February 2023 2m FxRES F3L/F5L 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 best/latest monthly 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  

[oipigface]

It might be a good idea to update OCTOBER to FEBRUARY! 

[martynk]

On 01/02/2023 at 13:45, oipigface said:

It might be a good idea to update OCTOBER to FEBRUARY! 

LOL  - well spotted..

[SteveH]

Fish Meadow. 05/02/23. PuritoE. Flight claimed 34mins 20 secs.

An excellent day at Fish Meadow with light winds from variable directions. Light thermals were about but quite turbulent and difficult to centre in.

Great conditions for early February.

EDIT - It has been pointed out to me by someone who shall remain nameless (but his first name is Graham) that my flight time should not include the motor run so I have subtracted 20 secs.

.

 

 

[Graham Lorimer]

Fish Meadow 5/2/2023

Medina F5RES

Time claimed 13 minutes 42 seconds

As Steve says, light lift that at times was quite bumpy, on my best flight, my model got bounced out twice and I was unable to recenter in the lift the second time.

More practice needed.

Graham

[AnthonyB]

Ribble Valley / cREst (F5RES) / 7:06.

The only intention here was to test fly the model as I had taken both tips off and then put them back on. All the re-covering can warp the wing and so it does not fly straight.

We have sheep in the fields, so all the gates are closed.

Rather than mess with the gate with Tx in one hand and model in other, I gently threw the model into the field.

The glide was straight, but needed some up trim from previous windy landing.

As I was there, thought I would just give it one quick blip round.

Freezing cold (-5 last night) so it would just be a quick one.

A little shocked how well it went up.

South wind / light breeze, which is not a good direction.

Well at least I'm on the score board.

[cirrusRC]

Day off,  but away from home, only had the DLG with me.  One of those rare days where only 1 mph winds.   Light lift but effortless thermalling.  A real joy to be out with warm sun on your back.  Bliss.

Good luck to those who get out today with RES.

[Hydeflyer]

Claiming 3min 16. f5RES Eli. Newton, Hyde, Rising Sun field, 07/02/23

My first effort of the year. Several flights of 2 - 3 minutes. This the best of the bunch. Cloudy to start with light breeze. A bit of sun later made it quite enjoyable. This field I discovered a few months ago is a favourite for dog walkers but today was quiet.

[andyharrold]

My first go at this!

X-RES E.   

Ramsey Model Aero Club   (Warboys)

Claiming 2 mins 30

[JulesGrocott]

Blue Pheonix, F5, 7Feb 2023, 2min 21sec, Bramhall Cricket Club.

Second of 4 flights. Lovely sunny day with the occasional breeze. The forth flight was over 40 minutes but most of that was in the top of a tree as 2 old pensioners scrambled over barbed wire fences to retrieve it, thanks Phil. First flight this year due to covid. Medina will be ready soon.

Edited February 7, 2023 by JulesGrocott
Entered the wrong time.

[Stewart Walker]

Bramhall, F5, Fresh, 1min 35 secs,

Rubbish day, 2 flights and snapped a nylon wing bolt landing, 

 

[JulesGrocott]

7 minutes ago, JulesGrocott said:

Blue Pheonix, F5, 7Feb 2023, 2min 21sec, Bramhall Cricket Club.

Second of 4 flights. Lovely sunny day with the occasional breeze. The forth flight was over 40 minutes but most of that was in the top of a tree as 2 old pensioners scrambled over barbed wire fences to retrieve it, thanks Phil. First flight this year due to covid. Medina will be ready soon.

 

[AnthonyB]

Ribble Valley / cREst – F5RES / 17:10.

Been messing in garden, where it was pleasant. Came in for a cup of tea and read what David cirrusRC wrote (above) and without recharge (as only 1 flight yesterday) went for a quickie.

Stood in field looking SSE (into breeze) wondering what to do. Then spotted 40 or 50 gulls upwind. Waited for ages until they got to within 100yds, then launched towards them. The motor run went wrong, probably because I was really trying to judge being amongst them.

Thinking back, I was amongst them at 60m, so they really did not go up in the previous 5mins. Some were gliding and some flapping, another clue.

Spent a good 4mins amongst them and almost got to 80m.

That was as good as it got.

I did find little bits, where it actually went up, but then it just vanished. It was also fine and then stally, then OK again. Very strange.

The last part of the flight from 60m took 4mins, which is pleasing, though I did spend 60 seconds circling – thinking I was going up, but only managed to stay at same height.

Really surprised at my time – I would have said 10mins.

[Phil Morrell]

 

Same rubbish day as Stew W, 1min 40 claimed with the ageing Electro Eagle. Best of only 4 flights. Lovely sunny day down at Bramhall Cricket Club field but couldn't find any lift.    

 

 

[martynk]

That was a flurry of activity...  Keep it up..  

 

[Hydeflyer]

Got a slight improvement this afternoon.. Claiming 3min34. F5L Eli. Rising Moon, Newton.

Breezy but managed to get a little lift pointing into wind and holding. Every time I tried to circle the model just blew back behind me!

[martynk]

Slightly updated table

 

[AnthonyB]

By way of encouragement - (especially Hydeflyer)  I fly with John who flies an Eli.

It is covered in (heavy) glo-red and glo-green and he launches it from the shortest of bungees. Perhaps getting to 40m on a good launch. At almost every session he gets it to a tiny dot, just under a cloud. He decided he does not like spoilers, so he built it without any brakes. We were debating just how high he gets and with the help of a tiny (stand alone) altimeter, it seems he usually gets over 2000ft.

So, I say "How on earth do you do it" and his reply is "I fly a lot."  He does as well !  Quick launch, land at his feet and then another launch - he always gets well up and away a few times on every session. Perhaps that is why DLG pilots get so good !

[StraightEdge]

Got out today with the PuRES and bungee for the first time since last April (i.e. the inaugural FX-RES event at Aylesbury, after which a major house, location, life and work move, and then winter, kept me away from all flying activity)... so finally feeling human again!

Conditions on Port Meadow in Oxford were mild with a relatively light (up to 10mph) breeze from the west, but mostly overcast.  There had been a reasonable gap in the clouds just overhead to warm things for maybe 45mins before I arrived, but I only benefitted from the last 10-15mins of it.

Off my old, original HK red bungee (9.75m rubber, 50m line) I was typically getting 65-75m launches, hands-off, with lots of 2:30 to 3:00 flights, but a best of 3:46.

After this I just concentrated on tweaking things.  The V-tail surfaces are supposed to have +/- 12mm travel, but I've long since had a problem with the linkage/spring geometry (I'd foolishly replaced the original pushrods with pull-strings to save weight aft!) which runs out of downwards travel at 10mm (worse on one side than the other), so I just dialled the whole lot down to +/-10mm, which actually produces much smoother flying and fewer confounding near-stall instances.  I then turned my attention to the up-elevator compensation when the spoiler is deployed, which also benefitted from slightly less travel (and also noted that once the downwards speed builds up under full spoiler the model tends towards a left-hand turn, which would be useful for spotting it in a high-altitude emergency).

Jon

PuRES, F3L, Port Meadow, Oxford, 11/02/22, 1430hrs, 3mins 46 secs

[Stewart Walker]

Bramhall, F5, FRESH, 1min 50secs

Quick flight today to try and trim up after a servo change but far to windy.

At least i'm off the bottom slot, sorry Phil.