2nd plane for competition flying???

[intheswamp]

Ok, Ok. I haven't even finished the Gentle Lady and I'm already thinking about a *second* plane. Maybe the balsa dust, or epoxy, or Titebond, or even a little CA has gotten to my great matter, but I'd like to go ahead and get a second kit to have waiting in the wings (oops, no pun intended...really!). :D

What I'd like to get is something that I could fly in competition. Something around 100". Nothing really hi-tech. Maybe something in nostalgic class? RES? Something that will cover more than one class? I'm not even really sure what classes there are and which ones are popular...but I sure don't won't to be in a class where nobody's at! :eek: Oh yeah, I'm looking for a kit in the $75-$125 range if possible.

Anybody care to point me in a good direction with some recommendations?

Ed
Intheswamp
(and needing all the help I can get!)

[aeajr]

Typically there are three classes in TD planes in the US.

2 meter which is for everything up to two meters in projected wing span.

Open Class, which includes up to 100 inches. You can fly a 2M plane in an open class competition.

Unlimited which is everything over 100 inches. You can fly a 2M plane in an open class competition too. You will be at a disadvantage, but you can do it.

Then there is RES - This restricts your flight controls to no more than Rudder/Elevator/spoilers - Flaps rather than spoilers may be permitted, I am not sure.

Sometimes there is nostalgia which usually means built up wood planes, no fiberglass.carbon/Kevlar and the like is permitted. Nostalgia can also be RES restricted.

You can fly any and all of them with a Gentle Lady. If you are a really good pilot and know what you are doing with ballast and thermal hunting, you can even win!

It is the pilot, more than the plane, that makes the difference.

[intheswamp]

Looks like a 100" plane with RES would be good in several different contests and the GL can handle the 2m contests.

As for nostalgia, what is the design cut-off date?

Got any recommendations for one plane that would cover the open, RES, and nostalgia areas of contesting?

Thanks!
Ed
Intheswamp

[nuevo]

Then there is RES - This restricts your flight controls to no more than Rudder/Elevator/spoilers - Flaps rather than spoilers may be permitted, I am not sure.


Flaps have never been allowed in RES.

More details covered here:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/Rulebook/rc-sail.pdf

Note, most CD's (including me) have decided to not enforce rule 3.1.6.d


Sometimes there is nostalgia which usually means built up wood planes, no fiberglass.carbon/Kevlar and the like is permitted. Nostalgia can also be RES restricted.

NOS only restricts date of publish, not construction. Cutoff date is plans/plane published by January 1, 1980. There are no restrictions to internal construction materials. (ie. carbon spar). Airfoil, planform, etc. must be original.

For more details see here:
http://www.silentflight.org/NOS/NosRules.htm

[marty o]

The Marauder by MMglidertech, the Majestic by Laser Arts, the Mistral from Isthmus Models, and the Big Bird from Skybench are all good choices for your next step up and will fly in open and RES classes. Skybench has several nostalgia class offerings.

[aeajr]

I have heard very good reports on the SIG Riser 100 as a RES plane
http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/MainMenuFV3.html?E+Sig

A friend has a Marauder and he is very happy with it. I believe that is a 115" 3M plane.

[aeajr]

Flaps have never been allowed in RES.

More details covered here:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/Rulebook/rc-sail.pdf

Note, most CD's (including me) have decided to not enforce rule 3.1.6.d




NOS only restricts date of publish, not construction. Cutoff date is plans/plane published by January 1, 1980. There are no restrictions to internal construction materials. (ie. carbon spar). Airfoil, planform, etc. must be original.

For more details see here:
http://www.silentflight.org/NOS/NosRules.htm

Thanks for the corrections to my loose understanding of the general competition classes.

[R. Carver]

Typically there are three classes in TD planes in the US.

2 meter which is for everything up to two meters in projected wing span.

Open Class, which includes up to 100 inches. You can fly a 2M plane in an open class competition.

Unlimited which is everything over 100 inches. You can fly a 2M plane in an open class competition too. You will be at a disadvantage, but you can do it.


Open Class and Unlimited are the same. 100" and smaller was called "standard" and is pretty much dead.

[pocket rocket]

Marauder is on 'special' price at the moment

Philip

[aeajr]

Open Class and Unlimited are the same. 100" and smaller was called "standard" and is pretty much dead.

OK, clearly I knew even less about competition classes than I thought. Glad there are people here to fix the mistakes. :(

[fprintf]

I really like my Marauder and I definitely recommend stepping up to a full 3M plane instead of the 100" arbitrary size. Bigger flies better and 3M is a size that can easily compete in the unlimited class now that "standard" is somewhat underused. On sale now for $99 plus $12 shipping - regular price is $124.95. Get yours at www.mmglidertech.com. (if you are on RCSE, Mark Howard just posted one NIB for sale and I'd bet he would take even less)

Like I said, I really like mine. For my next plane I like building so much I am back to the decision whether to build another Marauder, or build some of the others mentioned. The advantage of an RES plane is that it is simpler to build and cheaper (less servos to buy) than a flapped or aileron plane. I can land mine just fine with the spoilers.

[gdjsky01]

I sound like a broken record (remember those?)... :)
Don't pass up a three meter Gnome = $130 = Very strong winch and zoom capable wing* = Very good Flyer + The guy kitting them is here on RCGroups for moral support.** :D

You might consider - In alphabetical order :


Big Bird
Gemini MTS - (If in production :confused: )
Gnome - 3 meter
Majestic
Maurader
Mistral 3 meter
Oly II
Paragon
Pierce 970
Scepter RES




* I would still either thin the spruce spars (or buy thinner ones) and laminate carbon on them in the center section or forget the spars, and just laminate carbon on to the shear webs. But you don't have to do that to have a winch capable wing. It is very strong built stock.

**Disclaimer. I know the guy making the Gnome kits. But I have no financial interest in his success. I DO know you can win contests with a 3 Gnome. Or you can certainly be very competetive. I like to see the design flown more around north america.