Looks like Chris finally finished his Fireball. Highly experimental for sure!

 

December 2011 Meeting

Here finally is the web report. I did not attend this one but am hoping to be able to make it to the January meeting.

Here are some photos of some of the last action of the year. The pictures where taken in late November or early December (very cold neverthess) if my memory serves me right.

 

 

 

 

Our Secretary Rob has kindly provided us with the minutes and some of his views on events.

 

 

 

Minutes of the BBMFC December 14, 2011 Meeting

Business meeting opened: by President Chris Brownhill at 7:40 pm

Present: 20 members/guests

Minutes of previous meeting: acceptance moved by Geoff Higgs, seconded by Keith Morgan, carried

Treasurer’s report: by Treasurer Bill Bowmer - $1,693.49

Proceedings:

Award certificates from the Ringmaster Fly-a-thon were presented to Keith Morgan, Stuart Henderson, and Chris Brownhill.

President Chris Borwnhill presented Jack Humphries with a Lifetime Club Membership in recognition of his long-standing participation in and contributions to the Club and the hobby in general.

Chris reviewed the current contest schedule for 2012:

o May 20 – Spring Opener – Niagara Falls ON

o June 2,3 – T&D – Centennial Park, Toronto ON

o June 12-16 – Brodak – Carmichaels PA

o July 7,8 – Beanfield Grand Prix – "The Beanfield", Dresden ON

o Aug 17-19 – SOCC - "The Beanfield", Dresden ON

o Sep 9 – Fall Stunt - Niagara Falls ON

o Sep 23 – 55th Anniversary Weekend - Centennial Park, Toronto ON

Chris indicated that he has initiated the process to obtain City permits for the contest dates at Centennial Park.

Chris indicated that due to budget trimming at the City, park maintenance may be cut back somewhat next season. The idea of club members stepping in to "fill the void" was brought up but this may not be viewed positively by CUPE due to the labour situation (pending strike/lockout in the winter/spring that may last for some time). It was also mentioned that the asphalt circle will need some patching this year and it was felt that we may need to do this "informally".

Pete Hanson suggested that he/his company might be willing to sponsor a racing championship for 2012.

Members were reminded to complete the event survey and return to Secretary Rob Pringle. The survey (a Microsoft Word file) was distributed with the October minutes, will be distributed again with the December minutes, and is available on the club website http://www.balsabeavers.ca/

Since only 12 club members had been able to submit their completed surveys so far, an informal poll of the 20 members present was held to gauge interest in potential new events. Rob went through each of the events on the survey form (all MAAC events plus other "informal" events) and the members were asked to indicate if a given event was one they competed in now or one they would really like to participate in. It was noted that the combat guys "did their own thing" and that anyone interested in combat should talk to them. The response was as follows (may not be 100% accurate due to format of the poll – it was done by a show of raised hands and some members were shy about it and kept their digits elevated only momentarily and others were undecided and alternated between hand-up and hand-down):

Event Competing now Burning desire to compete
Precision aerobatics 10 -
Profile stunt 9 -
Sport racing 5 1
1/2A proto profile speed - 6
Jim Walker 3 7
Sport scale 3 5
Profile scale 3 5
Fun scale - 3
Old Time stunt 5 3
.15 carrier - 5
Musciano - stunt 5 2
Musciano - speed - 4

On the basis of these results, Chris indicated a meeting would be held early in the new year to formulate some rules proposals for one rejuvenated event (Jim Walker) and three potential new events (.15 carrier, 1/2A proto speed, and Musciano speed).

Chrsi reminded the members that to be successful, new events (and existing events) need a "champion" to drive things along.

During the course of the discussion, various points and suggestions were made concerning the new events being considered, (comments in italics are those of the Secretary and do not necessarily represent the Club’s views) :

o Jim Walker

There was a general impression that the speed portion of the scoring was weighted more heavily than the stunt and concours portions, leading in the recent past to the need to have a hot Russian combat engine to be able to win. In fact, the rules provide for an even weighting of 30% of the score between the three portions with 10% being allocated to an "option". Larger displacement engines are handicapped in the speed portion by requiring higher maximum speeds within the same 30% allocation of score as follows:

Engine displacement Speed (mph) multiplied by Speed required for max score Maximum score
.1 to .239 cu in .3 (100 mph) 30
.24 to .29 cu in .25 (120 mph) 30

.30 cu in

 		.2 (150 mph) 30

It was suggested that perhaps the speed portion count as only 15% or 20% of the total score. It is my feeling that this will turn Jim Walker into a "pseudo fast stunt" event (we already have quite a few stunt events –precision, profile, old time, Musciano) when it was originally intended as an event that features competing/balanced design requirements for the model.

It might be possible to maintain the "balanced" intent of the event while addressing the issue of "hot" combat engines by one or more of the following revisions:

Reducing the maximum speed limits and changing the factors as follows:

o for .1 - .239 cu ins – 80 mph x .375

o for .24 - .29 cu ins – 100 mph x .3

o for .3+ cu ins – 120 mph x .25.

Limiting tank design (no pressure – suction only), propeller size (minimum 7x4), fuel (maximum 10% nitro), or exhaust systems

Maintaining a list of allowable (or prohibited) engines although this could be seen as somewhat arbitrary

Changing the displacement ranges to:

o .15-.29 cu ins

o .30-.46 cu ins

(This would force the hot F2D and similar engines to compete with .25’s and .29’s.)

o .15 profile carrier.

The main issue here is perhaps unfamiliarity of Club Members with the event - This is an "informal" event which is currently run at Brodak and in various areas of Canada, the US, UK, and elsewhere (eg. NW rules and Denver rules). The basic intent is to fly 7-8 fast laps and 7-8 slow laps, with the flight scoring usually being based on the difference between the fast and slow times, plus an arrested landing which also figures prominently in the scoring. An aircraft with a working throttle is therefore a necessity and the tailhook is usually triggered with an extreme elevator movement. Slow flying is often in a "hanging stall" mode with a maximum flight angle of either 30 or 60 deg. Depending on the rules you are looking at. However, .15 profile carrier does not permit controllable surfaces (except elevator) and line sliders are not permitted – this greatly simplifies the engineering.

An example of the rules are the following Brodak rules:

The general rules for MAAC carrier are at http://www.maac.ca/committees/maac_committee.php?cm=7

I have had a brief correspondence with Eric Conley who has some helpful tips for the event at http://flyinglines.org/flightdeck.2.09.html . As there are few readily available plans for this event (although lots for class 1 and 2), I asked him what size the planes were and he responded that wingspans were 28-31 ins and wing areas were 160-180+ sq ins.

I have seen descriptions or pictures of planes that have solid wings and others that have foam or built-up wings.

The .15 size planes are easy on the budget and building time but can be challenging to fly in windy conditions. Engines are not that common although Eric mentions Nelsons, MVVS, OS, and Cox/RJL/K&B Conquest.

Although 3-line systems are almost exclusively used at present, there has been discussion and there is a case for allowing electronic throttles/tailhooks (eg. servo driver systems, R/C trainer "buddy" systems, or 2.4 Ghz radio systems)

While a built-up carrier deck is nice, the event can be run with more basic field equipment.

There is also a Northwest Sport .40 Carrier event that is similarly a "fun: event, although the aircraft are perhaps more manageable in the wind and more engines are available.

o 1/2A profile proto speed

MAAC rules at http://www.maac.ca/docs/2006/rules_cl_g2.pdf

We can probably dispense with the pylon and use a 1m pilot’s circle.

This event could have the same issue as the Jim Walker event in that there are a number of "hot" imported 1/2A combat engines (Profi, Cyclon, VA, Shuriken, etc) – otherwise, engine supply is hit and miss and may depend on eBay

o Musciano proto speed

The eligibility rules are as for any other Musciano event (engines, use of Musciano hollow-log designs, etc)

Speed is measured over 12 laps although this assumes 35’ lines to give a ˝ mile total distance.

The business portion of the meeting was adjourned by Chris and the members in attendance were treated to cookies, cider courtesy of a few club members imbued with the holiday spirit (Naomi, Chris, and others).

While enjoying the treats, the annual pre-Christmas "swap shop" was held at which a few items changed hands. Chris was observed donating a Cox engine to Ted’s youth flyers.

Merry Christmas

and a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year to all.

 

 

 

Photos:  Chris Brownhill

           

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