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coachchuckaahs wrote:From scratch. Unfortunately, that year our high school kids did not make nationals.

We have not done any kits, as our regionals are in January. We stay flying right after the rules come out.

Coach Chuck

Ah i see, that is unfortunate, would you able to offer guicdance for how to construct one/how you guys did it that year?

What event are you doing axial heli's for?

Our designs were probably not that different from FFM. It was our first attempt at heli (in my era). While we won State in heli, we had a lot left to do for Nationals. The Chinook style last year probably helped our knowledge a lot and is applicable.

We generally used the carbon spar like the FFM Chinook. We did not find a need for more than 2 blades, but did find a high CG helped stability (probably the reason the FFM models were more stable with 4 blades on top).

Coach Chuck

coachchuckaahs wrote:What event are you doing axial heli's for?

Our designs were probably not that different from FFM. It was our first attempt at heli (in my era). While we won State in heli, we had a lot left to do for Nationals. The Chinook style last year probably helped our knowledge a lot and is applicable.

We generally used the carbon spar like the FFM Chinook. We did not find a need for more than 2 blades, but did find a high CG helped stability (probably the reason the FFM models were more stable with 4 blades on top).

Coach Chuck

I would just like the experience of it, as I will not get the chance to do heli, did build chinook last year but not compete, and would like to attempt heli before I fully invest my time into Wright stuff again

I would check with Dave at FFM. Perhaps he has some 2017 kits available. They were quite competitive.

Chuck

I'm not sure if this has been addressed already, but what exactly causes the plane to "drift" towards one direction, as in the entire flight path shifting? I have a tight flying space and when I'm trimming, the circle keeps on drifting to the left where there are obstructions, often messing up the flight and creating inconsistent times.

The overall mass of the air in your flying space is moving. Even with the air system off this occurs.
Typically there is some sort of rotating pattern due to differential external heating (sun on one wall for example). This causes the air to rise on that wall, descend on cold wall. In between at top air moves from hot to cold. At floor, vice versa.
And it may change throughout the day as the sun moves or depending on weather (clouds).
Other patterns can occur, every room is different, but they can be observed, and with a little reasoning understood. Observe (as you already have) the flying conditions wherever you compete, and then take advantage of them, or minimize their effect.
In your case, if the movement is consistent, make sure you launch on the end of the room such that you have as much space/time to fly before the plane moves far enough to cause a problem.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

jander14indoor wrote:The overall mass of the air in your flying space is moving. Even with the air system off this occurs.
Typically there is some sort of rotating pattern due to differential external heating (sun on one wall for example). This causes the air to rise on that wall, descend on cold wall. In between at top air moves from hot to cold. At floor, vice versa.
And it may change throughout the day as the sun moves or depending on weather (clouds).
Other patterns can occur, every room is different, but they can be observed, and with a little reasoning understood. Observe (as you already have) the flying conditions wherever you compete, and then take advantage of them, or minimize their effect.
In your case, if the movement is consistent, make sure you launch on the end of the room such that you have as much space/time to fly before the plane moves far enough to cause a problem.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

Thanks for the explanation, it explains why I was flying yesterday in perfect circles but today it was flying all over the place. However, could there be a chance that it correlates to the turning variables of the plane (stab tilt, rudder, etc)? I don't think drifting was the right word to use, as many times the plane consistently moves a miniscule distance per lap, say 0.5 feet to the left. Eventually it will reach the wall in 2 minutes or so.

As Jeff noted, a consistent drift in one direction is likely due to room drift. Without such, the plane does not know one end of the room form another, so the flight path may be erratic, but not moving the circles in one direction.

It is important, if at all possible, to study other flights at a competition venue before you fly. You can learn a lot about the room! At Round Valley, my team with LPP planes learned there can even be indoor thermals (that place had large skylights) and downdrafts, and they could be used to advantage. While the open space was the size of a football field, there were very unforgiving obstacles along two edges. In a 10+ minute flight, the plane could drift substantially, so you had to plan your launch location. In addition, it was a dome, so you wanted the apex of your flight in the middle, so if you over-estimated the drift, you ended up hitting the dome at 85' instead of touch free at 95'. In larger spaces, conditions change throughout too.

So, at competition, time in line to check in is not wasted time. It is a chance to study, take notes, and make a plan based on others before you.

As far as your test gym, sound like a tight space. Launch all the way to one side and hope you can make the whole flight. If not, consider partial rubber flights then extrapolate. You may be able to visualize the drift using dusting balls like some bow hunters use.

Coach Chuck

Hello all,

I am wondering if anyone has a score prediction for Michigan's state tournament coming up this Saturday. I've been consistantly hitting around 2:35-2:40 and I'm wondering if I should expect a medal or not. (top 8 medal)

coachchuckaahs wrote:As Jeff noted, a consistent drift in one direction is likely due to room drift. Without such, the plane does not know one end of the room form another, so the flight path may be erratic, but not moving the circles in one direction.

It is important, if at all possible, to study other flights at a competition venue before you fly. You can learn a lot about the room! At Round Valley, my team with LPP planes learned there can even be indoor thermals (that place had large skylights) and downdrafts, and they could be used to advantage. While the open space was the size of a football field, there were very unforgiving obstacles along two edges. In a 10+ minute flight, the plane could drift substantially, so you had to plan your launch location. In addition, it was a dome, so you wanted the apex of your flight in the middle, so if you over-estimated the drift, you ended up hitting the dome at 85' instead of touch free at 95'. In larger spaces, conditions change throughout too.

So, at competition, time in line to check in is not wasted time. It is a chance to study, take notes, and make a plan based on others before you.

As far as your test gym, sound like a tight space. Launch all the way to one side and hope you can make the whole flight. If not, consider partial rubber flights then extrapolate. You may be able to visualize the drift using dusting balls like some bow hunters use.

Coach Chuck

Oh ok, thanks for clarifying! I'm just surprised that some days I fly with a tiny drift, and other days I fly with sporadic paths.

I've been waiting to test partial motors already as my flying area is not as high enough, but I guess another reason to use them is due to the drifts as well. I'll try looking at the drifting issue using some form of the dusting ball you suggest.