Pattern the way it used to be??
 

Flywilly, I've got a similar project going where I've blown up a Tipo 138%, and clipped the wings 10%. It's still in the AutoCAD stages though. It should cut through the wind very nicely.

Pattern the way it used to be??
 

Let me ask you guys this then. I've been flying a GP Tracer (46 size). I'd like to move up to something in the sixty range for next when I can start competing. Is a UFO or Dirty Birdy going to be much better. I find with the Tracer I have to fly it fairly fast yet it doesn't have great vertical.

I've only been practicing the Sportsman stuff for a little while now and just wonder if building an old Bridi design is worth it. I also may have an option for a Boxer 90 or Loaded Dice II. The reason I ask about the Bridi designs is I like built up wings (i enjoy building) and the parts count is a lot lower. The wood alone for the Boxer is pretty high in my opinion.

Any thoughts before I start on a plane for next year?

Competitive Dirty Birdy!!
 

Hi Cdallas2,....

Based on my limited experience,... I believe if you built a Dirty Birdy or UFO, and built it LIGHT!! it could be flown slow enough to stay in the box; especially if it was powered with a four stroke engine and propped right.

The light weight of the plane will allow it to be flown comfortably at slower speeds while the four stroke would give you the torque needed for acceleration to verticals.

I am quite happy with my 4 3/4 pound Dirty Kaos, as it handles quite nicely at slow speeds. I have no reservations about doing slow rolls at half throttle. Even the two half rolls in opposite direction in the Intermediate sequence are done slightly above half throttle at a relatively slow roll rate.

Sounds like you have the same anxieties and financial constraints as I do. After three years playing this game and trying to keep up with the big boys, I've finally decided to just build something that I am COMFORTABLE with (and that means comfortable building and flying) and just go "play the game".

Sincerely,
Steve T.

P.S. I will be very envious if you end up building a Dirty Birdy, ha!! That must be my all time favorite airplane!! Please feel free to contact for four stroke recommendations and/or light weight building tips or suggestions.

Pattern the way it used to be??
 

Nothing like Old Two Stroke Pattern Fun -
http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...93&forumid=232

Sill flying my missle..

Pattern the way it used to be??
 

Here's my Avanti. It was designed in 1974. Very stable, very fast, and very fun.

http://www.lameducky.net/akmac/avanti/plane7.jpg

Pattern the way it used to be??
 

The Loaded Dice IIS is a superb plane. I had one up unti a couple of years agao when the radio gave in, which forced my hand to finish my Alliance but I always regret not having it. It will fly really well on a Hanno, even better on a Webra 80 or you can even fit a 90 2stroke on a standard exhaust, such as the OS 91 fx or the ST90.

It's also very much a builders plane as it's only available as plans.

This design is only 10 years old and will compete well in sportsman / standard, but would struggle a bit in senior and above where you start needing the raw power and can't rely as much on inertia to give you the verticals.

Pattern the way it used to be??
 

I agree on the fun and relative simplicity of the .60 jobs but they just would not cut it with the larger 2 metre ships at any level of competition. The bigger models fly much better but there is a lot more comitment in money and effort to produce them. I competed for a while when first I started in pattern with a UFO, at just under 7 pounds weight with a O.S. 60FSR on O.S. Pipe and 11 x 8 APC there was no trouble staying in the box, which is more than can be said of some of the screamers before turnaround. This model is still flying with a buddy after so many years, how long??
I built it just after the plans were published in RCM. I still like the set up of these models and have a fairly new for me, last year sometime, Matt Super Star, and that is an even older design. Pics of this on my photo page. This uses a similar set up to the UFO but without the pipe. The only touble I find is that because these models were designed to go fast prior to turnaround that the amount of aileron is a bit light compared to the more modern designs. Vertical downward points on a roll for instance, particularily if started at slow speed after a stall turn etc. The ground seems to come pretty close if you are not fairly high to start with. The other factor apart from things moving on towards bigger airframes is that there is now no engine development on the .60's for pattern so if you are not an old timer what choice do you have, it does not apply in my case because I can usually dig out a good condition .60 from the old days. A few buddies were talking about having a class for .60's for a local bash in the U.K. and it soon became apparent this was a factor although we all said we liked the idea. I guess we just cannot put the clock back, but thats life.