The Wright Stuff

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 10/07/2018 12:20:22: Can we just agree once again that the changes to the ANO are NOT to deal with "irresponsible use of Drones" but with clearing of airspace to allow commercial activity in a dedicated air corridor. To clear the airspace, they have to stop irresponsible drone users from flying into it. An unnecessary distinction from our viewpoint, really!

He'll be explaining the offside rule, next!

Andrew, might be worth telling us exactly what the model is: you may find someone has already done a conversion... Yes, getting the battery far enough forward to balance without adding too much weight is usually the biggest challenge with converting to electric. Be creative about how the battery might fit in to get it as far forward as possible. Can it stand on end? At an angle? You may consider using a multiple packs in series or parallel if the smaller size allows you to get them further forward. Best wishes, this is one of BEB's (many) specialist subjects, so I expect he can elaborate!   Edited By The Wright Stuff on 09/07/2018 13:45:28

Posted by Denis Watkins on 09/07/2018 10:46:21: But some models may need slight downthrust I'm scratching my head to fathom out why there should be any difference between IC and electric in terms of downthrust. After all, how do the aerodynamic forces 'know' that the power source has changed? Is it down to different prop wash from electric type props? A reaction force from the exhaust direction on I.C.? Any other factors?

All this talk of knife edges, toilet bowls, enemas and cascades has left me feeling quite ill! I think I preferred it when there was a barrier!

Posted by David Mellor on 09/07/2018 09:03:44: Posted by The Wright Stuff on 09/07/2018 08:58:20: Posted by David Mellor on 08/07/2018 12:01:57: And before anyone asks..... I don't know if Vervet monkeys fly Mode 1 or Mode 2....... And should they become BMFA members so they have insurance? No, they don't need insurance. They carry the risk themselves...........! Glad to hear it. Final question. How many typewriters do they need in order to make sensible posts on this forum?

Posted by David Mellor on 08/07/2018 12:01:57: And before anyone asks..... I don't know if Vervet monkeys fly Mode 1 or Mode 2....... And should they become BMFA members so they have insurance?

I'm pretty sure many clubs simply circumvent the BMFA membership classes by not declaring such 'social members' to the BMFA. If you word the constitution carefully enough (to ensure that social members are not defined to be 'members' from the BMFA perspective), then it's a feasible loophole, if not entirely 'in the spirit'... But really, what is the point of a social member? Surely no club prevents non-flying guests from accompanying flying members to the field...

David, I think my estimate would be even more extreme than that: more like 98% to 99%. How many slots are there at the average model air show, and how many of them are women? It's not just model aircraft, it's broader than that (model engineering / steam locomotives comes to mind). For whatever reason, women seem to 'grow out of playing with toys much more than men do'... Apologies if this wording is flippant - i can't think of any other way of putting it!

Brilliant, thanks Dave! I'm really looking forward to it!

I keep out of the politics of my club, and I don't have access to any membership list, but I have never seen any evidence of any female members, nor any concern about it... We have decent toilet facilities, and I believe they would be made welcome - to be honest, I can't explain it other than lack of interest in flying on their behalf...

I see the gates open at 08:30, but any idea what time the flying actually starts? I assume either 9am or 10am? Cheers.

Posted by Wilco Wingco on 05/07/2018 09:57:09: Who says 35 meg is dead?. All the manufacturers....

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 04/07/2018 10:36:50 One thing I would add - there is no "right mode" - let's not get into that sterile pointless argument, we have been there too many times in the passed. The "right mode" is the one you feel happiest with, full stop. BEB I'll tread delicately here, because I, too have no desire to get into the same old argument, but I would suggest that 'feel happiest with' presumes people have tried both modes, and then chosen their favourite. In reality, I suspect the 'right mode' for most forum members will be the one they currently use, having never changed. I wonder how many people have actually tried both modes for themselves (and by 'tried', I mean properly persevered for a number of complete flights). It occurs to me that in today's world of simulators, self-adjustable transmitters, and non-specific buddy leads, changing modes ought to be easier than ever before... If it's true that these factors have made it less important that mentor and trainee share the same mode, then we ought to see a change in behaviour in the statistics, sooner or later.

I'm going to offer yet another view to add to the confusion, which is apart from the very first one or two flights, I think that to an extent the end effect of expo is often less significant than this discussion is leading us to think. People's brains adapt, alter their response. Add or subtract some expo, the next flight will feel odd. After that, you'll subconsciously adapt, get used to it, and alter the 'throws' of your fingers without even consciously thinking about it. So, I would say not piling into the ground through over-control on the first flight is the priority, after that, it's horses for courses, but there will be bigger, more important factors, than the presence or absence of expo to worry about on the training curve...

Posted by Ernie on 02/07/2018 13:04:12: Hi Pickygit, Why not tint it darker instead of trying to clarify it I've used dark blue dylon in the past It can look really cool, like the pilot is big celebrty. That is an awesome suggestion, Ernie. It it fast / robust, or do you need to gloss varnish after dying it?

I have to say that I suspect solvents won't work because the yellowing is a chemical change within the material, not a surface residue. I expect that if you try acetone, the best result will be a white frosty colour. At worst, it will dissolve and distort it. Other than replacement, all I can suggest is painting it black or silver. It won't be the effect you are looking for, but it might be a temporary improvement...

You say a massive rate of climb, but what is the attitude during that climb? If the nose rises suddenly when the throttle is opened, then it is more likely to be a lack of down-thrust than if the nose remains pointing forward, but the plane rises anyway...

Posted by Andrew Moore 7 on 02/07/2018 11:45:40: Surely the manufacturer should have it sorted as an ARTF ? Ha ha ha... Sadly, not the case. Some manufacturers are better than others, but unfortunately, it pays to never assume this...

Parkzone T-28 Trojan. No nonsense, bullet proof! Great to go back to for a confidence boost when I've had some dodgy flights with the latest project...

It could be a Bi-Fly 40, but if it is, it's been very heavily customised. There's ailerons in both wings, for a start, and the cowl is all new... Is the fuse balsa or ply?

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 28/06/2018 14:08:49: Its OK, I have the solution. We will record it, I will not look on here for the result! That way I see the game, and I can fast forward the boring bits (sorry!). It's funny, but I have tried recording, avoiding the result, and watching recordings - both for football and F1 races, and somehow it just isn't the same. Even if I don't know the result. It's some sort of weird irrational psychological effect - I've no idea why. It's almost as if I feel I can influence the result with hopes and cheers if I watch it live... ...like I said, totally irrational!

Posted by Erfolg on 07/06/2018 14:04:06: It appears that the introduction in the UK of 20 mph speed limits has resulted in increased deaths and accidents. Do you have a source for this? I'd assumed that the news articles reporting such phenomena were largely local rags reporting isolated effects of small-number statistics. Put enough 20 mph zones in, and there are bound to be some boroughs which, by chance, happen to see an increase that year...

Incidentally, here is a specific example of my analogy, above. In court, ignorance was not an excuse, nor was his belief that the car was not capable of speeds above 30 mph. No analogy is perfect, of course, but the more I look at this, the more parallels I see. Edited By The Wright Stuff on 07/06/2018 12:54:09

Posted by Martin Harris on 07/06/2018 11:50:37: Posted by Tom Thomas on 07/06/2018 03:29:04: O.k, I have my Radian ready to launch.... I'm in a farmers field..... I launch..... when do I stop climbing? Without telemetry I don't know just how high I am! This whole mess is ridiculous, I can't nor will I bow to this utter nonsense. It's simple Tom - you, as the pilot, are responsible for staying below any prescribed height. How you comply - and as things stand, comply you will have to - is up to you. If you deliberately flout air law, I'm afraid you will be as bad for the hobby as any irresponsible "drone" pilot. Exactly. If my understanding is correct, it's perfectly legal to drive a pre-1937 classic car on the public roads in the UK without a speedometer fitted. However, it's still illegal to exceed the speed limit. How you estimate speed is up to you. As a classic car enthusiast, you are in a minority on the road, and it is not reasonable to expect road traffic acts to be built around your requirements. If caught speeding, you will be fined like everyone else. If you kill someone, you will likely face prison like everyone else. You can rant on and on as long as you like about how your classic car was around long before modern vehicles, and that it should not be put in the same category, but I'm afraid no-one is going to listen to you. The current situation with aeromodelling might be different in scale and point-in-time, but the principle is exactly the same. Edited By The Wright Stuff on 07/06/2018 12:10:18