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-   -   ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-pattern-flying-101/9890483-arf-pattern-planes-2-meter-size.html)

woodie 07-27-2010 07:29 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
While it would be technically 'wrong', no one weighs airplanes at local contests anyway. Nor do they do sound checks to make sure no one is over the db limits. So, unless you plan on attending the Nats next year, don't worry about it.

There are a lot of 2M planes that would not make the weight limitation. While most are pretty close, no one worries about it locally. Come on out and have fun with us.

Woodie
Team Acme LG

Derek.Koopowitz 07-27-2010 07:34 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: mithrandir

if I show up to fly a pattern contest, are they gonna send me home if my plane weighs 11.5 pounds?

(Like I wouldn't ever fly FAi and no one is gonna loose a trophy cuz of me)
I haven't seen a CD pull out a scale to weigh planes yet (at a local contest)... I think you'll be safe. :D

astropuppy 07-27-2010 07:34 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
I feel obligated to share my first year (this year) story. After entering three contests as a sportsman I am happy about my airplane choice because the airplane really doesn't matter in sportsman. What I did was buy a 2M (ARF) Sword from E-Bay for about $200 NIB and convert it to electric because I decided to fly electric from the get go instead of learning to run big glow. The new improved Sword goes by another name and sells for $300 dollars now days, http://texasrcplanes.com/forcpaai.html , I will guarantee it will do anything in the Sportsman pattern. As a newbie, the precision of the airplane has been the least of my worries. I've been beaten by Aviastar trainers. Just because I have flown Sportsman in a couple contests doesn't make me a pattern pilot. Sportsman is about learning to fly a straight and level line, which I thought was easy until I stood in front of judges and called takeoff. Buy a Sword or whatever else or just use whatever you have, go fly some straight lines with turn arounds. It was a lot harder than I ever imagined.

Mike Wiz 07-27-2010 09:05 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: Derek.Koopowitz

The Neptuno EP is a true ARF - fully composite and you'll be flying it in 7-8 hours or so. You'll get all the hardware including a motor mount for the 14XL Hacker in order to get you going... price is $2100 delivered to your door.

PM me for details.
It sounds like a wonderful plane, Derek but is it really a pattern beginner's plane? I know... I know... we were asking for a 2 meter plane and not a beginner plane. I just think there is a gulf between what's available to the average guy and what you top level pilots fly that could be filled with a "somewhat affordable" 2m ARF. I dunno... maybe I'm wrong but the IMAC suppliers seem to be able to offer up some pretty big ARFs for a lot less than $2100.

I think the Sebart 110 and other planes like it are a good start. I think it's a shame the current rules make doing an affordable 2 meter ARF so difficult for the manufacturer. I wonder what the original intent of that rule was is for? I think if we could give guys some really nice looking 2m ARFs that didn't break the bank the pattern community would grow. Of course, I may be biased by my new found enthusiasm for pattern flying.

Mike Wiz 07-27-2010 09:12 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 

ORIGINAL: astropuppy

I feel obligated to share my first year (this year) story. After entering three contests as a sportsman I am happy about my airplane choice because the airplane really doesn't matter in sportsman. What I did was buy a 2M (ARF) Sword from E-Bay for about $200 NIB and convert it to electric because I decided to fly electric from the get go instead of learning to run big glow. The new improved Sword goes by another name and sells for $300 dollars now days, http://texasrcplanes.com/forcpaai.html , I will guarantee it will do anything in the Sportsman pattern. As a newbie, the precision of the airplane has been the least of my worries. I've been beaten by Aviastar trainers. Just because I have flown Sportsman in a couple contests doesn't make me a pattern pilot. Sportsman is about learning to fly a straight and level line, which I thought was easy until I stood in front of judges and called takeoff. Buy a Sword or whatever else or just use whatever you have, go fly some straight lines with turn arounds. It was a lot harder than I ever imagined.
I agree but what attracted you to pattern to begin with? I'll bet it wasn't watching a pilot do a really good job flying sportsman with an Avistar. Guys are visual. We like cool looking toys. We also like to feel like we fit in. Pattern planes look like the Corvette of RC planes to me, so they have the cool factor nailed. Now just offer them up an affordable plane in a size that lets people feel like they fit in with the big boys.... even if they (the planes) really don't measure up to the top level stuff. BTW, I flew an Avistar in a local IMAC competition many, years ago and I didn't finish last either.

1bwana1 07-27-2010 10:18 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: mithrandir

if I show up to fly a pattern contest, are they gonna send me home if my plane weighs 11.5 pounds?

(Like I wouldn't ever fly FAi and no one is gonna loose a trophy cuz of me)
No planes are weighed at the regional contests, if they were many would be found to be over 11 LBS. Don't worry about it. You can fly Advanced with me, you can even fly my plane.

1bwana1 07-27-2010 10:24 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
Mith may be new to the pattern world, be he is beginner. Given a week of practice, he could fly the F3A schedule, not win, butwell enough. Mith will feel the difference between a competative 2 meter, and a beginner plane. He is also an expert with composites so a top level plane is appropriate for him. Come on Mith step up!

TonyF 07-27-2010 10:37 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
No manufacturer will come out with a low-cost 2-meter ARF pattern model that cannot make the weight limit. Even if it's not measured at every other contest but the Nats, just watch what would happen to them once people started posting here that there model is over the limit.

bjr_93tz 07-28-2010 02:32 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 

ORIGINAL: TonyF

No manufacturer will come out with a low-cost 2-meter ARF pattern model that cannot make the weight limit. Even if it's not measured at every other contest but the Nats, just watch what would happen to them once people started posting here that there model is over the limit.
It's not just low cost 2M pattern planes that cannot make weight. I'm sitting on a very expensive brand name pattern plane that won't make weight. As tempted as I am to trash the manufacturer and their response, I'm still biting my lip hoping they'll have a change of heart before I start my own:
"Who else's XXXX is an overweight piece of XXXX ?" thread.......

NJRCFLYER2 07-28-2010 04:19 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
1 Attachment(s)

"Who else's XXXX is an overweight piece of XXXX ?"
Not this one at least. Ask your ARC/ARF provider to get the lead out. This one knows how!

Mike Wiz 07-28-2010 07:56 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
I'm not trying to be smart here, just wondering. What is the logic behind the weight rule?

TonyF 07-28-2010 08:06 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
That's a glow powered model that comes with no colors on it at about $2K. And has a much smaller fuse then most other top line models. And produces no where near enough airframes per year.

cloudancer03 07-28-2010 08:46 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
hi mith...... your in luck.andrew jesky just finished testing a new plane for ben fisher at 3DHobby.com called the Orsis.go check it outand I think you will wildly happy...

Mike Wiz 07-28-2010 10:20 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: cloudancer03

hi mith...... your in luck.andrew jesky just finished testing a new plane for ben fisher at 3DHobby.com called the Orsis.go check it outand I think you will wildly happy...
The Osiris is a 6S plane or about a .50 to .60 size plane. Not that that's bad but I think it's smaller than what a lot of guys want. I wonder why kit producers are all over the .30 to .60 size pattern planes but not so much on the larger ones. It seems that .90-1.10 size planes are in a sweet spot for size and affordability.

TonyF 07-28-2010 10:38 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
They are going to produce a 2-meter Osiris.

klhoard 07-28-2010 11:21 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
There are many people wondering the same thing. . .
.


ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

I'm not trying to be smart here, just wondering. What is the logic behind the weight rule?

Mike Wiz 07-28-2010 11:42 AM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: klhoard

There are many people wondering the same thing. . .
.


ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

I'm not trying to be smart here, just wondering. What is the logic behind the weight rule?

That situation is not that uncommon, really. I work with local zoning ordinances all the time in my day job and you'd be surprised how many people with the authority to change an ordinance that makes no sense won't change it, even though that have no idea what the logic was for creating the ordinance in the first place.

I'm not saying that's the case here, I'm just wondering. Most times there are very good reasons for a restrictive rule. It's just nice to know what the reasons are. It makes living with the restriction much easier to take when you have an understanding.

rcpattern 07-28-2010 12:18 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
There are many threads on the weight issue. It has been debated many times over. If you do a search here you'll find it. There are some strong supporters both ways. Eliminating the weight rule is going to mean bigger biplanes with bigger gas motors or electrics and the price will go up. Many people have strong feelings opposite of that, but it doesn't look like there is much sentiment to change the rule at the moment. Planes don't get weighed at local contests, so unless you are going to the NATS, it really doesn't matter.

Arch

Mike Wiz 07-28-2010 12:34 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: rcpattern

There are many threads on the weight issue. It has been debated many times over. If you do a search here you'll find it. There are some strong supporters both ways. Eliminating the weight rule is going to mean bigger biplanes with bigger gas motors or electrics and the price will go up. Many people have strong feelings opposite of that, but it doesn't look like there is much sentiment to change the rule at the moment. Planes don't get weighed at local contests, so unless you are going to the NATS, it really doesn't matter.

Arch
So the spirit of the rule is to keep the planes from getting too big. Makes sense. Maybe a better rule would make bipes carry a smaller wing span.

klhoard 07-28-2010 12:36 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
And making a plane light doesn't cause the price to go up as well?
.
I saw one guys plane at the Nats this year get all screwed up because of the weight rule. . .
.
The weight rule needs to be put in the same trash bin as the "Sportsman fly with retracts DOWN" rule was put in, but how many years did that take?
.
No wonder ARF manufacturers won't touch 2M pattern. Like someone above said, one post on RCU or RCG that you can't make weight and now they're stuck with a container full of kits. . .
.
.

ORIGINAL: rcpattern
. . .<snip>. . . Eliminating the weight rule is going to mean bigger biplanes with bigger gas motors or electrics and the price will go up.. . .<snip>. .

Arch

klhoard 07-28-2010 12:41 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
Now you have to define what a Bipe is. . . Is a T-Canalizer a second wing? There are some radical designs out there with lifting surfaces all over the place. . . ugh.
.
.
Perhaps instead of measuring Weight, we should measure the Volume of an airplane. Should be easy enough with a 2M by 2M hot tub full of water . . . each contestant submerges their airplane and then measure how much was displaced. . .
.
.
I better add one of these really, really quickly. . . -> http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ey/msn/lol.gif
.

ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

So the spirit of the rule is to keep the planes from getting too big. Makes sense. Maybe a better rule would make bipes carry a smaller wing span.

rcpattern 07-28-2010 01:51 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: klhoard

Now you have to define what a Bipe is. . . Is a T-Canalizer a second wing? There are some radical designs out there with lifting surfaces all over the place. . . ugh.
.
.
Perhaps instead of measuring Weight, we should measure the Volume of an airplane. Should be easy enough with a 2M by 2M hot tub full of water . . . each contestant submerges their airplane and then measure how much was displaced. . .
.
.
I better add one of these really, really quickly. . . -> [img][/img]
.

ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

So the spirit of the rule is to keep the planes from getting too big. Makes sense. Maybe a better rule would make bipes carry a smaller wing span.

That should be fun with a wood airplane:)

Mike Wiz 07-28-2010 02:31 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: klhoard

Now you have to define what a Bipe is. . . Is a T-Canalizer a second wing? There are some radical designs out there with lifting surfaces all over the place. . . ugh.
.
.
Perhaps instead of measuring Weight, we should measure the Volume of an airplane. Should be easy enough with a 2M by 2M hot tub full of water . . . each contestant submerges their airplane and then measure how much was displaced. . .
.
.
I better add one of these really, really quickly. . . -> [img][/img]
.

ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

So the spirit of the rule is to keep the planes from getting too big. Makes sense. Maybe a better rule would make bipes carry a smaller wing span.

You're right.... Just stick to 2x2 and forgetaboutit. Will people really flock to bipes with bigger engines/motors if the weight restriction is dropped?

rcpattern 07-28-2010 02:34 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 


ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz



ORIGINAL: klhoard

Now you have to define what a Bipe is. . . Is a T-Canalizer a second wing? There are some radical designs out there with lifting surfaces all over the place. . . ugh.
.
.
Perhaps instead of measuring Weight, we should measure the Volume of an airplane. Should be easy enough with a 2M by 2M hot tub full of water . . . each contestant submerges their airplane and then measure how much was displaced. . .
.
.
I better add one of these really, really quickly. . . -> [img][/img]
.

ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz

So the spirit of the rule is to keep the planes from getting too big. Makes sense. Maybe a better rule would make bipes carry a smaller wing span.

You're right.... Just stick to 2x2 and forgetaboutit. Will people really flock to bipes with bigger engines/motors if the weight restriction is dropped?

They always have in the past and I'm sure they will continue to do so. It is competition and people will take full advantage of the rules. Right now planes can be built under 11lbs, some even under 10, and that includes electrics. Getting a cheap ARF is going to be tough, but I'm sure someone will step up, but regardless, even the other stuff isn't that expensive compared to other disciplines.

TonyF 07-28-2010 03:13 PM

RE: ARF Pattern Planes in 2 meter size
 
Arch, really, when have people "flocked" to bipes? I can't remember a single time other then when the TOC gave them a 10% score bonus. Heck, they don't even use them in IAC competition anymore. The "big bipe" is a boogeyman.


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