My last competition

[capt soap]

Back 5-6 yrs ago was the last competion i flew at. The aircraft mix was something like; 6 falcon880,5 eagle's, 4 shawdows,6 genisis,3 magic's..... what is the mix look like today??? what's the most popular open acraft today?? Lee

[Ollie]

The Maple Leaf Design Icon is probably the top of the line in domestically produced unlimited competition machines. The main things that limit its popularity are price and availability. There are several eastern European produced models of very high quality too. Hollow molded wing technology has all but replaced earlier methods.

See:
http://www.mapleleafdesign.com/

[ICTHRMLS]

Ollie is right about the molded planes taking over. We have mostly Artimus, Espirit, Herra & Emerald amongst our contest fliers. There are some throwbacks too, with their foam & obechi iron-on film covered dinosaurs:p In fact - one of the "throwbacks" won the last contest.... a 2-meter no less.:D :D :D :D

[Fast-Forward]

We just had a TD contest in Massachusetts and pictures are here. (http://www.charlesriverrcpictures.org)

I'm finding that the Mantis is very popular on the east coast. Phil Barnes makes the wings/tails in the 120" MH-32 and 130" Aegea The fuse can be purchased from Terry Luckenbach. I flew the Mantis at a contest, due to a wing failure, and it was a sweet sailplane. It was so easy to fly and just seemed to stay up in the lightest of lift. I would much rather spend $300-400 on a wing/tail and $110 on a fuse, than paying $1000 or more on some Eurotrash. Besides both Phil and Terry are great contributors to our hobby and I'd rather keep them working.

Here is a quick review of the Pretty Mantis Fuse/Aegea wing.
Full text can be found here (http://www.charlesriverrcpictures.org/053003-ESL.pdf)

______________________________________________

From: Anker Berg-Sonne
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 4:28 PM

This weekend I completed and test flew the new
version of our club plane. The wing and tail feathers
are done by Phil and I used the long Pretty Mantis
fuse from Terry. I used HiTec digital servos in the
wing, the thin ones for the ailerons and the bigger
ones for the flaps. Building was very straight forward,
with a couple of small exceptions: I must have used
about 1/3 of the time sanding the joiner rods, and I
used carbon fiber pushrods in Teflon sheaths for the
tail feathers. Even if you sand the Teflon, it just won't
stick to anything. You need to put a piece of glass
over it to hold it down. I decided not to make the tail
removable, I have seen too many of them remove
themselves in flight.

The digital servos are incredibly annoying. They emit
a high pitched whine most of the time, but they are
strong and center perfectly. I guess I'll never forget to
turn my receiver off. Just for once I got all incidences
right and on the first toss it just sailed out straight
ahead. I had balanced it on the bolt and that is too far
forward. The plane came way too quickly out of a
dive and I'll have to break out a drill and remove a bit
of lead. For now I manage by placing the battery
pack further aft. I won't have a good feel for cruise
until I get it balanced correctly. I placed the tow hook
exactly where it is showed on Terry's diagram. That is
a little bit aggressive and if you want to avoid popoffs,
1/4 inch further forward will be better. On an
aggressive tow there is definite flex in the wing, I
think most of it is from outer panels, but there's a
clear warning that you are pushing it. I followed Phil's
advice and reinforced the servo wells, so I didn't get
any skin buckling.

This is a big ship, and it launches and flies like a big
ship. I like it. It has the size to range far out in search
of thermals, and my old eyes have no trouble seeing
it out there. It turns absolutely beautifully. I made
about 4 complete thermal turns completely hands off,
and it still wasn't falling in or out of the turn. It really
likes some camber when thermaling.

The control surfaces are monstrous and on crow is
pitches up with little flap and down with full flap. This
is going to take a bit of getting used to.
This feels like a winner.

Thanks Mark and Phil!
______________________________________________

Additionally, I've noticed a good mix of Euro moldies and Manti at contests. At our CRRC Soar-in day one Expert class, the top two were Euro moldies (don't know make or model) and third was a 120" Mantis - Day two Expert 1st - 120" Mantis, 2nd Euro Moldie (don't know make or model), 3rd 130" Mantis. Overall winner for both days was flying a 120" Mantis.

The previous ESL contest I attended had plenty of Manti. I saw Phil Barnes for the first time and he was also flying a Mantis. Phil took 1st place with his 120" Mantis, 2nd was a 130" Mantis, and third was a 120" Mantis.

Needless to say I'm saving my pennies for a Mantis. I can say it performs very well and won't break the bank.

[Ollie]

If you list all the factors that go into winning a contest, equipment selection has to be way down on the list.For the most part, an advantage due to the particular plane you select is a very, very small advantage.

The worst piece of EPP trash in a thermal will fly longer than the most expensive, well built and well designed plane in sink. In my book the ability to know where the thermals are before launching is far more important than equipment.

I've seen Brian Agnew beat twenty others in an unlimited event in 12 to 15 MPH winds with a two channel Gentle Lady. Several of the contestants were very good fliers with the latest equipment. One of the others was LSF level IV and he landed off field on one flight. Brian made every landing in the high 90's and did it in windier conditions than most guys would even fly a Gentle Lady. I've seen him catch a small thermal at telehone pole height that was well over a half a mile away from where he was standing and sky out from there. I've seen him do four perfect seven minute flights in a row with four perfect 100 point L6 landings. Pilot skill is far and away the most important thing where contests are concerned.

I would say that the spotter or timer in a contest is more important to the contestant than what he is flying.

How carefully the plane has been tuned to the skill level and flying style of the pilot is more important than which equipment the flier starts with.

Why this obsession with equipment selection? You can't buy much more than a place or two or three with $2000 in plane and servos. Some people even buy more advanced equipment than they can fly well and end up with a worse contest standing.

[Mr B....]

The best way to get back into it is look at it this way! Go out there and have a great time.

I do every time I go out to a contest with my RES plane. The best thing about it is, I am having FUN doing it.

Have a great day!

[Superman]

I agree 110% with Mr B... about just going out and having fun... That is the best way and I find when I am relaxed and having fun I fly better anyway so it works out well for me... Good luck,

-Superman

[why2cay]

I am a newbie to this sport/hobby and fly a 2m ARF. A windstar to be exact. I just was invloved in my first contest, our Clubs after 6pm longest flight. Though I knew I wasn't going to be competitve with everyone else (they are expierences pilots) they all took the time to explain what I could heve done better or done different to extend my times. One thing is for certain I had fun and I enjoyed the friendship. I probably will never contest outside of the club contest as the cost of a competive Ship and radio seems to be to much for my pockets. I will though keep on trying to improve my skills and become as competitive as I can with my new 2m Oly650


Steve

[Mr B....]

Keep trying and don't give up. I have beat some of the best pilots on the west coast with a wood airplane.

It's all about having fun!

[schrederman]

I am really happy with my Spotted Chicken....yep....Spotted Chicken.... It's got a Condor fuselage, 126" Compulsion wings, Addiction stabs, and my rudder. That mixed up heritage gives it it's name. I sanded the ridges off the leading edges very carefully and put reflective tape on them. That seems to allow it to slow down better with the smooth radius leading edge. This has prompted me to think I might start bagging my own stuff...but building with balsa is still so much fun I will never stop doing that. The competition scene is still clogged with the latest/greatest stuff, unless you come to Houston for the Woody Roundup next weekend...we are flying open wood wing and nostalgia classes!

Jack Womack