Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics
CORRECTION: I was informed by an IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic Club) official that the group had voted to ban gyros from competition, but that was not the case. The official IMAC position remains the same as before; the current Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) rulebook does not address gyros at all. Before you go out and buy a pair of piezo gyros though, you should know that some of the IMAC officers and Contest Directors (CDs) are against the use of gyros in IMAC contests, and they will be banned at several events. Keep that in mind if you intend to install the devices.
Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics
I received three letters concerning my use of the inaccurate (if commonly used) term weathervane in my April column, to describe the yawing that occurs during crosswind maneuvers. In this case the discussion was about crosswind landings. My favorite was from Bob Zajichek of Issaquah, Washington. Excerpts follow: "Although I can't consider myself an outstanding RC pilot, I had 25 years military flying - mostly carrier aircraft. One of my pet peeves in the almost eight years I've struggled with RC flight has been the consistent misuse of the terms weathervaning or weathercocking by students and instructors!
Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics
The IMAC (International Miniature Aerobatic Club) National Championships will be in Toledo, Ohio at the Flying Tigers' field, August 22-23. Contact your local IMAC representative if you want more information. It should be a great event to attend, even if you won't be competing. This is the time of year when you can probably find a Scale Aerobatics contest fairly close to you, no matter where you live in the US. I strongly recommend that you go to one of these competitions, even if you feel that you're not ready to enter one (or never intend to). You'll most likely see many people having a great time, and you'll see some very interesting airplanes. Check the contest listings in this magazine and on the IMAC or other Web pages.
Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics
Since my last column I've received three phone calls from pilots who were frustrated with their airplanes; two were Giant Scale Aerobatics models, and the other was a Pattern aircraft. All of the pilots were convinced that their airplanes were either designed poorly or set up incorrectly, because of problems that they were experiencing with one maneuver: the Stall Turn-specifically, the "pivot" at the top of the Stall Turn. (The Stall Turn and the Hammerhead are the same maneuver.) The Stall Turn can really make a pilot question his/her abilities or aircraft. Through the years, the most common complaint I hear from aspiring Aerobatics pilots involves airplanes that "won't" Stall Turn.
Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics
LAST TIME we met, I discussed Stall Turns and some hints that may be helpful for pilots who are having difficulties with them. Several people wrote that they really enjoyed that column and hoped for more like it. That's good for me, since my primary focus is on flying. The Stall Turn is one of those maneuvers that won't usually impress the "locals," even if done well. It's not obvious to the casual observer that there is a fair amount of skill required to do a really nice Stall Turn. This time I'll look at some maneuvers that have a slightly bigger "wow factor." In fact, I'll look knife-edge flight: the flight regime that usually separates the "men from the boys," to be politically incorrect.
