FXRES October 2024 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 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 F5L specification glider fitted with an Altitude Limiter set to 60m and a maximum motor run time of 20 seconds.

Object: Fly your F3L or F5L 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 or F5L as appropriate.

You may self-time your own flights

Flight times begin when the tow-line falls from the tow-hook  for F3L or in the case of a F5L 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 -25 points, 2nd - 22points, 3rd - 20 points, 4th to 22nd, 19 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. Separate entries (best flight in each) will be recorded for those who fly both F3L and F5L.

Please enter your best/latest monthly scores below in the following format...

ON THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR POST

Model Name : Class (F3L or F5L) : Date of flight : Time Claimed

Any text or commentary or images please add afterwards.  Thanks  

[Richard Newsham]

Purito : F3L : 3rd October 2024 : 400 seconds - 6m 40secs

Harden Moor - Time 13:00 to 17:15 -  Easterly wind 8mph tapering off and ballast removed towards the end- Cumulus clouds everywhere apart from over me which lurked just big black ones, apart from when I first arrived but that was it.  I didn't feel overly cold with my jacket on.

First launch straight into a thermal that blew me down wind.  I came back a little and picked up another that blew me down wind. I came back but into nothing.  And that was that.  So I flew F5J for a bit then ended the day with a few short Purito flights.  Nice but not brill.  I was hoping for a better day. I said that on my last outing.

regards

Richard

[martynk]

Nice early start Richard, well done. The weather here calmed off nicely yesterday afternoon as well, but unfortunately, I had other commitments,  <sigh>

 

[Carl]

I went out also yesterday to fly, but found I'd lost a wing joiner for my Magic 2 and spent the time hunting for it unsuccessfully  

The good news is the designer and producer of the glider is going to send me some spares 

And in the meantime I'll pinch one of the joiners from the electric version kit I have (to build this winter) so I can take an opportunity to have a go at a challenge flight this month.

Carl

[cirrusRC]

F5L | Burrito | 4th October | 1pm |  28 mins 6 seconds

Got out during my lunch  break to enjoy the nice weather with the Burito.   As usual winder than forecast and taking me over the no fly.   In the sun the lift was booming and really turbulent,  out of the sun the lift was non existent.    Was hoping for more,  but the sun was playing hide and seek.

[Matthew]

F3L | Lulu RC | 4th October | 2pm | 4 min 15 sec

First ever entry (I think I have this right?). I took the afternoon off as the weather looked good and was flying in the same field as @cirrusRC. I'd had a nice flight with a Red Eagle, but launched to 100m not 60m (mis-programmed) and in the end the rudder servo burnt out but I managed to safely ditch it in the long grass on the edge of the field. Launched the Lulu RC on the bungee instead and managed to catch some of the last of the good lift before thin high cloud came in and cut down the thermal activity for the rest of the afternoon.

[martynk]

Welcome Matthew.  Just what I need to see.  Thanks for you entry.  You look like you launched a little low, about 45m.  Would you agree?

And CirrusRC flying a Burito(?).    A modified Purito perhaps..? Cracking flight anyway

     

 

     

[Matthew]

@martynk Thanks. Yeah, I initially had 50m of kite line but it's broken a couple of times on the tall grass and and I've just tied it back together (sometimes losing a damaged bit). I've got some strong fishing line to replace it but haven't done so yet. With the correct length of line how high should I expect to be launching to?

[Richard Newsham]

Hi Matthew 

I have the 10m of rubber and 50m of fishing line. I manage 80 to 100m.  The wind was about 8mph. I kited a bit. I love the bungee launch. How it managed to stretch and what part stretched and in what proportions I had no idea but I was expecting a big twang. It will come at some point when something let's go. 

In no wind they are so lack luster. 50m tops.

Richard

[cirrusRC]

4 hours ago, martynk said:

And CirrusRC flying a Burito(?).    A modified Purito perhaps..

@martynk what the heck is a Purito?   Burrito more memorable to me 

According to Google.  

The name Purito is a combination of the words "purify" and "to":

Purify: Represents the brand's commitment to safe and clean ingredients

To: Comes from the Chinese word "soil", which represents going back to basics to repair damaged skin 

Could be a cigar or Spanish for clean or Korean skincare. 

[martynk]

How stupid of me to ask..  

[martynk]

18 hours ago, Matthew said:

@martynk Thanks. Yeah, I initially had 50m of kite line but it's broken a couple of times on the tall grass and and I've just tied it back together (sometimes losing a damaged bit). I've got some strong fishing line to replace it but haven't done so yet. With the correct length of line how high should I expect to be launching to?

CirrusRC managed over a 100m but both the latex bungee and the line broke. Assuming that there is a bit of breeze and maintain tension, you should get 70m. I think the best I have ever managed is about 75m, but I don't fly F3L to optimise the technique. It's a knack, and very impressive when done properly.

 

For the postal (this series of comps), the correct length of line is 50m (should be a minimum of 30lbs BS) with 10m of 6/4mm latex rubber for the bungee.

The proper F3L rules specify 100m of line and 15m of bungee with stretch and pull limits, but for practice, 7/5mm latex isn't a long way out. Monofilament is nice and stretchy and will have a bit of give while you are learning.

Edited October 6, 2024 by martynk
added a missing word 'broke'

[Norman Turner]

Purito : F5L : 05 Oct 24 : 4 min 27s

Finally got out to play on an afternoon with blue clear sky and a slight breeze which steadily got stronger. The purito started to struggle with the wind and started going backwards so I gave up.

Also not too much thermal activity going on!

Several flights of which this is the best but at least I got out to play......

[martynk]

Welcome back Norman

Updated table:

     

[Matthew]

Red Eagle : F5L : 11 Oct : 10 min 9 seconds

With the light winds and the clear(ish) skies I took the afternoon off work, as I arrived at the field the skies were cloudy but after half an hour it cleared and the thermals got a little better. Nothing spectacular and quite a few short flights (2 minutes), but then I found some good lift and managed 10 minutes. I had a go with the Lulu afterwards and got a lovely thermal but drifted into the no-fly zone and had to bail out to look for another one, I got some more light lift an stretched it out to around 9 minutes.

[Will_A]

F5L | Purito | 11th October | 3pm |  30mins 25 seconds

Beautiful still afternoon in Bristol. I had 3 good flights of 23, 27 mins and this one. Very relaxing and perfect way to wind down after a busy week at work. Quite weak thermals taht took quite a lot of work and I had to string 3 together.

I also threw my Elf which is always a joy to fly, especially in still conditions & caught a few small themals,. Such an elegant and simple design. Love it nearly as much as my Purito!

Will

mins 6 s

 

[Carl]

Magic 2 SL : F5L : 11/10/2024 : 8 mins 57 secs

Looks like a few of us got out today. For me it was earlier at about 11am, and I have to do this as I always find by afternoon, even though the ground will be warmer, it gets quite windy here, and sure enough it got windy by the time I finished flying at about 1pm. It's a pattern I've noticed since I started thermal flying over the past few years.

A very chilly easterly breeze today, and could have done with a warmer jumper. Thermals were very light and difficult to find. My streamer was only indicating the direction of the breeze so my tactic was to simply launch up wind; fly back and forth crosswind just looking for that sign I've bumped into a thermal; and then just started circling. The breeze would bring the glider towards me quite quickly, so I just pushed forward into the breeze and repeated. So for this flight I found 3 light thermals before the breeze turned into more of a wind and the descent began.

The good thing with the Magic compared to the Resco, is the rate of descent is much slower, so I have more time to hunt for thermals than I would the Resco.

Carl

[cirrusRC]

Day off yesterday, @ Powis castle.   

No wind, nice in the sun. Thermals firing off all over.  Saw crows, buzzards and kites all specking out from low down.    I need a RES that fits in a rucksack 

[martynk]

Some good scores. I am on holiday (again) at the moment, enjoying the rain in North Yorkshire.. Ho Hum

Updated table:

     

[cirrusRC]

Purito | F5L | 19th October | 2pm | 56 mins 4 seconds

Wet morning followed by t-shirt warm afternoon,  breezy 9-12 mph which slackened off as the day progressed.    Had intended to fly F5J but first flight of Purito and I was I impressed how it handled the breeze.  

Plenty of 10 min flights before hooking up some great lift.     Low down, cored a very tight thermal all the way to 200 meters,  was a long way down wind but the return up wind just pushed me higher and higher.    A cloud street moved in and I was able to just keep the model under the white clouds for nice contrast.    Very little work other than managing the height and keeping it in the white.

Had a lie down at 30 mins to save my neck.    Gradually came down and hugged the no fly zone in the buoyant air.    The no fly robbed me of an hour flight but it was a memorable one for mid October.