Over the past year, the NFFS Board of Directors has worked to develop E-36, a simple, inexpensive electric event similar to the popular P-30 event. All of the parameters were arrived at with the intention of keeping E-36 as uncomplicated and low in cost as possible and yet deliver good performance.
As a provisional event, rules can be adjusted as the event developes. I'm sure some will say why not this, or why not that. Give the event time to mature. Make any suggestions to your NFFS Vice Presidents. Try out the event and have fun.
The event will be flown as a provisional event at this years NATS. There will be no entry fee this year. Pre-registration is not required. All processing will take place at the event directors location. Vic Nippert has agreed to run the event on Wednesday. Trophies will be awarded for 1st thru 3rd for both S/O and Jr.
Introductory Electric Free Flight Event E-36
As an introduction to the rapidly growing and expanding use of electric power in free flight models, the following rules provide an inexpensive way to become knowledgeable with the techniques necessary to build and fly electric powered free flights.
E-36 Rules
1. Power source will be limited to use of 4 or less Nickel Cadmium (Nicad) cells or Nickel Metal Hydride (NI-MH) cells not to exceed 150 mAh each in capacity. Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) cells will not be allowed, 2. A single electric motor, brushed type only, and will be restricted to those available from common sources. Gearing will be allowed. 3.Propellers may be straight or folding. The propellers that fold must fold backwards parallel to the airflow. 4. Motor run times shall be limited to a maximum of 25 seconds. The flyer shall demonstrate the motor run time to the timer before flight if there is a question of the duration of running time. The motor run time shall be shortened to 15 seconds on the first fly-off flight and then to 10 seconds on the next and to 5 seconds on the third fly-off flight. All subsequent fly off flights will be limited to a 5 second motor run. 5. Flight time including motor run will be limited to 120 seconds. (Max=120). This shall include fly-off flights. 6. Wing Span of the model shall not exceed 36 inches of projected span. There will be no limitation on projected area. 7. The model including all flight item and in a ready to fly condition must weigh no less than 150 grams. 8. Current AMA Free Flight rules will apply when flying this event. A maximum of two models shall be allowed per entry. Rationales for rule decisions. Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Hydride batteries are inexpensive and readily available at low cost. They can be charged with little or no danger to the flyer or others. Charging sources can be as inexpensive as common flashlight batteries and therefore also low in cost. At this time Lithium Polymer batteries and the necessary charging equipment is expensive and prone to safety issues when slightly damaged or incorrectly charged.
- Small inexpensive brushed motors are readily available from a large number of sources including discarded battery operated toothbrushes, electronic warehouses and discarded foam plastic model airplanes. This keeps the cost very low. It also encourages the flyer to test motor thrust, amperage and other characteristics. Gearing could be used to get the maximum thrust from the system.
- The flyer will have the choice of experimenting with various types of propellers for maximum thrust and extended flight times.
- Flight times and fly-off times are kept to 2 minutes to stay within the boundaries of most free flight fields. Motor run times are cut drastically to prevent fly-off flights from exceeding the field boundaries and to limit the number of fly-off flights. This will make it imperative for the flyer to learn how to use motor timing devices that will be accurate. Such devices as the Moffset types or the present “Smoothie” timers are readily available and inexpensive and easy to install.
- Many of the currently available kits, including those designed for 1/4 A, Nostalgia, 1/4A Old Time Gas and even small rubber models will make an excellent basis for this size model. Modification to make the model electric powered will be minimal. This is the weight of a 1/4 A payload model which has the same wingspan suggested by these rules. Performance should be comparable. The weight will ensure a dependable, consistent model without resorting to high technology or extraordinary modeling skills, Use of AMA rules governing safety and flight lines procedures etc. will apply.
- Comments: Electric powered free flight has already been tested thru AMA, International and FAC rules. The FAC events entail use of Old Time Gas Designs under FAC rules are restricted to no more than a 36 inch span, but there is no limit on the motor run. Performance is comparable to CO2 type of flights. To encourage a higher performing type of model for the purposes of competition, the suggested rules have been developed based on experience with models of the suggested size. Dave Rees, Don Srull and Stu Meyers have been written extensively about electric motors and timing devices. Each month model aviation magazines carry many articles pertaining to the batteries, motors and other devices that can easily be used by the average modeler. It is hoped that an entry level type of competition model will encourage a more wide spread participation and interest in this type of flying model. There is no question that electric models are clean and quiet and will not create problems with neighbors and owners of flying fields.
