In the April CIAM meeting there will be a rules proposal from Hungary,
suggesting F1D rules to be changed to 1.4 grams model minimum weight and
0.4 grams motor maximum weight. The reasoning is to cut down performance,
while keeping the overall weight the same; the proposal suggests that
current models could be used when a third of the motor is replaced by a
ballast.
I do not have very strong opinion on this, for or against, but I just
wonder what would the result for the models. In the long run, it does not
make sense to fly a ballast, but rather use the weight to reinforce the
model. Cutting down the motor would mean shortening the motor tube, and I
think this would result in CoG problems with current model layouts. So
eventually models would change. Thinner motors, smaller props, or maybe
smaller tailplanes to go with a more forward CoG.
Therefore, if we consider the change worth making, and see that the model
layout would change, I wonder if other features of the model should be
changed, too? Most of all I think about the wing span. Current limit of
550mm was derived from largest hand-held luggage on airplanes to be 22" =
558mm, but many airlines have since "meterized" their limits, and 550mm is
quite a common number. And you cannot put a 550mm wing into a 550mm box...
:-) SO maybe a small reduction of wing span, to - say - 520mm should be
also considered, to make the models fit the luggage limits better. But I
repeat, this considering that the rules would be changed.
(The proposals are at NFFS forum, in message
http://www.freeflight.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2157&sid=b7b89ccae19e8e1b7515d3e56c209474,
on scan of page 2....)
-Tapio-
Received on Tue Feb 04 2014 - 23:57:57 CET