POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

What is the HOT SETUP for A class open? I've got a CVA15 but haven't seen it perform on my SSC plane yet. I don't want to be driving halfway across the country to a contest and then find out that all my planes are good for is batting practice

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

About the only place you'll find open A being flown is on the east coast. A really long drive for you!

There is a lot of SSC action in between!

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

HATTRICK! There's alot of BEER in Wisconsin, how do you manage to get any building done?By the way, thanks you saved me alot of gasoline driving around aimlessly looking for OPEN A COMBAT

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

Your 15CVA is not legal for SSC action as it costs more than $60.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

There is some A class being flown down in AZ, though I'm not sure how much.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

CSHEPARD! No it didn't, it was given to me. Montague! Thanks for the info! Actually I don't think I would want to get involved with an "out for blood event" where you gotta be friends with a machinist to compete, if that"s what i think it is, but it would sure be fun to watch and help out. CSHEPARD, from what I gather the TT 15 will be my choice for SSC. Thanks for the FYI tho.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

It doesn't matter that it cost YOU nothing. The rule for SSC engines states:

"2. Engine: Stock .15 cid engine available from normal retail outlets for a non-sale retail price of $60 or less, excluding taxes or shipping. Engine and carburetor must be used in stock condition, no modification allowed - if the manufacturer supplied muffler has a removable baffle it may be removed, but no modifications including adding or removing material from the muffler are allowed. Engine must be classified by the manufacturer for use in R/C flying model aircraft. Engine must be complete with stock carburetor and muffler cataloged for the engine by the engine manufacturer installed. Carburetor must be fully R/C functional as intended by the manufacturer and servo operated."

HTH,
D

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

Darin,
That rule has actually changed. The correct rules state that you can remove baffle, exchange needle valve and spraybar, and the word "stock" has been removed. When we moved the RCCA web site I gave AJ the wrong file to post. Hopefully he will get it fixed in the next day or so. Sorry for the unintended misinformation.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

DEMON! Lighten up! I was trying to be funny. I thought it was a pretty good one at that. ONE QUESTION , If there is a 17,500 RPM limit with a 8-3 MAS, why does the engine wording have to be so specific?

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

Thanks Lou. But, I think the part about the cost remains the same, no?

As for the wording in the SSC rules; it is done that way to keep the engines involved as close in performance as possible.

Also, there are scant few pilots that do internal modification to their engines in any class. More common are cheap and/or simple things like mousse-can mufflers and bladder type fuel tanks. So, no one needs to "be friends with a machinist to compete" in any of the RCCA's classes.

D

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

Thanks for the reply, DEMON! It just has always seemed to me that any event described as OPEN anything, eventually evolves into an "ENGINE MANS'" event. That's why I love the idea of SSC, and as far as the OPEN events are concerned, I will be happy to help out.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

That's what makes combat so cool. Being the fastest plane on the field is not an advantage. In fact, it hurts most guys more than anything. Even in Open B, the most aggressively open class, engines like the Jett .30 and Fora .29 are used, but guys with totally stock OS FX, Magnum and other engines can, and do score just as well.

Enging reliablity matters far far more than a few RPM.

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

Thanks for the info KIRK! That's good news, I'm glad to hear it. There are niches that different people fall into interest wise and it is good we have different choices. I ran into a guy the other day who used to fly 704, and he seemed bitter about the movement towards OPEN, "flying junk" type planes. His opinions fell on deaf ears. I can't wait to get going in SSC!

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

CombatPigg,
The rules have an unusually high degree of redundancy and repitition - on purpose. To an outsider looking in the sight of an engine limit of $60 or less is appealing. The single prop and performance limits (designed to keep planes to slightly less than 50mph in forward level flight) were initially created to make sure all bases were covered and that the event would not escalate into an engine and technology event.

In the early days the planes had right at 400 square inches and were dogs. They wouldn't climb, would snap like crazy, and were hard to launch. Then Dr. Evil (Mike Fredricks) showed up with a much larger plane with over 600 square inches and was faster, turned tighter and at us all up.

The key in this event, where we have power limits, is wingloading. The magic number is to have a wing loading of less than 12 ounces per square foot.

The Falcon flying wings used by Lee Liddle and many others perform extremely well in SSC. The Ready to Fly version of the Falcon 72" from George Cleveland weights a little under 3lbs with an OS .15, two std servos, a Hitec 555 and one micro servo yet has a wing loading of about 8.7 ounces per square foot. It flies very well with the additional benefit of being able to thermal in light lift.

There are many who are angry that Scale was replaced by Open, but the SSC airplanes are being modeled as Warbirds as well as Open and are growing in popularity. Here is an example of Warbirds in SSC:

http://www.georgiacombat.com/KI_2Side.jpg

My good friend Petr Bachan of Texas has designed a Flying Wing designed by the Horten Brothers in Germany, and it works for both SSC and Scale 2610. Click on this link to see his build along article: http://groups.msn.com/Compositemoldi...on.msnw?Page=1

RE: POWER FOR OPEN A?
 

HI LOU!! Thanks for the great reply! I can see that a lot of wisdom has gone into designing the events and designing the planes. Your war birds look great, and I'll bet they look even better in action as scale looking planes capable of keeping up with the flying surfboards like mine. Gotta go and check out that website that you referred me to .