Jim Fackert asserted that "they (the Wright Stuff rules) also clearly state
that
the two bladed commercial prop can be cut down or modified to change the
pitch. That, in my book, includes twisting or breaking and re-gluing the
blade spars, and heating and reforming the blades themselves."
Jim, that's a real stretch. Here is a verbatim quote of the WS prop rule:
"The propeller must be a single two-bladed commercially available plastic
propeller with a maximum diameter of 18.5 cm. Longer propellers may be
trimmed to meet this specification. Trimming/shaving/twisting is also
permitted to balance and/or reduce the mass of propeller or to change
pitch."
Where in that wording do you see an approval for breaking and re-gluing the
prop spar? Are props with broken and re-glued spars "commercially
available"? As co-event director for the Rochester, NY, Wright Stuff
regional contest (which I have been for the past ten years or so), I would
DQ any model with cracked and re-glued spars in a heartbeat. I believe it's
been made clear in earlier messages that Ikara prop spars can be twisted
using heat to change the blade pitch, with no breakage being needed. I've
changed pitch simply by grasping the plastic spar with two pairs of needle
nose pliers and carefully twisting in whatever change was needed.
Mark Schaefer says, "My guess is 98% of all the S.O. judges won't even know
what VP was or notice anything different, a few would though." Mark, are you
implying that it's OK to break the rules so long as the official in charge
doesn't notice? I'd certainly notice and would DQ the model. And let's be
real about such an "innovation." 98% of students competing in the Wright
Stuff event under the current rules wouldn't know anything about a VP
either, since none of them are fortunate enough to have an experienced
indoor flier as a mentor such as some members of this forum are fortunate to
have.
Bob Clemens
Received on Mon Dec 04 2006 - 15:14:26 CET
This archive was generated by Yannick on Sat Dec 14 2019 - 19:13:44 CET