RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/05
senioR RecoRD: No, it’s not the
latest release from Tony Bennett; it’s a
national record in Quickie 500 (event
no. 428) by an up-and-coming young
pilot.
We hear so much about how there’s
not enough new blood coming into the
racing community, it’s nice to know that
somewhere there are young people
competing and doing well. In this case,
“somewhere” is Silver Spring,
Maryland.
Following is quoted material from the
letter Dan Myer, the contest director of
the event at which the record was set,
sent to AMA Headquarters.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/04
cybeR-Flying ReviSiTed: I received some good
feedback on the January 2000 column feature about
practicing racing flight using the Great Planes flight
simulator.
Alert reader Jim Skolmowski of Toledo, Ohio writes:
“Thanks for the advice on setting up a racing machine. My
sons and I have been cyber-flying to get ready for next year’s
round of club contests. We do the SuperTigre .40 engine thing
at Toledo Weak Signals.”
Jim reminded me that Great Planes offers an “Add-Ons”
CD-ROM with additional airplanes and fields to try. I
purposely didn’t mention that, because the pylon course
included was less than satisfactory.
However, Jim managed to get around the problems. I’ll turn
the description over to him.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/03
a ToTal Fai Lure, Part 2: In the last episode, I gave some background
on Fédération Aéronatique Internationale (FAI) Pylon, or F3D.
To recap, F3D is flown primarily in Europe and the British
Empire. The aircraft are slightly larger and heavier than what we’re
used to in the States, but they are aerodynamically cleaner and go
almost as fast as anything, using full-piped .40s and “cough syrup”
fuel (80% alcohol, 20% castor oil, 0% nitromethane).
The Pylon section of the FAI rule book is only approximately
five pages. Most of the rules are one sentence long. There’s a limit
on engine displacement and there are minimum figures for overall
weight, wing and tail area, wing thickness, and fuselage crosssection,
but that’s basically it. The rest is up to you.
Engine modification? It’s unlimited; make your own from bar
stock, if you like.
Choice of propeller? It’s unlimited; mold your own from carbon
fiber, if you like.
Wingspan? It’s unlimited; give the model a 12-foot span and
three-inch chord, if you like.
The airplanes don’t have to look like a specific “big” airplane,
and there’s no prohibition on wing fillets, engine cowls, retractable
landing gear, or anything else you can think of.
Basically, if you can afford it and it will get off the ground, you
can race it in F3D. And F3D is the only Pylon event in which it is
possible to be crowned World Champion.
All this should make F3D wildly popular—at least if the “don’t
bother us with rules” contingent of the racing fraternity is right.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true.
One contest is held in the US every two years, to pick a threemember
team for the biennial World Championships. The number of
entries range between 10 and 20.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/02
A ToTAl FAI Lure, Part 1: Descend with me into the depths
of insanity—into a Pylon event known by many Europeans, but
by only a handful of Americans. This is “primal scream Pylon,”
the “ultimate Pylon,” “Pylon with no apologies and (almost)
no-holds-barred.”
Unlike Quickie 500, F3D—as the event is code-named by
the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the Paris-based
sanctioning body for full-scale and model aviation
competitions)—was never intended as an “entry level” event,
and has never been marketed for that purpose.
F3D has everything the late, great Formula I had, and more:
sleek five-pound airplanes going nearly 200 mph; tuned exhaust
systems; reworked engines; homemade propellers; and even
retractable landing gear, for those who dare. The only thing it
doesn’t have is nitromethane.
You heard me right—not a drop of nitro is allowed in F3D.
The Europeans write the rules for this event, and not only does
gasoline go for $4 per gallon there, but nitro is all but
impossible to find at any price.
On the theory that allowing nitro would give too much
advantage to the rich and well connected, and therefore depress
attendance at contests, the rule-writers prohibited it from the
very beginning.
Do F3D contestants whine about having this element “taken
away” from them? Do they daydream about how much faster
they “should” be going, if not for the cruel tyranny of those
socialist killjoys on the rules committee?
No. They make do with competing against each other
according to the agreed rules, because this is what
competitors do.
RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING - 2001/01
hAve yOU drOPPed enough hints about what sort of presents
you’d like for the Midwinter Glow-Plug Lighting Ceremony (or
whichever seasonal observance you’re into)?
Following is “Where to Get Stuff, Volume 2.” Circle the items
that interest you, and leave this magazine out for the elves to find.
Hints for elves are included.
This list is quite condensed, and is not an endorsement of the
products listed. Many of these sources offer more than the one or two
items listed, and most will send you a complete catalog if you ask.
1) Quickie 500 (Q-500) airplanes: These have rectangular wings,
box fuselages, and usually V-tails. They fly great as sport airplanes.
This is the best choice for the giftee who is thinking about Pylon
Racing, but hasn’t taken the plunge.
Q-500 airplane prices range from $40 to $400, depending on the
degree of completion and how recently the model was used to set a
national record.
