My bro from Indiana (speedster1919) will be hosting his first SPA contest in July or August (they're still setting up the 2008 event calendar). I don't know where he caught this bug but its contageous. He's gave it to his Johnson County club members, then to me (over the phone no less), and now I'm passing it on to my buds in Florida... From what I have heard...there is no cure

We'll, I dropped in on the SPA contest at the RCACF field in Apopka (near Orlando) today. Talked it up with some of the pilots, had a good burger, and watched some kewl flyin. As we left the field my bud started talking about joining the SPA and talking our club (SE of Tampa) into hosting a contest next year (maybe a combined SPA/BPA). Not sure I'm ready for that yet, but I have already ordered a Tower Kaos ARF w/ a Tower .46. This should be a great frame to learn pattern. While I probably could use it to compete...I think my twitchy fingers will need a bigger (slower and more graceful) plane and by then the Kaos will have a few dings and would be better as a backup. So, I'm asking myself, what do I want to build? After a couple weeks of reading everything I could absorb on the Forums, SPA site, RCM Plans, and various vendors that are increasingly kitting these vintage planes, I think I've settled on my next build (after the Kaos of course). Here's what I've come up with.

The SPA version of a King Altair by Home and Hobby Solutions (new kit due out any day now) coupled with a Magnum .91RFS.

The King Altair apparaently has never competed, so while it's got great bones, it's kind of hard to tell whether it's going to be a top contender, but I think sometimes you make these decisions based on some kind of connection rather than specs. I don't know why exactly, but I think that plane has my name on it...

The Magnum engine choice was destiny. I picked it up on sale last year for a cool $129 and I've been waiting for the right plane. I'm sure there are purists of other manufacturers that will think I should go with another brand, but I'm putting 2 girls through college and my toy's budget is what it is...limited. The one thing I'm worried about is will it be enough power for the verticals on a King Air? I'm hoping that for the SPA version, with clipped wings and reduced weight, it will be just right. If not, I guess it will be fun finding out.

I don't really have a question...just wanted to kick off the begining of my pattern quest with this post to mark the event.

Cheers, JLS

AMEM BRUDDA

Welcome to the insanity!

Here's a link to that new King Altair kit comming out:

[link=http://www.homeandhobbysolutions.com/King%20Altair%20Details.htm]Home and Hobby Solutions[/link]

It says they are working on 3 beta planes, one with the original 80" span and 2 of the planes "are more along a competition version for SPA". The wings are clipped, it might be shorter, and the weight is supposed to come in around 7.5 lbs.

I think I'll email the company and ask if the clipped wing version will in fact be a legal SPA (72" or less span) and will a 4c .91 pull it adequately. If the answer is no or doubtful then I'll probably have to keep looking or just settle in with the Kaos for my first year...

Now I do have a question.

Is there actually a 72" wing span limit for SPA Legal planes? I scanned some of the rules and such on the SPA sight and I can't find a reference to that limitation. Maybe its just something that got tossed out on the forums and has been repeated by me and others.

I have read the SPA rules many, many times and I do not remember seeing anything about a 72" wingspan limit. What would be the point?

Some of the older pattern models, such as the Taurus, Orion and Astro Hog might come awfully close, or even exceed that dimension.


Ed Cregger

That 72" span limit isn't for SPA, it is something from the newer Ballistic Pattern Association which allows for existing pattern designs up to 72" as well as newly designed models. They are trying to be as inclusive as possible with airplanes like Tipo's and Arrows as well as early turnaround style planes like Aurora's, Jeckyl's, etc. There have been so many threads in the past year talking about both SPA & BPA it is easy to get things confused.

The SPA website has a legal designs list, if it flew prior to the cutoff date it is legal regardless of model size...but I think the model must be "unscaled" although they do allow for a 'fudge factor'- I guess clipping an 80" span King Altair to 72" is considered close enough.

The SPA has no limit wingspan on sportsman and expert. It was abolished to include the King Altair 80". The new SPA Altair is 74" and not 72. If you read the fine print the 72" limit is for the novice division to keep 1/4 scales and such from showing up. The 80" King Altair is about the max for the engine specs to haul around. The dirty little secret I've been told is the 80" Altair is barely competative with a good strong 91 on it. The 74" version is a better match up.

Gentlemen

Read the rule. It says ANY SPA approved airplane or 72" and 15 lbs. The 80" King Altair is an SPA approved airplane. As noted, you need some ponies to fly it.

NEW NOVICE RULE COMING.

We had a new situation in Novice this year. We had a core of about a holf dozen Novice pilots that traveled to most contests battling for the points championship. This created a focus on Novice rules and the need to keep the playing field level. The 72"/15# rule was an attempt, but was easily ignored (or forgotten by CDs. I did this at our October contest. The result was Novice was won by a young pilot flying a 2m pattern plane).

The new rule under discussion by the Board of Directors would limit engines in Novice to max .61 2 stroke or non-supercharged (no YS) .91 4 stroke. Any airplane you can fly with those power limitations is ok. Forget weight limits. Forget span limits. The engines will effectively limit the size of the planes flown.

WORDING IS BEING DISCUSSED AND SHOULD BE FINALIZED SHORTLY.

If a CD chooses to ignore this rule (he has the right. CD is king of his own contest.), he will be required to advertise this point in his contest flyer and post this information on the SPA website. If a CD allows over-sized planes to compete with regular Novice pilots, his contest will not count for Novice points toward the season championship.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN BIG PLANES CAN'T FLY. Non-conforming planes can be flown and will be awarded a certificate of participation, but will not count in the final results of the contest. The point is still to allow new pilots to sample SPA competition with planes they already own. If they like what they see and want to continue to compete, they'll come up with an approved airplane to compete on the same level as everyone else.

Sportsman and Expert both require SPA approved airplanes.

Please name the "rule" correctly. The Austin Rule

Austin was just the straw that broke the camel's back, Mike. There is a little history of guys with lots more experience bring modern equipment in to fly Novice just for fun. An additional part of Austin's problem is he's not old enough to vote. That hurts an old guys pride. He really did fly very well. I expect he might be ready for Sportsmen next year if he worked at it. Keeping him interested might be a problem. He's really grown into a very polite young man. I enjoyed having him around. He'll be a formidable opponent if he continues.

I told you guys that my memory was shot - although I probably didn't need to, come to think of it. <G>


Ed Cregger

Austin did indeed fly extremely well. I watched most of his flights and really liked what he was doing. While some of the guys may have gotten a bit worked up saying that they were at a disadvantage flying against the 2M Focus.. I can tell ya that Austin would have won the event even if he had been flying a .40 Tower Hobbies Kaos. Not knocking the little kaos at all because it's still a VERY viable aircraft for SPA compeition, but my point is that Austin flew the maneuvers properly. Striaght lines, good positioning, round loops that he tracked very well, great up/down lines.. you name it and he was doing it. The plane is obviously a great flying and very well trimmed plane, but it was the thumbs that won the contest, not the plane.

In the novice class, I just don't see that a SPA aircraft is at a disadvantage to any newer design. The maneuvers simply are not that demanding of the aircraft. The maneuvers are demanding of pilot skill and ability.

I don't want ANYTHING to be taken away from Austins performance at his 1st SPA event. I don't think that's been the intent at all, but I just felt compelled to point out that Austin's piloting skills are what won him 1st place in the event. The aircraft obviously didn't hurt him, but it did not do anything that ANY of the SPA aircraft can't do just as well!!!

/exit rant... flight complete

Steve do you have a sample of a contest flyer? Are SPA contests to be registered with AMA with an AMA approved CD?

Speedster

Email me privately at [email protected]. I'll send you some examples.

It is better to be AMA sanctioned. The insurance coverage is the point. We're flying pattern with vintage, but still high performance aircraft. Stuff happens. Mid-airs are not common, but more likely when flying pattern. Takeoffs and landings sometimes go bad, too. It's safer to sanction.