ORIGINAL: Schpankme
Well Hello AdrianM,
Hypothetically speaking, which of the two meter Pattern planes listed below would you prefer to compete with in Masters/FAI:
Note - both designs are perfectly balanced and trimmed, with no bad tendencies, having unlimited vertical!
1.) 10lb design swinging a 17 x 12 or 15.75 x 13 (3-blade) prop
2.) 11lb design swinging a 22 x 12 prop
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Schpankme
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW -- What a Ride!"
OK...Here we go
I'll pick #1...here's why:
Your
Note cant happen...its pushed a hypothetical argument too far....the term no bad tendencies in particular given that we are talking about conventional 2M pattern planes.
A 10lb pattern plane files better than an 11lb plane. If your been flying anything for any period of time you cant argue that point. It doesn't matter what engine or prop you are swinging.
Case 1:
My GP Extra with a Saito 100 at 7.5lb flies better than my club mates 8.5lb GP Extra with an OS Surpass 120. He has more power but its not as nimble and light on the sticks as my plane. My plane lands way slower and can actually do some 3D. His has a nasty stall snap at low speed that my plane doesn't have at all. I can do everything he can do but slower and prettier.
Power coupled with more weight and a higher wing loading always result in a sluggish airplane trying to fly like its supposed to.
Case 2:
I have a Funtana 40 with a Saito 72 running CP 30% Heli. I can toss it all over the sky at any attitude (harriers, walls, parachutes, flat spins, etc), it hovers fine at ~60% throttle. Another club mate has the same plane with a Saito 100. He put it on because of posts here. It will hover just past idle..but...thats all it can do. It cant Harrier due to excessive wing rock, it snaps out of walls, he had to add a ton of lead to the tail to get the CG in the correct position and he has to fly way faster than me just to keep it in the air.
Again, power coupled with more weight and a higher wing loading always result in a sluggish airplane trying to fly like its supposed to.
2M Pattern planes and <=24% Scale Aerobatic planes will never be able to fly properly on Gas until manufacturers can get us a Gas engine with an all up weight (including ignition and mufflers) at least equal to a YS140/160DZ+pipe.