Woo Hoo!
09-25-2015, 02:13 PM
#77
You were at the Lincoln Nats? My old flying partner, Dave Henderson, was in the Fast final, and lost the match to a streamer handling error! He most likely would have won that match, as he had a modern design, and the other guy had a Voodoo! He always talked about that match. So he came in 2nd.
I am of the opinion that the speed limit events, namely 75 mph, is the best event out there. Not too fast, lots of action, emphasis on air time and cuts. It is more fun than any other combat event I have flown.
I am of the opinion that the speed limit events, namely 75 mph, is the best event out there. Not too fast, lots of action, emphasis on air time and cuts. It is more fun than any other combat event I have flown.
09-25-2015, 03:52 PM
#78
I wasn't at the Lincoln Nats, but I vaguely remembered the write up [Charlie Johnson had the column then] about the explosion. Just last winter the subject of flyaways came up and I relayed the story about the exploding transformer and power outage. This is when I was bombarded by Electrical Engineers and other experts who claimed that this could not have happened. That it's physically impossible for .018" wire to bridge between 2 phases or phase to ground long enough to blow anything up. Their reasoning was that circuit breakers would save the day.
I couldn't argue, but I put out a APB to all "Old Timers" who could back me up. This is when Andy weighed in with his account of what happened and by this time I was able to produce the AMA magazine article that reported the explosion.
Technically, if the voltage is high enough and the atmospheric conditions are right, something like a tiny steel cable could flick a power line, ionize the air and create a fault current that the fuse doesn't react to until a transformer gets boiling hot and erupts like Mt. Vesuvius.
I always liked 80 mph because it gave me time to see which way to turn to untangle lines and time to abort an attack / collision. I like using the heaviest engine I can for these events because it makes the plane pull hardest and improve the odds of coming out on top when lines get tangled.
I couldn't argue, but I put out a APB to all "Old Timers" who could back me up. This is when Andy weighed in with his account of what happened and by this time I was able to produce the AMA magazine article that reported the explosion.
Technically, if the voltage is high enough and the atmospheric conditions are right, something like a tiny steel cable could flick a power line, ionize the air and create a fault current that the fuse doesn't react to until a transformer gets boiling hot and erupts like Mt. Vesuvius.
I always liked 80 mph because it gave me time to see which way to turn to untangle lines and time to abort an attack / collision. I like using the heaviest engine I can for these events because it makes the plane pull hardest and improve the odds of coming out on top when lines get tangled.
Last edited by combatpigg; 09-25-2015 at 03:59 PM.
09-25-2015, 04:08 PM
#79
Everyone is an expert! RCU has taught me that! lol
You are right about the bigger engines and the time to react in the speed limit events. I have way more experience flying 80, than I do any other speed limit. 70 is too slow IMO as you almost need a specific design as you can start to have stall issues at high angles of attack.
The modern .25 engines weigh as much as a Fox combat .36, and are of higher quality really. They are easy to tune back to the 75 mph speed. In fact, I have 2 new .25 ASP's showing up tomorrow. I am getting a couple of custom venturis as well for this engine. They are tapped out on the bottom to accept a nylon bolt, which can be screwed in to choke off the air, and fine tune the speed. I am excited to build a new fleet of speed limit planes and get some new engines on them. I have a full slate of projects for this winter!
You are right about the bigger engines and the time to react in the speed limit events. I have way more experience flying 80, than I do any other speed limit. 70 is too slow IMO as you almost need a specific design as you can start to have stall issues at high angles of attack.
The modern .25 engines weigh as much as a Fox combat .36, and are of higher quality really. They are easy to tune back to the 75 mph speed. In fact, I have 2 new .25 ASP's showing up tomorrow. I am getting a couple of custom venturis as well for this engine. They are tapped out on the bottom to accept a nylon bolt, which can be screwed in to choke off the air, and fine tune the speed. I am excited to build a new fleet of speed limit planes and get some new engines on them. I have a full slate of projects for this winter!
09-25-2015, 08:50 PM
#80
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RTechnically, if the voltage is high c and the atmospheric conditions are right, something like a tiny steel cable could flick a power line, ionize the air and create a fault current that the fuse doesn't react to until a transformer gets boiling hot and erupts like Mt. Vesuvius.
09-25-2015, 09:42 PM
#81
The lines that feed our neighborhoods are 11800 volt..{IIRC]. There are also 3 phase commercial power lines that I have no idea about what the primary side is.
Anyway, the power loss at Lincoln wasn't the only one that I can recall due to a "Fly Away".
Anyway, the power loss at Lincoln wasn't the only one that I can recall due to a "Fly Away".
09-26-2015, 03:37 AM
#82
For distribution lines around homes in TX:
Single phase to ground is normally 7200
13.8kv
Two phase line is 14.4kv
there is 12470
11,000
Old 4160
3 phase line in combination can carry a wallop to trees, roofs etc.
Things are dependant of Delta or Wye distribution capacitor banks down line
can smooth out voltage if there is line lag. Summer time will lag the lines.
I was a HV Power Linesman for almost 16yrs back in the day.
Single phase to ground is normally 7200
13.8kv
Two phase line is 14.4kv
there is 12470
11,000
Old 4160
3 phase line in combination can carry a wallop to trees, roofs etc.
Things are dependant of Delta or Wye distribution capacitor banks down line
can smooth out voltage if there is line lag. Summer time will lag the lines.
I was a HV Power Linesman for almost 16yrs back in the day.
Last edited by Pond Skipper; 09-26-2015 at 03:51 AM.
09-26-2015, 08:41 AM
#83
Oh that's right, I think we have 13,800 running to the neighborhoods too.
I forgot about 4160 [4180?] volt, 3PH ..I've seen it fed to some industrial pumps directly.
I've gotten a few "handle shocks" while flying control line, and they would happen repeatedly at the same part of the circle.
I forgot about 4160 [4180?] volt, 3PH ..I've seen it fed to some industrial pumps directly.
I've gotten a few "handle shocks" while flying control line, and they would happen repeatedly at the same part of the circle.
09-26-2015, 09:05 AM
#84
It had always been said that contact with power lines was not necessary to get electrocuted. I have been zapped when thunder storms were present. Can't we thank a lawsuit over an electrocution to the demise of the E Z just handles? I luckily found a brand new Hot Rock E Z Just handle on the bay last year. I considered it quite the score, considering it is brand new.
09-26-2015, 09:48 AM
#86
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During lightning triggering experiments I was working on some 20 years ago, the graph of potential in kV per meter over time was a repeating sawtooth that would peak around – IIRC – 8kV per meter. By that time either we would trigger it ourselves, or it would strike within 2-3 miles and back to the bottom again. The period is foggy, but I am thinking 20-40 seconds or so was what we were dealing with at the time - I am sure that varies with the properties of the storm.
However unless you move quickly enough the through the field charge the potential rapidly equalilzes. We had to move the wire over a certain speed for it to be effective.. rockets are good for that. I'm thinking about this and combat models.. I can see some potential difference happening as you cut through an area with a fair space charge.
After watching a few triggered strikes at fairly short distance (yes in a large shielded enclosure) I decided it deserved even more respect..
However unless you move quickly enough the through the field charge the potential rapidly equalilzes. We had to move the wire over a certain speed for it to be effective.. rockets are good for that. I'm thinking about this and combat models.. I can see some potential difference happening as you cut through an area with a fair space charge.
After watching a few triggered strikes at fairly short distance (yes in a large shielded enclosure) I decided it deserved even more respect..
09-26-2015, 09:49 AM
#87
4,160 Chuck.
On base at the airfield lighting vault we had some odd ball 4,600 the low stuff can carry a lot of amps! In the early mornings working on the lines the moist air would cause excessive crona snapping and popping on my rubber sleeves I could fill it in my arms.
Near the end of my career I had complete rubber glove failure one warm sunny day while up in the fiberglass bucket the shock went through my arms and chest shook my like arm back and forth and tossed me down into the bottom of the bucket.
I finished up college degree fast as possible and in a 1yr ish time I started my new career at a engineering firm whewww
On base at the airfield lighting vault we had some odd ball 4,600 the low stuff can carry a lot of amps! In the early mornings working on the lines the moist air would cause excessive crona snapping and popping on my rubber sleeves I could fill it in my arms.
Near the end of my career I had complete rubber glove failure one warm sunny day while up in the fiberglass bucket the shock went through my arms and chest shook my like arm back and forth and tossed me down into the bottom of the bucket.
I finished up college degree fast as possible and in a 1yr ish time I started my new career at a engineering firm whewww
Last edited by Pond Skipper; 09-26-2015 at 10:01 AM.
09-26-2015, 12:15 PM
#90
The other EL ZAPPAROO story I've been told was about helicopters hovering above a ship and building up a charge that killed whoever was first to handle a tether line on deck.
Pond Skipper, I'll bet you had the proper motivation to do your school work after that.
Pond Skipper, I'll bet you had the proper motivation to do your school work after that.
09-26-2015, 12:59 PM
#91
I know there had been some discussion about modifying the ASP .12 for speed. Well, it seems the .25 ASP is the engine of choice for speed limit combat. Just got a couple today. They work great. I ordered the ones with the remote needle, and mounted it to the mount lugs, parallel to the thrust line. Keeps it nice and flat in case of an inverted landing. The thing started first flip, and restarted perfectly. The needle handles bladder pressure fine. Just a little fuel tube added to prevent leaks around the needle. Will be running 9-4 or 9-5 props. Seems to be a direct copy of the .25 FX OS engine.
09-28-2015, 03:34 PM
#96
Speed is a lot of rich running on the ground, and running out the tank, or falling off the dolly, and getting a shaft run..... It is worth it when you get a great run, and have trouble keeping up though.
10-01-2015, 10:22 AM
#97
So I bought a new tach the other day, and checked one of my new For a .049 engines. I had the smaller blue prop they sell. It is around 4.63" but I am not sure on the pitch. I am leaning toward 3 but it could be a 4, waiting on clarification as I do not have a pitch gauge. Well, the little ******* was spinning 36,000! Pretty good I think. More testing to come, but I like that number. Fastest engine I have ever had. (other than my Nelsons)
10-01-2015, 12:41 PM
#98
A laid out a 4 pitch prop to hand carve on a maple blank. The blank was 1/4" thick and 3/8" wide and I drew diagonal lines on the ends of the blank to establish the bottom of the airfoils. As close as I could tell, it was a 4 pitch. It ended up performing pretty good as a pusher on a speedy .049 project after scraping the blades so thin you could almost see light passing through them.
10-01-2015, 03:39 PM
#99
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So I bought a new tach the other day, and checked one of my new For a .049 engines. I had the smaller blue prop they sell. It is around 4.63" but I am not sure on the pitch. I am leaning toward 3 but it could be a 4, waiting on clarification as I do not have a pitch gauge. Well, the little ******* was spinning 36,000! Pretty good I think. More testing to come, but I like that number. Fastest engine I have ever had. (other than my Nelsons)