2016 rules

[chalker]

.... I would recommend that connections be made with top science teachers (or school administrations, boards, education foundations, etc.) in the locations with low participation. Once connections with groups like this are successful, demos (by students from a successful school) of the construction events (along with brief presentations of data gathering and analysis) would be a great way to build interest. Hopefully, a demo in front of school admins, teachers, parents and students would get interest going on a number of fronts all at once. Possibly a demo could happen a previously scheduled event to ensure attendance (like a school board meeting or another school-wide science event)......

This is a pretty good idea. But you left out who would coordinate / execute upon it. Note that there are only a handful of us at the National level that are helping to create the rules, so we can't really handle this all across the country. I'd propose it falls upon active and engaged SO participants like yourself!

[calgoddard]

I hope this short video will spur interest in a bonus for a pusher configuration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBJawSgZ-f8

I'd like to hear your comments.

Thanks.

[retired1]

Any idea of its performance? weight, rubber weight and time.
Looks like an inverted version of a 1934 model.

[calgoddard]

retired1 -

Thanks for asking about the WS pusher in the video I posted.

The 2008 WS rules set a 50 cm max wing span and a max wing chord of 7 cm. Those rules also set a max stab span of 30 cm and a max stab chord of 4.5 cm. Minimum weight for the airplane was 7 grams. Max rubber weight was 2 grams. Max prop diameter was 24 cm.

A pusher configuration received a 20% bonus at State. At Nationals a canard configuration received a 30% bonus.

The WS pusher in the video weighed very near the minimum weight, i.e. maybe a couple of hundredths of a gram over 7 grams for a safety margin. The airframe dimensions were very near the maxes.

The best times for this pusher as I recall were slightly over three minutes in a 24 foot flying site. Many of the top WS teams flew a pusher at the 2008 SoCal WS finals as they determined that, with a 20% time bonus, it had a clear advantage over a conventional tractor configuration with no time bonus.

In the video, the WS pusher is being flown in one of the Tustin blimp hangars which has a flyable height of 135' so of course it flew much longer in that site. As I recall we could only get it up to 60 or 70 feet at that location using the original prop. Some of the LPP's were getting close to 100' in altitude.

[retired1]

Based on some very old plans that I found, I think that the pusher would probably come close to good times from this year. The perfect trim of either tractor or pusher should be close. The bonus would make the pusher favorable for competition. (Based on what little I know now)

The canard is actually flyable for the few teams that can fly enough to get near the perfect wing and stab locations and trim.

Not many teams mastered the canard for gliders if I remember correctly. I saw one that flew beautifully, but refused to turn.

Still would like to see mini or micro sticks as it would allow all teams to get reasonable practice in.

[calgoddard]

I like the idea of following the Ministick rules in WS but I think an increase in the minimum overall weight of the model (without rubber motor) would probably be needed.

[retired1]

I agree. Some can post LONG flights with the current weights.

[DoctaDave]

Hey Cal would you happen to have a copy of that pusher? Also was that designed by Cezar Banks? Looks like a fun model to build and fly!

[calgoddard]

The WS pusher in the video that I posted was built according to a plan that was part of a WS model airplane kit sold by A2Z as I recall. That company no longer sells airplane kits or airplane plans. Cezar Banks was the designer of the WS pusher. I have a large inventory of paper plans for indoor and outdoor free flight rubber powered airplanes. I will rummage through them and see if I can find the plan for the WS pusher. I do not have an electronic version of the plan, and I don't recall seeing one available on the Internet.

[calgoddard]

A stick type canard for indoor flying is actually easier to build and trim than you might think.

There is a popular model called the Zephyr that could be easily modified to meet the airframe limitations if the WS event gave a bonus for a canard.

The CG for a pusher is forward of the wing as I recall. Typically significant positive incidence on the canard is needed for stable flight. The canard can be tilted to control the circle size. The pusher turns toward the low side of the canard as I recall, as distinguished from a tractor which turns toward the high side of the stab.