FxRES December 2022 2m F3L/F5-RES Monthly Duration Challenge

[martynk]

FxRES Monthly Postal Rules

This is a “for fun” challenge for UK based pilots. Anyone may enter with:

1. a bungee-launched F3L (F3-RES) specification glider using the reduced length Hi-Start. The reduced length Hi-Start bungee has a maximum of 10m of 6/4mm surgical tubing and 50m of static line (minimum 30lb breaking strain). Lighter/smaller/shorter bungee rubber may be used.

OR

2. an Electric motor launched F5-RES specification glider fitted with an Altitude Limiter set to 60m and a maximum motor run time of 20 seconds.

Object: Fly your F3L or F5-RES glider for as long as possible from a flat field. Each monthly challenge will commence on the 1st day of the Calendar month and  the person who's time is unbeaten at the end of the Calendar Month 'wins' and a new challenge will start. The annual challenge league will end on the 31st December of each year. A new annual challenge league will then commence on the 1st of January.

Rules:

Models must comply with the Model Specification rules for F3L (F3-RES) or F5-RES as appropriate.

You may self-time your own flights

Flight times begin when the tow-line falls from the tow-hook (for F3L/F3-RES) or in the case of a F5-RES glider when the motor stops.

The model must land in the launch field or (if there is no field boundary) within 150m of the launch position for times to count. There is no landing bonus.

If you are using a bungee launch (for this event or any other), then the launch line MUST be secured using a corkscrew dog tether or similar bungee stake to minimise the risk of injury caused by a loose stake.

Scores must be submitted on the relevant monthly postal event posting on the FxRES forum at www.barcs.co.uk/forums/   

Scoring flights must be submitted within 24 hours of the flight taking place.

A flight log graph from the Altitude limiter should also be submitted if entering with a F5-RES glider.

All scoring flights must start with a hand release from Ground Level with (if applicable), the motor running.

No flight information telemetry permitted except for Received signal strength and Receiver battery status.

Submitted scores will be amalgamated into an annual league. Points will be awarded as follows:  1st -15 points, 2nd - 12points, 3rd - 10points, 4th to 12th, 9 to 1 point respectively.

You may enter as many times as you wish using as many different models as you wish, but only your longest duration flight will count towards the league position.

Please enter your OCTOBER scores below in the following format...

ON THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR POST

Model Name : Class (F3 or F5) : Date of flight : Time Claimed

Any text or commentary or images please add afterwards.  Thanks  

[AnthonyB]

Claiming 4:23, Bombay Light, F5RES, Ribble Valley.

Someone has to start this.

Cold and windless, though the air movement is from north east.

I flew today just to get a feeling for min sink. Still winters days are for that.

Full flight :-

Just glide :-

Landing to be clear :-

 

I did 3 flights, but I connected up for flight 2 and the transmitter bleeped strangely, so I unplugged.

The first flight was flying too fast (from previous landing, with down trim).

I thought I was doing better each flight, but flight 3 was the best not 4!

4:23 with no going up is great – that would be 6:30 from 90m.

[cirrusRC]

That is very good, I'd struggle to get that with DLG.

[AnthonyB]

Claiming 6:16  /  Bombay Light  / F5RES /  Ribble Valley. 

Did 4 flights this morning - Not good. I think it was because frost was rolling down the valley. Then I was frozen.

Pulled 2 leads off the balance lead on charger - so mended them.

Testing the leads, I realised I had charged up the battery, so might as well have a quick fly.

Full flight :-

The glide part :- 

And the landing :-

Then my fingers were frozen ......... The frost never moved off the fields all day.

 

[AnthonyB]

A couple of other bits.

This morning on the 450-2S battery I had 4 flights and the voltage was 3.95v / cell after (not low).

This afternoon the voltage was 8.3v when connected. That rapidly sagged to under 7v with the motor on.

It recovered to 8.1v quite quickly after the run and then remained there.

The voltage did not drop further due to cold (as expected).

As there was nowhere to go, for once, I just let it climb - 7.7m/sec !!!!

 

[martynk]

Well done Anthony for getting this started. Excellent flight considering the arctic conditions up here

 

 

     

     

[Graham Lorimer]

Flight claimed 9 minutes 35 seconds

Purito Electric

Fish Meadow

A fine day at Fish Meadow beckoned with light winds and sunshine, perhaps a suitable day for another try at the 2 meter challenge.

First launch to 60 meters and a 6 + minute flight, this was going to be easy.

Second launch, still on the same battery and a 9+minute flight, but no climb above 70 meters, it looked like the day would just get better and better …. NOT!

Should have packed up and gone home, the next 20 launches could not get near the first two  flights, and that was the way it ended. Hard to fathom why the day did not improve, all the signs were there but nothing I tried worked, and I tried all sorts of model and flight adjustments.

Still, a very pleasant few hours.

Graham

[AnthonyB]

Today there were 2 lines of cloud upwind and I decided there would be something below or between them. So I charged up.

I can now tell you that there was absolutely nothing either under or between the cloud.

I did get 2 really frozen feet and hands as a bonus.

Oh and the "cow mashed" ground was frozen solid, so the risk of breaking something upon hitting a lump was real.

[cirrusRC]

Medina | F3 | 10th December | 6 min 57 seconds

1 degree on arrival, with fingerless gloves and hand warmers it was quite pleasant in the sun.    The frost soon melted leaving a very wet field.    Soggy feet and models,  particularly the Medina which has a lower profile.    I was getting a nice water spray off each launch and some nice water droplets showing up in the sun.   Not ideal for the covering though.

Medina consistently launches higher than the X-RES so mostly flew Medina in the light wind.     I need to tweak the tow hook as it is a royal pain to get it off the line.

 Some reasonable lift about but was either too narrow or fizzled out.   More often than not the lift was too weak to work out whether you were climbing or not.    Plus lots of bubbles that never detached.

Couldn't match Graham's time but had plenty of 6-minute flights, even close around 3pm.   At the end of the day,  the X-RES wing was covered in ice.

The wind dropped around 2pm.   I experimented removing all nose weight from the Medina pushing the CG right back.    The slightest bit of lift pushed the nose up and whilst fighting the stall I was able to do wonderfully flat turns, holding onto the bubbles.     Was a lot of fun and another option for super light wind days.

[martynk]

Well done David...

Just realised I have been putting F3-RES in the type all year.. Doh.

I am not going back to correct the previous 11 months  

     

[JulesGrocott]

On 11/12/2022 at 09:24, cirrusRC said:

Medina | F3 | 10th December | 6 min 57 seconds

1 degree on arrival, with fingerless gloves and hand warmers it was quite pleasant in the sun.    The frost soon melted leaving a very wet field.    Soggy feet and models,  particularly the Medina which has a lower profile.    I was getting a nice water spray off each launch and some nice water droplets showing up in the sun.   Not ideal for the covering though.

Medina consistently launches higher than the X-RES so mostly flew Medina in the light wind.     I need to tweak the tow hook as it is a royal pain to get it off the line.

 Some reasonable lift about but was either too narrow or fizzled out.   More often than not the lift was too weak to work out whether you were climbing or not.    Plus lots of bubbles that never detached.

Couldn't match Graham's time but had plenty of 6-minute flights, even close around 3pm.   At the end of the day,  the X-RES wing was covered in ice.

The wind dropped around 2pm.   I experimented removing all nose weight from the Medina pushing the CG right back.    The slightest bit of lift pushed the nose up and whilst fighting the stall I was able to do wonderfully flat turns, holding onto the bubbles.     Was a lot of fun and another option for super light wind days.

Well done, I'm a wimp, it's far too cold for my old bones. My Medina will have to wait for its maiden.

[cirrusRC]

Got out for an hour on Sunday.   -1 temp,  foggy but zero wind.    50 meters maximum visibility, sometimes less.    Frosty and crisp with a beautiful silence.     These conditions can often be surprising.    First flight, a nice bubble which I had to walk downwind to keep model visible.    4 min 38 seconds     Bungees don't like these temps though.

[martynk]

I remember flying Free Flight at Bassingbourn (the Army Camp) back in the 1970s. My A/2 (F1A) glider was just visible at the top of a 50m line in dense fog. They allowed timekeepers to follow. Amazed to do just over 3 minutes on my first flight. A bit of a breeze but everyone commented on how buoyant the air was. Shortly afterwards, the fog dispersed leaving a very long period of perpetual sink.. 

[cirrusRC]

Thurs and Fri looked good but I couldn't get out.   Today was breezy but with front moving in, figured it might be ok.   Some nice lift but disappeared down wind too quickly without ballast.    Lots of monster launches close to 100 meters.   

Last launch was one of those you regret as soon as model leaves your hand.  Wind really got up.  Wing started to smile at me which is never good.  At 112 meters........KAPING,. Fishing line + bungee let go and metal ring unraveled and started to straighten out.   Bits of bungee ended up downwind of me.   Medina pod very solid thankfully.

Won't get out again before Xmas so wishing all fellow postal flyers a Merry Christmas.

[martynk]

That's worth a Wow but there isn't one of those emoticons to choose from.  Merry Christmas and see you next year

[martynk]

Just now, martynk said:

That's worth a Wow but there isn't one of those emoticons to choose from.  Merry Christmas and see you next year

How can you stretch 10 m of rubber by over 60m? Are you using knicker elastic..?

[AnthonyB]

There is no emoticon. I did like, but that is not right - so deleted.

[cirrusRC]

43 minutes ago, martynk said:

How can you stretch 10 m of rubber by over 60m? Are you using knicker elastic..?

No idea.  On launch it won't stretch more than 3 times (the ground hampers it a bit).   Maybe line stretched a bit too.  I'll measure it before I next fly.

Bungee is less than 10 meters as has about 6 knots/joins in it.   Cheapo tan coloured catapult stuff off eBay.

Ordinarily I'd say altimeter was wrong but it visually looked high too.

 

 

[cirrusRC]

looking at the alt trace and v speed.

there is 11 meters of drift so let's say max launch height is 108 meters.   Looking at the v speed,  I reckon last acceleration was when bungee snapped,  likely around 90 meters and then a very good zoom phase.      Infact the bungee/fishing line snapping probably gives you a near perfect release at maximum stretch.      

Either way,  the high start exceeded its limit, it was a very high launch and close to model destruction . Still amazed both fishing line and bungee snapped at same time, bet I couldn't do that again.

[cirrusRC]

Unexpected flying session today. Despite forecast it was nice and calm and quite mild.  Sadly zero lift.

Rest of month looking wet or windy.  Fingers crossed January brings us some better conditions .