written Protest (complete with appropriate payment) the organisers changed their ideas and ran a normal single flight flyoff. All this can be read as part on my Nationals report in the July/August 2014 ‘Aeromodeller’- and nowhere else !!
Now however the DT Flyoff would appear to becoming a common and acceptable arrangement for when difficulties arise towards the end of contests including cases when ties need to be resolved. These problems can involve wind, visibility, local lanowners with ‘no go’ areas, risk of losing models and over-running the timetable. The DT Flyoff has become a soft option for a CD in a difficult position – particularly if future use of the venue could be jeopardised.

Regretably it is a very poor option as the concept is fundamently FLAWED – since it conflicts with model purpose and design.
DT systems are intended to terminate a flight by producing a RAPID and safe descent. Once the DT has operated the model is soon on the ground.

In contrast the usual method of judging a DT Flyoff is merely to set a target time for the DT operation and then time until the model lands. There is often a penalty for late DTs. Clearly it is advantageous for the model to descend slowly on DT – quite the opposite of normal usage.

The appearance of the ‘slow DT’ is inevitable – as are the complaints about it being ‘unsporting’. Suggestions re tail angle and the like are merely tinkering with the problem. Remember there are alternative DT systems such as parachutes and/or drag flaps..

There are alternative solutions to ties – such as height prior to DT – but this would need measuring.
Normal (nevermind ‘slow’) DT descent time can hardly be a reliable estimate of HEIGHT . Use of altimeters is sure to be suggested but suffers both from what has just been said, and also from the variation between instruments.

There are other ways to resolve ties – mostly based on chance – drawing lots, nearest landing to a ‘spot’, etc. None establish what the contest is supposed to provide – a fair test of man and machine.

Regards,
John O’Donnell

AmCup and 1st Jr Team Scores
From: Jim Parker

AmCup Update and 1st USA FF Jr Team Selection Scores

We are not quite one third thru the AmCup season. The west coast winter and spring contests are complete and the FF contests have moved east. (We do have the Tangent OR contest in August)

The complete first Jr Team results will be on the NFFs website in a week or so. In summary, the Jr Team selection program scores the best 3 contests (7 round results, ie no FO times) of the 40 AmCup contest the last one being the 2016 MaxMen Each contest is worth up to 100 points which is scored based on the the contest 7 round winning scores. One of the three contest must be on of the 14 Jr Select Contests. For more information or to register (no cost) see the complete 2016 USA FAI FF Team Selection Program at <http://vsmsunrise.org/blog/invitation-to-vsm-sunrise-flying-in-mongolia-during-world-champs/
I would like to emphasize another important point of this postal contest. The registration fee of two euro will not be kept by the organizer but part of it will be used to maintain the web-site and the rest will be used to buy a headstone for our lost friend in Ukraine. I hope that many of us will participate to show and pay our respect to Victor.

As previously reported, Ansgar Nuttgens have also started his freeflight revival four years ago. The purpose of his Euro Challenge F1H was to increase the interest for this class by encouraging participation, especially by young people in international contests around Europe. The first year in 2011 fourteen contests were held in ten countries and ten of those were World Cups . Now this project can be declared a success as the number of young and old competitors have grown substantially. Perhaps we should extend this challenge World wide?
More information about HEC can be seen at: http://www.creasus.de/ikarus/HEC.html and click on Mongolia 2015 to read about the Mongol federation’s development of their youth program.

SCAT Black Cup Report

From: Jim Parker

SCAT Black Cup June 27, 2015 Report
Free Flight FAI Fun Fly

We had only 3 entries– an unusually small Saturday turn out at Perris.

1st, Jim Parker
2nd Shlomi Rosenzweig
3rd Roger Morrell

I started at 7:00 using my trim flighst on a M&K LDA long with a new stab servo and finished with 7, 3 minute maxes at 8:35am. Shlomi Rosenzweig was also trimming and dropped two flighst by 3 seconds each. Roger Morrell made a couple of trim flights as well. We did see Bill Booth, Jack Emery and Bob Picherchio doing some trimming as well. The temperature did not climb as high as predicted so Shlomi and I continued our World Champs training until 1:00.

Our next FAI FF Fun fly is Saturday, July 11, 2014. Come on out.

Thermals, JIM

……………………….
Roger Morrell