Which Class are You competing in?
 

Hi Guys-
I am fairly new to this site, but as a competitor I would like to spend/split some time in this coloumn and the pattern forum. As an attempt to better get to know some of you guys, or talk to some of you RCO junkies from the past- I was wondering if I could find out your level of competition.

I myself am flying advanced this year, as I did last year. The two previous years I flew sportsman. I live my summers in Minneapolis, so I have so fgar been restricted to the one contest per year held in Minnesota. I am currently flying a Sig ARF Cap with a Moki 1.35.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

This is my second year. I have done a lot of growing since last year when I did Basic, so I imagine I will be in Sportsman for a few contests, then move up to Intermediate if I feel that I am ready. The new sequences are up! Time to start practicing!

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Hi Brian,

What jumped out to me was the Sig Cap, Moki 1.35 and Sportsman class.

I have flown a couple of Sig Caps with the following engines: Moki 2.10, OS BGX (about 2.13ci) and an OS 1.60. I also live in Colorado (high altitude) where everything gets overpowered by quite a bit anyway.

In the Sportsman class you can get away with this combination. However, you may find that in the Advanced class that you'll be underpowered, even at lower altitudes. In the upper classes, you'll have things like snaps on uplines which will eat up energy *really* fast. Having a 2:1 power:weight ratio will be essential.

I now fly a Lanier Cap (about 30%) with a ZDZ 60cc engine. And there is a *huge* difference in being able to fly through all the maneuvers. I'm only a "sportsman" but I fly the sequences and maneuvers for the other classes for fun. There is no way that my Sig Cap (with something as small as a Moki 1.35) would work.

Either way, you'll be completing with lots of other *big* planes in the Advanced class, and you'll notice it very quickly...

Good luck.

Dave.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I will fly Sportsman this year because I want my competing to mean something and with Basic, you don't compete in the regionals if you do well. I will just have to take Zeros on my snaps! :(

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Geistware,

There is only one snap and it is on a horizontal line. Spend a whole flight doing nothing but snaps. Back and forth, you will be suprised how fast you catch on.

Snaps
 

Make sure your plane is set up properly. I have seen very few downgrades for the actual manuver. Stopping at the desired point is where the deductions happen. If you have too much throw (seems to be a common problem) then stopping precisely is the problem. Over (or under) rotate and 1 point off per 10% so if you miss it by 90% then there is a 9 point deduction for that problem alone. If you don't "bury" the snap then it becomes easier to control. Easing off the ailerons and elevotor will help.

Quick tip to improve score by 10%:
If the entry and exit are not entered on a straight line with wings level there is a 0.5 deduction going in and exiting (total of 1 point)
It is amazing how quickly this will add up.

EXCAP232

Re: Snaps
 

While I know this is cheating, I will probably use my trainer switch. I noticed that with the 9C you can program 4 different snaps. I will probably practice until I get the snap so that it is right and then just practice on timing. Releasing the switch will be my skill measurement of this maneuver.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I was wondering, what speed do you normally fly when you enter the snap? I was thinking about 1/2 throttle to make it look nice. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Well the 1.35 did alright last year- Vertical is phenom with an APC 17X8, but I am going to use a 17X6 this year. vertical snaps are the only thing that slows me down, but I do all right as long as there is only one. This year my Dad is going to try a 1.60 FX in his Hanger 9 1/4 scale Cap

The new sequences are up- I really like the look of the advanced this year- Hopefully I will able to do a little bit of traveling down to around the Chicago area.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

If I am not mistaken, their is a contest in the NC region that is held in Minnesota. This should be closer for you.

Newbe
 

I will be a newbie this year in the N.E. I hope. Haven't figured on a plane yet. (either TBM staudacher, 87" laser, or 60" ultimate Pitts. Need to complete the new ones and have at it in practice. I won't be into anything to big until a few years, will be starting a modified eagle this spring for next year (I know short coupled and all, This has a stretch to it about 5% if I remember).
Hope to have fun
V-Snap

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Geist, are you using your GP Giles for competition? It should make a really nice plane, as I have competed against one and it flew very well. If you go into the snap at half throttle it is much easier to control and happens a little slower too. Going in at full power makes a very violent, fast snap that is difficult to perfect. Try snap directions both left and right; if it overrotates at the end, try reducing your rudder some. Remember, it may overrotate more in one direction than the other.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I competed with it last year and placed third in the contest. What I did wrong was to not save my settings before I got a new plane and forgot to change memory locations before making adjustments. While I got it close, it was obvious that I didn't get it right.

Thanks for the snap suggestions!

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Advanced to start the year again then probably bump to Unlimited. depends on the flying/practice time I can get this year. North Central region.

I fly a 35% radiocraft extra (at least to start the year :p )

Hubb

Which Class are You competing in?
 

How did you do?
That is the region I would love to fly in but I moved to ATL to keep warm.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

im starting in sportsman

Which Class are You competing in?
 

The Contest in minnesota is the one that I have competed in the last 3 summers. This year it my be at my club field to try to boost participation, I may co-CD it with Steve Prichard. This year I would like to that one PLUS a road trip to possibly the Chicagoland Cup.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Really- I was in Atlanta Last week en route to Orlando and Back.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I flew in 2 contests last year with my Sig Cap 231EX. I had carb problems with my ST2500. Stock carb. I had problems with my Hitec 605BB servos also.

I was embarrassed. With engine flameouts and poorly centering servos; I looked like an idiot who couldn't fly.

Engine replaced with ST3000 and OS7D. Servos replaced with Hitec 625MG.

I will fly this plane in Basic class this coming season.

I recently finished a H9 Cap 232 25%. I currently have an MDS 148 engine with Perry VP-20 pump. Hitec 625MG servos on ail. and elev. Hobbico CS-80 on rudder and standard JR517 on throttle.

Still working the bugs out of the H9 Cap. Only about 10 flights so far. Recently added the pump and having a "good" time tuning the engine to run with the pump. May install a by-pass loop in fuel system.

I look forward to the coming season. I love the competition. If things go well, I'll be competing with confidence this year. I'm a reasonably decent pilot. I will just have to consider last year a "learning year".

Good luck to all of you guys in the coming season.

Re: Snap Roll Switches
 

Geist,

Using the switches is not cheating at all. I know a few people who has used snap roll switches here in the Northwest and have done pretty well.

I have tried using the switches to see if they made the snaps easier, but, I found out that using the sticks is actually easier for me. Some of my friends, however, feel that using the switches is easier.

- Francis

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I know the feeling, I forgot to refuel my plane and on the second sequence second to the last maneuver, the engine died. I got zeros on the last two maneuvers. If I had eliminated the zeros, I would definitely been second and a good chance of winning.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I think everyone has a tough time when they start out. I started with a Mid Star in Basic, and I couldn't get the thing to spin. It would just make a couple big spirals coming down. Talk about frustrating; I would have placed quite a bit better if it weren't for those almost guaranteed zeros.

Which Class are You competing in?
 

hehe, well i hope to finish top 3 at my first IMAC contest ever... thats my goal, and hopefully with enough practice i will pull it off

Which Class are You competing in?
 

I'm gonna move up to Advanced this year (Working on my rollers already) and will see what my GP Extra can do against the "high priced spread".

Tim

Which Class are You competing in?
 

Don't feel bad - I think everyone has done that ONE time! I did it two years ago. You feel like such an idiot when it happens, but I can't tell you how many people came up to me and told me about when they did the same thing. I had a friend who did it at a contest last year - right before he took off, two of us asked him if he fueled up. He looked at the plane and said "Yeah, I fueled it." Now, we all have our ways of making sure we fueled it before takeoff. I leave my fuel can in front of the wing. He leaves the fuel line sticking out of the fuse by about an inch.