Re: Another Possible F1D Rules Change

From: <leop_at_lyradev.com>
Date: 19 Oct 2016 09:37:50 -0700

Nick,

 Your proposal means, with no uncertainty, that F1D airframes will need be built to a 1.2g minimum weight to compete in all contests without having different planes for different motor weight contests.
 

 As much as I did not initially like the rule change to 1.4g /0.4g motor F1D's, it is evident that the increase in the minimum weight has brought a great deal more participants into the class. In the US, the F1D class often has the largest number of participants at a contest now. The lowered motor weight, given the clarification in how spacers and o-rings are no longer counted as motor weight, has not worked out badly, at all. It is not that hard for all competitors to have motors within 0.25% or better of the maximum weight so that the effect of differential motors weights has been minimized to less than 5 seconds of flight duration.
 

 From a practical standpoint, we really want consistent class rules across all contests and all countries. As much as I was against the rule changes four years ago, I think they have worked out much better than expected and even better than the rule change proponents' had hoped. There still may be problems with the style of flying required with the lower motor weights but we will see a return to the need for good vp prop and setup skills at the 2018 WC in the Cat III West Baden Atrium. And, F1D's can still get hung on the ceiling girders at Lakehurst and catwalk at Slanic so the current rules planes can still out fly any site currently in use
 

 LeoP
Received on Wed Oct 19 2016 - 09:37:50 CEST