Hyper AVA EL Pro
Managed to clock away my AVA for the first time at GEMS on Sunday. Half hour flight was easy.
26 December 2012
23 December 2012
Altis V3
The Altis V3 is a data logger used for recording the launch altitude in F5J competition. The on-board device is barely larger than a servo extension lead plug so takes up very little space inside the fuselage.
Once connected to your device you can download and view the data. A list of flights saved on the device will appear in the pane on the left.
The device configuration screen is shown below. Note the various parameters that can be set.
The Altis V3 device and external hand held viewer is available from me. You are welcome to email me for prices and availability.
17 December 2012
Culex 2E
We recently ordered 2 Culex gliders from Esprit Models in Palm Bay Florida. The service was good and the package arrived about 10 days after ordering at our shop in Jet Park, South Africa. The parcel was the size of a small refrigerator, including plenty of foam chips and bubble wrap, so no chance of damage.Assembly
At a glance the overall finish and fit seemed good and the wing covering fairly tight. It appears to be standard thickness Oracover and quite strong.
Building instructions seemed fairly straightforward, but took much longer than anticipated. The wing servo leads need to be extended by soldering on the extension cable as the tube that runs the lead to the root rib is too small to feed through the cable plug. The wings split in the centre and are joined by a steel rod. The wing assembly is joined to the fuse by means of only 2 M4 nylon bolts. This arrangement was so sloppy that we added 2 more M3 bolts as far back as possible to provide some stability. The horizontal stab sits on a balsa pedestal that also houses the elevator servo. It seems flimsy but is in fact adequate. The fin sits behind the stab and has a very small join area to the carbon tail boom, it comes off easily.
Flying
After setting up the control throws and balancing we took to the air. You need about 200w to get it altitude in under 30 seconds. My plane took quite a bit of aileron trim to fly level (I think the wings are slightly warped) My partner's plane was fitted with quite a powerful motor and he experienced wing flutter during launch!
The MH32 wing section is quite slippery on this plane and it handles a fair breeze with ease. It has very little in the way of dihedral and it takes a lot of stick work to circle nice and flat in a thermal. After a while I got it to hang around nicely and I would say it has potential as a F5J competitor.
Warning!
Although this glider wants to go fast, don't be tempted. The slight wing flutter on launch should have been fair warning. On the fourth or fifth flight my partner brought the plane round in a steep bank and before he could keep the speed in check the wings started fluttering uncontrollably. Slow oscillations, rendered all the control surfaces useless and it came down nose first. Broke one wing and the fuselage, but it is repairable.
11 November 2012
Just a few short years ago I was
introduced to thermal soaring having flown only electric park fly models
before then. I had no idea what I had let myself in for.
I had heard about thermal soaring but did not have any idea how it worked or how hard it was
I had heard about thermal soaring but did not have any idea how it worked or how hard it was
My first glider that was capable of
thermalling was a Multiplex Cularis. At the time I was into attaching
small video cameras to my models in order to get some aerial video
footage. The Cularis, being a 2.6m foam glider seemed like a good
stable camera platform.
After a few flights I discovered that
at times it would just stay up or seemingly float around longer. I
was catching thermals without even knowing!
It was at this point that I got invited
to fly with some “real” glider boys. I was blown away by some of
the sophisticated gliders they had. Most of the proper competition
thermalling gliders are made from very high tech composite materials.
After witnessing the apparent ease with which these gliders caught
updrafts and “stayed” up in the sky, I knew what I had to get
involved. I started looking around and bought a second hand unused
composite glider. Soon I got involved in competition gliding events.
F5J is very similar to F3J except that the
rules have been amended to allow for an electric motor on the plane
to launch the glider. F5J has taken the thermal duration world by
storm. In Europe, England USA and Australia it has become one of the
most popular soaring competition classes.
At this stage we have 5 organized F5J
competitions per year including the Nationals. The competitions in
2013 will be hosted at GEMS near Bapsfontein, BERG near Krugersdorp
and SGC near the Sammy Marks museum in Pretoria. This does not
prevent you from organizing an event at your local club.
If you have ever wondered if soaring
would be interesting or challenging, then F5J is for you. I find the
soaring pilots to be very helpful and eager to introduce new pilots
to the sport. The F5J competitions are always relaxed and friendly.
Please feel free to drop me an email if
you would like to find out more or if you would like to visit one of
the above mentioned clubs in order to see the planes in action.
If you have a motorized glider you're welcome to bring it along.
Check out the MGA website http://mgasa.blogspot.com/
for more information and contact details.
29 September 2012
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale or FAI, is also known as "The World Air Sports Federation" .
Since F5J is an FIA competition class, they make the official rules.
It would be a good idea to get to know the F5J rules. These can be downloaded from the FIA web site or from the Gliderscore site.
Since F5J is an FIA competition class, they make the official rules.
It would be a good idea to get to know the F5J rules. These can be downloaded from the FIA web site or from the Gliderscore site.
25 September 2012
F5J is a model glider competition class, proposed by the International Federation of Aeronautics or FAI.
It is a thermal duration competition where the gliders are launched by means of an electric motor.
Traditional thermal duration requires the glider to be towed to flying altitude by means of a 2 man tow team using a 150m line and pulley system. The problem with this method, (still used in competition) is that you require 2 willing helpers before enjoying a quick flight. This led to the use of an electric winch that allowed pilots to fly on their own. Electric winches are expensive and heavy to cart around. It was not long before someone popped an electric motor and a few NiCad batteries into a glider to enable easy launching.
Recent developments resulted in the availability of inexpensive and powerful electric motors and batteries. Electric thermal duration has become very affordable and has taken the model gliding world by storm. At first complex rules were used to penalize gliders with powerful brush-less motors in order to allow the brushed motors to compete. During the course of 2010 and 2011, a new set of rues were discussed and provisionally approved by FAI. In the new rules, any combination of airframe, motor or battery may be used as long as the following general specifications are not exceeded:
Launch altitude is penalized by 0.5 points per meter up to 200m. For altitudes higher than 200m the penalty is increased 3 points per meter. Motor run time is limited to 30 seconds. Zooming in order to gain more altitude after the motor cut point is dissuaded by the fact that the ALD logs the highest altitude during the period of 10 seconds after the motor was cut, either by the pilot or the ALD. This means that anyone can compete as long as the glider can reach a reasonable altitude within 30 seconds, and stay aloft for the required working time of 10 minutes.
Up to R2000.00
I do not think that it would be possible to fly for much less than about R2000.00. Someone may prove me wrong but consider the cost of the limiting device at about R680.00 and you are nearly halfway there. On a budget you can haul out the 20 year old Gentle Lady and add a Park 450 – Park 480 size motor and you can be competitive. Many pilots are also dedicated scratch-builders and it might be an option if you have the time and patience.
Between R2000.00 and R3500.00
This would be an acceptable budget for beginners and experienced pilots that would just like to dip their toes into the F5J waters. There are a few very well designed ARF foamies for example, the Parkzone Radian-Pro or Multiplex Cularis. Both of these foamies have 4 servo wings. You may also be able to get a glass moulded kit that can be fitted with the necessary hardware. The very successful 2m Tsotsi comes to mind.
The Tsotsi is still produced by Evan Shaw and Piet Rheeders.
More than R3500.00
Most of the major competition sailplane manufacturers produce an “E” version of their F3J or F3B models. Some of the “E” models from the likes of Vladimir or NAN will set you back $1600.00 or more, and that is without any electric components. These planes however are suitable for world class competition.
In conclusion, a wide variety of sailplanes will do very well. Early F3J (soaring duration) models have enough fuselage space to accommodate the motor and electronics and LiPo batteries.
It is a thermal duration competition where the gliders are launched by means of an electric motor.
Traditional thermal duration requires the glider to be towed to flying altitude by means of a 2 man tow team using a 150m line and pulley system. The problem with this method, (still used in competition) is that you require 2 willing helpers before enjoying a quick flight. This led to the use of an electric winch that allowed pilots to fly on their own. Electric winches are expensive and heavy to cart around. It was not long before someone popped an electric motor and a few NiCad batteries into a glider to enable easy launching.
Recent developments resulted in the availability of inexpensive and powerful electric motors and batteries. Electric thermal duration has become very affordable and has taken the model gliding world by storm. At first complex rules were used to penalize gliders with powerful brush-less motors in order to allow the brushed motors to compete. During the course of 2010 and 2011, a new set of rues were discussed and provisionally approved by FAI. In the new rules, any combination of airframe, motor or battery may be used as long as the following general specifications are not exceeded:
- Mass not greater than 5kg
- Wing span no greater than 4m
- Wing area no greater than 150dm²
Launch altitude is penalized by 0.5 points per meter up to 200m. For altitudes higher than 200m the penalty is increased 3 points per meter. Motor run time is limited to 30 seconds. Zooming in order to gain more altitude after the motor cut point is dissuaded by the fact that the ALD logs the highest altitude during the period of 10 seconds after the motor was cut, either by the pilot or the ALD. This means that anyone can compete as long as the glider can reach a reasonable altitude within 30 seconds, and stay aloft for the required working time of 10 minutes.
Choice of F5J gliders
Interested F5J pilots may wonder what glider to use. The choice would depend on your budget.Up to R2000.00
I do not think that it would be possible to fly for much less than about R2000.00. Someone may prove me wrong but consider the cost of the limiting device at about R680.00 and you are nearly halfway there. On a budget you can haul out the 20 year old Gentle Lady and add a Park 450 – Park 480 size motor and you can be competitive. Many pilots are also dedicated scratch-builders and it might be an option if you have the time and patience.
Between R2000.00 and R3500.00
This would be an acceptable budget for beginners and experienced pilots that would just like to dip their toes into the F5J waters. There are a few very well designed ARF foamies for example, the Parkzone Radian-Pro or Multiplex Cularis. Both of these foamies have 4 servo wings. You may also be able to get a glass moulded kit that can be fitted with the necessary hardware. The very successful 2m Tsotsi comes to mind.
More than R3500.00
Most of the major competition sailplane manufacturers produce an “E” version of their F3J or F3B models. Some of the “E” models from the likes of Vladimir or NAN will set you back $1600.00 or more, and that is without any electric components. These planes however are suitable for world class competition.
In conclusion, a wide variety of sailplanes will do very well. Early F3J (soaring duration) models have enough fuselage space to accommodate the motor and electronics and LiPo batteries.
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