Flight Temperature (Conditions)

From: calgoddard <calgoddard_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:09:46 -0000

Thanks for all the great input. My SciOly flyers can really benefit
from the same.

It seems that temperature differentials of ten degrees or more F.
could result in some hard to accurately predict variations in the
torque curve of the rubber.

It also seems as if variations in temperature and humidity could
affect lift and drag in some complex, difficult-to-quantify ways.

Local flying sites may also have updrafts, downdrafts, sideways
drafts and any combination of these varying from second to second
throughout the day.

So my SciOly flyers must try to do several test flights in the actual
competition flying site as close to their actual flying time as
possible, using partial motors, and be prepared to adjust motor
thickness, winds and launch torque as needed to achieve that much
sought after no-touch conservative first flight if the site has
ceiling obstacles.

In the rare flat ceiling flying venue, their aggressive second flight
could be a ceiling scraper.

If the students ever get to compete in one of those 90 foot ceiling
flying sites (like the University of Illinois or the Kibbie Dome) the
students can then just worry about maxing out altitude and landing
with 2 turns left on the rubber.

Do these sound like good approaches?
Received on Mon Feb 26 2007 - 08:10:58 CET