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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / May 2008



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Park flier

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Bryan Heit - 14 May 2008 22:14 GMT
A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
life's settled a little bit I was thinking about getting a park flier
- as in a small electric.  There are a lot of options out there now
compared to the last time I looked - everything from little toys to
the larger (but still quite small) park fliers I remember from 4-5
years ago.

I was wondering what people would recommend.  I'm willing to spend a
little extra for a larger unit, and want one with full control (i.e. 4
channel).  I'd prefer a more stable plane, as the skills are getting
rusty...

Thanx

Bryan
Worn Out Retread - 15 May 2008 15:25 GMT
> A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
> to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Bryan

With the penchant for people to sue, I wouldn't fly at a park. If you hit
someone event if they don't get hurt, you could find yourself in court. Find
a proper flying field in your area.
Signature

Ron P

If we are what we eat then: I'm fast,
cheap and easy and past my best before date

Ed Cregger - 15 May 2008 19:13 GMT
>> A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
>> to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> someone event if they don't get hurt, you could find yourself in court.
> Find a proper flying field in your area.

-----------

You make an excellent point, but, it does depend upon the layout and nature
of the park too.

Ed Cregger
Worn Out Retread - 15 May 2008 19:32 GMT
>>> A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
>>> to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Ed Cregger

I wouldn't be at all comfortable flying in a park especially after having a
cyclist on the runway that I was about to land on at a sanctioned (and very
rural) and very obvious flying field. I was lucky that I saw some movement
out of the corner of my eye or I would have certainly nailed the guy with my
pattern ship.

In a park, people can "come out of nowhere" so quickly.....it just isn't
worth the risk.....insurance or not.

Signature

Ron P

If we are what we eat then: I'm fast,
cheap and easy and past my best before date

2fast - 15 May 2008 20:56 GMT
It kinda makes ya wonder why they are called Park Flyer's!

>>>> A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
>>>> to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> In a park, people can "come out of nowhere" so quickly.....it just isn't
> worth the risk.....insurance or not.

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
VEGASFAN - 15 May 2008 23:13 GMT
Four replies and not one of you even came close to answering the
question that was asked. I think he wants recommendations on what kind
of a plane to buy.
  My recommendations: in no particular order are: The Slow Stick by
GWS. You can fly it easily in most any park. The second and third are:
The Super Cub, and my own personal favorite, the J3 Cub by Parkzone.
They all practically fly themselves.
  I'm sure your local hobby shop has all 3 of them in stock.
The rest of you please feel free to flame me and tell me what terrible
recommendations these are, but at least I made an effort to answer his
questiion.

> It kinda makes ya wonder why they are called Park Flyer's!
>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>>
> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Six_O'Clock_High - 15 May 2008 23:30 GMT
Odd that no one bothered to suggest the AMA park flyer program that has good
answers to those questions.  But we seem to be in the sling canard mode this
week so go figure.

BTW, I like Vegasfan's suggestions - for what ever it is worth.

>  Four replies and not one of you even came close to answering the question
> that was asked. I think he wants recommendations on what kind of a plane
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
>>>
>> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Ed Cregger - 16 May 2008 03:34 GMT
> Odd that no one bothered to suggest the AMA park flyer program that has
> good answers to those questions.  But we seem to be in the sling canard
> mode this week so go figure.
>
> BTW, I like Vegasfan's suggestions - for what ever it is worth.

------------

What's an AMA?  8>)

It's worth about a nickel ninety-five, as my little brother used to say.

Ed Cregger
The Natural Philosopher - 16 May 2008 12:15 GMT
> Odd that no one bothered to suggest the AMA park flyer program that has good
> answers to those questions.  

That's because they don't.

>But we seem to be in the sling canard mode this
> week so go figure.

Indeed.

There is no doubt that the damage a model can do is a complex function
of its weight and wing loading. There is no doubt that some planes are
much 'safer' than others.

The AMA however has got its knickers completely in a twist, and made
some fairly dumb proposals - or had last time I bothered to look.

The formula I liked the best was described on the E-zone some time ago -
simple and pretty effective, and similar to that that defines Microlights.

Take the weight in oz and divide by the span in inches.

Anything less than one is a large park flyer, less than 0.5 is a small
park flier and less than 0.25 is practically harmless and/or suitable
for indoor flying.

Anything over one is only to be flown in controlled airspace according
to normal safety rules, and over 2, its a big model, and shouldn't be
flown at all except at regulated sites.

Anyone with a set of scales and a tape measure an decide what class a
model belongs in. It ain't perfect, but it certainly sorts out 7lb 5ft
glow models from slow stiks.

I did some back of envelope calcs using that formula, and decided it was
fairly close to my mental 'thats OK in the village playground' 'thats OK
in a park ' and 'thats not OK really except at the club'

The magic value of one, is about the level at which a model is CAPABLE
of causing death.

0.5 is capable of moderately serious injury.

0.25 would be unlikely to do more than cause a bruise.

I think a slowstik is about 0.4 from memory, and a picostik about 0.2.

I suggest that people (whatever the AMA says), look at the models they
want to fly n small spaces around people, and definitely NOT go for
anything over 0.5 on this scale.
Doug McLaren - 17 May 2008 00:47 GMT
| The formula I liked the best was described on the E-zone some time ago -
| simple and pretty effective, and similar to that that defines Microlights.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
| park flier and less than 0.25 is practically harmless and/or suitable
| for indoor flying.

My Hera glider.  About 80 oz, 118 inch wing span.  That gives you a
figure of 0.67.  It's bigger than your average park flier, but I'm
reasonably comfortable flying it in a park (but a winch or full
hi-start in the park is problematic), and I'll bet it could do 100 mph
in a dive (it's very sleek, and very stiff.)

My Impulse Classic electric glider.  About 48 oz, 100 inch wing span.
Formula = 0.48, small park flier, but I'd disagree.  It does most of
it's flying in the local park.

| The magic value of one, is about the level at which a model is CAPABLE
| of causing death.
|
| 0.5 is capable of moderately serious injury.
|
| 0.25 would be unlikely to do more than cause a bruise.

I'd say both of these gliders could kill, especially the Hera.  (The
Impulse is a good deal slower, but top speed into a head ...)

The formula could probably be improved if it was based on top speed
and weight rather than span and weight.  Perhaps (speed)^2 * weight?
After all, it's the kinetic energy is what we're worried about ...

Signature

Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.

Ed Cregger - 16 May 2008 03:31 GMT
>  Four replies and not one of you even came close to answering the question
> that was asked. I think he wants recommendations on what kind of a plane
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> recommendations these are, but at least I made an effort to answer his
> questiion.

-----------

If I knew the answer to his question, I would have sent it on its way to
him.

However, unlike some newsgroup police members, I don't think that I know
everything, so I try to participate in any way that I can.

Now, buzz off.

Ed Cregger
Worn Out Retread - 16 May 2008 14:41 GMT
>  Four replies and not one of you even came close to answering the question
> that was asked. I think he wants recommendations on what kind of a plane
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> recommendations these are, but at least I made an effort to answer his
> questiion.

You missed the point. The recommendation of what kind of plane to fly in a
park is non at all.
Signature

Ron P

If we are what we eat then: I'm fast,
cheap and easy and past my best before date

Anyolmouse - 16 May 2008 13:29 GMT
| A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
| to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
|
| Bryan

I have read all of the thread and noticed that nobody addressed wind
speed. Here in the Texas Panhandle most of the suggestions would not be
flyable most of the time as our average wind is over 15 mph.

If you have a local hobby shop, asking them what others are flying would
be a good place to start. If not, have you visited where people are
flying Park Flyers and taken note of what they are flying? How about
indoor flyers? I have found that they are enthusiastic as well as very
helpful in getting newbies started in the hobby.

The suggestion of the AMA Park Flyer program is good one. Even better
would be getting a full AMA membership, which will allow you to have
full flying privileges at a club field as well as $1.5 Million in
insurance over your renters insurance. (You may have to join the club
and pay dues there as well.)

Here is the link to the AMA website-  http://www.modelaircraft.org/

Happy Flying,

Signature

Anyolmouse

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William R. Mattil - 16 May 2008 18:04 GMT
> A while ago I relocated to a new city, and unfortunately, downgraded
> to an apartment.  As such I had to sell off all of my RC's.  Now the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> channel).  I'd prefer a more stable plane, as the skills are getting
> rusty...

Bryan,

Two issues. One of which I'm sure will get mentioned to death. And that
is flying in a Park can be risky. But some, if not all, Park Flyers can
fly just fine in a traditional sanctioned field. This is what I would
recommend.

Secondly... the plane.  With even a modicum of experience, which it
seems you already have, I would recommend a Park Zone T-28. Flies
beautifully, looks great in the air and has no bad habits. I would
replace the receiver with something else though. I used a Spektrum DX7
and have no regrets. Note: The 6 channel 2.4 ghz receivers are in short
supply)

Personally I think they fly better from a paved strip but still a great
plane.

Regards

Bill
 
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