SEN 2882
- One Detail I forgot and point I should clarify
- Good Example of All-Tee in real life
- USFFC
- US Air settings
Good Example of All-Tee in real life
From: Allard Van Wallene
Altimeters have been used for years in model rocketry and radio controlled electric powered gliders.
Has there been controversy about inaccuracy or wrong settings? Not that I know of. Altimeters are used to determine winners and losers at World Cups, Euro- and World Champs alike. Check the FAI Sporting Code on these classes as well as the information found on EDIC certifications for these devices. It might well answer a lot of questions.
All-Tee automatically sets the zero level. If it is off, the graph will show that the zero level (when the model is waiting to be launched / released) is off and can be corrected in the app. In fact there is so much which can be read from the flight graph, loads more than what is needed to determine a winner. Below are some links of the graph of my last fly off flight at the Hispano Francia World Cup in France.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f1wgrcutejc7bkn/Fly-off%20flight%20complete.jpeg?dl=0
So what can we see in this graph apart from launch, landing and flown time?
-start of towing with half a towline (to position myself downwind)
-model held overhead by helper at 2 meters
-launch to 114m, but cruise time too long resulting in a stall
-2 minutes of buoyant air, then no more thermal left
-flight time 9 min and 45 sec.
-one aborted launch
-down to 60 meters air was still a bit bumpy
-below 60 meters neutral air, about 24 cm/s glide performance
-landing position elevation 8.1 meters higher than launch position
-every feature in the graph can be determined with 0.2 second accuracy (launch, landing etc.)
So as you can see, many fun facts can be taken from altimeter graphing!
Zooming in on the landing, the moment of touchdown can be pinpointed:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/998v5b3ff0pe7mr/Fly-off%20flight%20landing.jpeg?dl=0
After many years of altimeter development and use I can safely say altimeters are more accurate than the average time keeper. Those who claim otherwise probably never used the system (provided the system is according to EDIC specifications). Of all the criticism, reservations, questions and posted problems, I have never seen one single altimeter graph to back such claims up.
regards, Allard
One Detail I forgot and point I should clarify
From: Editor
Forgot: Was to say that for purchase you should email all-tee@ziggo.nl
Clarify: There are 2 uses of an altimeter permitted in the Sporting Code for Free Flight, one is to determine the altitude in an “Altimeter Fly Off” and the other is when the sportsman questions the flight time in a Flyoff, in the latter case the altimeter graph can be used as evidence. How it would be used with the CD and jury is illustrated by Allard’s example above where he analyses his own flight except that the officials would make the analysis. In earlier discussions when All-Tee was first announced there were some readers who were confused as they thought it would be used to time every flight as a replacement for a traditional time keeper. That is not the case. Doing that requires more changes to the Sporting Code and further technical advances. Note that my explanation is not the exact wording of the Sporting Code and people intending to use Altimeters in these ways or even comment on them ?? should familiarize themselves with the Sporting Code. As others have commented there are still some minor inconsistencies in the Sporting Code around these two cases and Allard has mentioned that he believes these are being addressed by the FFTSC (Free Flight Technical Sub-Committee).
USFFC
51st ANNUAL UNITED STATES FREE FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
September 17 – 19, 2021 at Lost Hills, CA – Category II – AMA Sanction (AAA) – America’s & National Cups
| Friday September 17: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Saturday September 18: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sunday September 19: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Modern Events | Modern Events and FAI | Modern Events and FAI |
|
P-30* Combined Rubbera Super D Gas* |
E-36 A Electric P-30* Combined Rubber Catapult Glider* Pen (Jr and Open) A Gas* C/D Gas* F1A, F1B and F1C/P F1J Vintage FAI Power Vintage Wakefield |
B Electric P-30* Combined Rubbera Hand Launch Glider* Pen (Jr and Open) F1S from Glider Pen 1/2 A Gas* (Jr and Open) B Gas* F1G, F1H, F1Q |
| NOSTALGIA EVENTS |
NOSTALGIA EVENTS |
NOSTALGIA EVENTS |
|
Nostalgia Electric Early 1/2 A Nostalgia Combined Rubbera NOTE: You may fly your first three |
Nostalgia Electric Early 1/2 A Nostalgia Combined Rubbera 1/2 A Gas Nostalgia B Gas Nostalgia C Gas Nostalgia |
Nostalgia Electric Early 1/2 A Nostalgia Combined Rubbera 1/4 A Gas Nostalgia A Gas Nostalgia Golden age |
| CLASSIC | CLASSIC | CLASSIC |
| Classic Towline* |
Classic Towline* Classic 1/2 A Gas |
Classic Towline* Classic A/B Gas |
| OLD TIMER EVENTS | OLD TIMER EVENTS | OLD TIMER EVENTS |
|
1/2 A Texaco (ROG) Texaco (ROG) Combined Old Timerb .020 Replica |
NOTE: Old Timer Only…ALL O/T Events can be flown any day at any time during the Contest. You do not have to start and finish the same day. |
Combined Rubbera 8 oz. Wakefield |
| Note: | UNOFFICIAL EVENTS | UNOFFICIAL EVENTS |
| See reverse side for Engine Runs and flight Times Sweepstakes Award for Total Air Time 5 AMA events max. |
7:30 a.m. Gollywock Mass Launch 9:30 a.m. “The Mikkelson Memorial” Twin Pusher Mass Launch Night Gas |
7 a.m.-7:30 a.m. Dawn Mulvihill & Big E |
September 17 – 19, 2021 at Lost Hills, CA.
Category II – AMA Sanction (AAA) – America’s & National Cups Contest
US FF CHAMPS REGISTRATION: Proof of current AMA Membership and current Lost Hill’s Membership required.
$30 includes first Event. Additional events are $10 each. Gold card $75 includes unlimited event. Juniors $5 per event with
awards in all Junior events.
TROPHY PRESENTATION : Saturday at 5:15pm and Sunday at 3:15
Awards: Cash: Five or more flyers 1st/$50, 2nd/$25, 3rd/$15. Four flyers 1st/$25, 2nd/$15. Three flyers 1st/ $15. Two flyers 1st/$5
JR EVENTS will be 1st/$15, 2nd/$10, 3rd/ $5.
Sweepstakes: $100 cash, Trophies see last page for photograph and details.
Lost Hills Member’s Meeting, Saturday, September 18th at 6:30 p.m. at CD table
Notes:
Timecards: Submit timecards to CD table or event table after each official flight.
ENTER ALL TIMES IN SECONDS, except TEXACO Events.
Do to low entries, the following events have been combined: aMoffett, Mulvihill, Jimmy Allen, Nostalgia rubber large and small rubber, small rubber stick and cabin, large rubber stick and cabin will be scored as one event: “COMBINED RUBBER”. In addition, bA pylon, A fuselage, B/C pylon and B/C fuselage will be scored as one event: “COMBINED OLD TIMER”.
Hand Launch and Catapult Glider will be flown from a pen – submit time cards to CD table every two flights.
All Engine Runs and Max Times are per the AMA Rule Book and NFFS Official Competition Rules.
FAI Saturday Events – (7) one hour rounds, starting at 8 a.m. F1A first round max 240 sec. F1B, C, P first round max 240 sec All other rounds 180 sec. Flyoff rounds no earlier than 4 p.m. per CD.
F1C special rules, RCDT not required 4 second motor run.
Vintage FAI Power and Vintage Wakefield first round max 300 seconds between 8:00 a.m. and 8:15a.m. Then 4 flights any time, 180 second max. Flyoff Sunday morning 8:00am
FAI Sunday Events – F1G, H and Q (5) forty-five min rounds beginning at 8 a.m. F1G, H 120 sec max F1Q 180 sec max
Flyoff rounds no earlier than 1 p.m. per CD.
Sweepstakes Total time for a maximum of 5 AMA events as indicated by *.
Ed Carroll, Contest Director, cell 818-489-5039, email: ec31133@aol.com
Note this is a slightly shortened version of the flyer – missing photos of trophies etc The Lost Hills Web Site is at http://www.lhffmaa.com
US Air settings
From: Mike Roberts
I maybe wrong, as you know I am a power flyer but I also hold a private pilots license with instrument rating. My understanding in the US is that flights in the Flight Levels (above 18000 ft) which is Class A airspace, we are required to get a clearance, be on a IFR flight plan, and set the altimeter to 29.92 inches of mercury (1013mb). Below that altitude, whether VFR or IFR, altitude will be set at airport altitude, automated airport recordings or Flight Service or Tower communication. Just for clarity if I am correct. Flying models in Oregon next week and am so very excited.
Best Regards
Mike
Editor’s Observation
The first bit of good news is that you guys have your great Tangent OR contests underway. The second is that we don’t have to fly above 18,000 feet and in reality much below that.
Using Allard’s terminology we are really using height above the ground which for us is way less than 1000 feet. Much less than the model rocket guys. One of the reasons for having the EDIC certified is to make sure that the devices perform properly and can’t be tampered with and the EDIC people have been doing that for quite some time for R/C soaring events so we are in good hands.