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Old 11-27-2010, 03:07 PM
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MJD
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Default RE: 'Monoline

An AMA class "B" speed model, .29 powered, flown on a monoline control line system. Typical good speeds for that class 160-170mph AFAIK. Monoline was used nearly exclusively for speed models, it is a system where the flier held a handle with one hand, and the other held a slider that, when slid back or forth, would rotate the wire. This rotation actuated the elevator. Think of those twirly party favour helicopter things that ride up a twisted shaft as you push up the little slider. One thicker line versus two thiner lines with a gap = less drag. The prop is likely in the ballpark of a 7x9, 7x10, something like that.

While CCW is the norm in control-line, the occasional flier preferred/prefers flying clockwise (LH- RH thing), and in speed some did so because engine torque would tend to assist line tension versus roll into the circle, the principle being that when you have two opposing forces - torque and trim in this case - you are wasting energy.

http://www.clspeed.com/

The current FAI (that's 2.5cc = .15 powered..) speed record is 208mph and the video of that flight was posted here a couple of weeks ago. It's on the bottom of page one: "Ok, so it's not RC, but it is extreme speed, and it is a prop plane". Check out the sound when it unloads and jumps onto the pipe - inflight rpm approaches 40k. These are the most critically tuned piped engines in any competition class. Props in this class are typically a single blade approx 3x6 (i.e. half of a 6" prop with a counterweight for balance).