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Conference vmszoo::rc

Title:Welcome To The Radio Control Conference
Notice:dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19
Moderator:VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS
Created:Tue Jan 13 1987
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1706
Total number of notes:27193

1400.0. "RC flying records" by KERNEL::ANTHONY () Wed Jan 08 1992 07:47

        Mod. I didn't find a note about RC records, please move if	
	one already exists... cheers
    		----------------------------------------

	An interesting evening yesterday at my local club meeting..
	we had Barrie lever as guest speaker.
	(Barrie is well known in the UK for pylon racing and also for
	his own brand epoxy system)

	Anyways, he came to talk about going for the world speed record
	for RC planes.

	He said that the record is currently held by the USSR (as was)
	at 215 mph  The record is timed over a 200m course, two runs 
	within half an hour of each other in either direction, ie one
	upwind and one downwind.  You are allowed to build up speed
	by diving, but must be in level flight for 100m before entering
	the timed section.  

	The Russians have held the record since the late 1970's (can't 
	remember the exact date)  There are supposed to be reports that
	their plane had its wing held on by rubber bands!  Also as they
	were using manual timimg, the record is rather suspect.
	The current FAI rules state that automatic timing equipment must
	be used.

	Barrie brought along the model he has been testing for the record
	attempt.  Its an own design, about 1.2m wingspan (blue foam, sheeted
	with veneer and epoxied) fus is fiberglass moulded AUW around 7lb
	(I think)  The design is high wing with conventional tail, very small
	ailerons  (about 1inch by 6 inches long) mounted half way out on the
	wing.   (the wing is attached to the fus by 3 steel bolts :-))
	the engine is an OPS 10cc mounted vertcally and pipe.

	estimated speeds attained so far exceed 250 mph (in dive) the model
	slows up after pulling out of the dive, but should still be way
	above the current record.  The engine is driving an 8in dia wooden 
	prop, with about 12-13 in of pitch.  ground rpms are around 12k
	but once airbourne and "on the pipe" 25-26k is the norm.

	He hopes to go for the record in June, if I get any further details
	I'll post them here,

	Bye from wet'n'windy UK

	Brian
    
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1400.1Elevation recordCSC32::S_CRONKColorado...Ski countryWed Aug 18 1993 14:566
    To anyone that knows, or a best guess, What is the highest an RC
    airplane or glider has ever flown?
    
    Any inf greatly appreciated.
    
    Scott
1400.2He was SOOO high...GAUSS::REITHJim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021Wed Aug 18 1993 15:244
The AMA handbook has a section on records that would list it. They periodically 
run them in Model Aviation. I remember an attempt by Maynard Hill back in the 
70s that involved an airforce tracking station and a huge set of laser/radar 
guided binoculars. He had to tow a mylar streamer to enhance reflectivity.
1400.3Highest ROGTINCUP::OSWALDTANSTAAFL!Wed Aug 18 1993 16:486
I don't know what the altitude record, but several of, if not the, highest model
ROG (rise off ground) take-offs are at 13,000+ feet. These were done 2 years ago
off of Pikes Peak (off the road just below the summit)by one Ivan Munnihoff of 
PPRC.

Randy
1400.4Maynerd Hill 29,200+CSC32::S_CRONKColorado...Ski countryWed Aug 18 1993 18:3517
    Called Phil down at Eagles Nest, Phil know's everything, except the 
    altitude record.  He did give me AMA's number.  I talked to a guy
    at AMA, he said that Maynerd Hill did fly to an altitude of 29,200+.
    
    Had controls and batteries wrapped in heated wire, tracked by a
    tracking station, and once he reached altitude, released chaff
    so it could be seen.  The catch to this, for it to be a record, he had
    to bring the plane back in one piece!!!!!
    
    Also talked to Paul Munnihoff at Custom Hobbies, he just happened to be
    there when I called.  Don't know if it is the same guy, but must be
    related with that last name.
    
    Thanks for all the replies, just goes to prove what my Mom always
    says...you learn something new everyday.
    
    Scott
1400.5If you can find the article, it was a worthwhile readGAUSS::REITHJim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021Wed Aug 18 1993 19:039
The article I remember reading about Maynard Hill's attempt(s) stated that he 
lost sight of the plane in the binoculars one of the attempts and when the 
plane was shown to be heading "off base" without reaquiring the visual to 
bring it back, he spun it in. I don't remember how many attempts he had to 
make to "bring it back down" but I think there were higher flights that didn't 
land safely.

It was a very interestig article that talked about all the things he had to do 
to attain the altitude. Neat stuff.
1400.6Highest modelKAY::FISHERThe higher, the fewerThu Aug 19 1993 10:2514
>    To anyone that knows, or a best guess, What is the highest an RC
>    airplane or glider has ever flown?

Just a trivia note.  Perhaps the highest flying model was a free flight
glider.  On one of the space shuttle missions they threw some model
gliders.  There was a lot of expert speculation in Model Builder magazine
at the time over how it would fly in zero gravity.  Unfortunately
I don't recall the actual results.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
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1400.7TINCUP::OSWALDTANSTAAFL!Thu Aug 19 1993 12:085
Paul Munninghoff (I misspelled it the first time and couldn't find it to correct)
is Ivan's son. He and another member of the club Brad Lovell participated in the
Pikes Peak experiment.

Randy
1400.8and from the model rocket world...GAUSS::REITHJim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021Thu Aug 19 1993 14:3936
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets
From: [email protected] (robert.a.littlefield)
Subject: New Altitude Record
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 13:28:49 GMT
Lines: 33

At the Tripoli LDRS launch yesturday, Frank Kosdon set a new altitude
record of 35,403 feet using one of his own O-10,000 engines in a
minimum diameter aluminum airframe. This breaks the previous record by over
11,000 feet. 

According to witnesses, the boost was spectacular. The 2.5 second burn was 
smooth fast and loud with over 2000 lbs of thrust. The rocket broke Mach
quickly with a very loud crack and seemed to coast upwards forever. 
Unfortunately, ejection failed and the rocket impacted somewhere in a huge 
wheat field where it remains unfound. A search for it will resume this morning.

Frank also wrote his name, address, and phone number on the rocket, then
added "Planet Earth" to insure it's return if found.

Frank dosn't make motors as his main business, that's his hobby. His real
job is running his hotdog/hamburger stand at a nude beach near his
home in California. 

Other notes: Due to the high winds, Dennis Lamothe (Of Downright Ignorant
fame) did not get to launch his *full* scale, 470 lb. Aerobee. And 
John Baulmfaulks full scale Patriot had a repeat of last years failure
when after a perfect launch, a Chute failure sent the heavy model 
down quickly. It survived with a broken fin. 
And the DOT was there as well, apparently video tapeing the license plates
of the vendors cars. Apparently they are going to enforce the rule of
displaying placards during transportation of the engines next year.

That's all for now, more as I hear it.

Bob Littlefield
1400.9I'll bet :)WMOIS::WEIERWings are just a place to hang AileronsThu Aug 19 1993 15:4517
    
    Re: .6
    
         I don't know how a plane launched from the space shuttle would
    fly, but I'll bet I know where it landed!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
             In a TREE! :)
1400.10What Constitutes a Model?LHOTSE::DAHLCustomers do not buy architecturesThu Aug 19 1993 18:249
RE: <<< Note 1400.8 by GAUSS::REITH "Jim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021" >>>
> -< and from the model rocket world... >-

What differentiates model rockets from other kinds of rockets?

For that matter, what are the rules for highest RC flight? The Boeing Condor
unmanned areal vehicle (which is radio controlled) has cruised at around 67K or
68K feet (with a piston engine, no less, using self-contained oxygen).
						-- Tom
1400.11And in the SCALE category...GAUSS::REITHJim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021Fri Aug 20 1993 13:394
Gee, DC-X (the single stage to orbit) just did it's initial flight. It's a 
1/3rd scale model flown by remote control (how would you set up THAT 
failsafe?) and is capable of some significant speed and altitude records. 
Does that count? 8^)
1400.12What scale - really?KAY::FISHERThe higher, the fewerFri Aug 20 1993 14:4217
>     <<< Note 1400.8 by GAUSS::REITH "Jim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021" >>>
>                    -< and from the model rocket world... >-
...
>Other notes: Due to the high winds, Dennis Lamothe (Of Downright Ignorant
>fame) did not get to launch his *full* scale, 470 lb. Aerobee. And 
>John Baulmfaulks full scale Patriot had a repeat of last years failure

Full!!!!

Really?

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
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1400.13I wonder if they're working on a SCUD model next?GAUSS::REITHJim 3D::Reith MLO1-2/c37 223-2021Fri Aug 20 1993 14:485
Yep, full scale. 20+ feet tall with a 20" diameter. MODEL rockets heh, heh...

The altitude record set mentioned something about 2000 pounds of thrust for 
2.5 seconds! Stated that you could hear the crack as it went supersonic. And 
people laughed when I wanted to put a pulse jet in a Gremlin! 8^)
1400.14N25480::FRIEDRICHSAPACHE::FRIEDRICHSFri Aug 20 1993 18:167
    Fail-safe for the DC-X is easy....
    
    	If fail-safe
    	    then **BOOM**
    
    The only way the range safety officer would have it, I would imagine..
    
1400.15AAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!BAHTAT::EATON_NI w&#039;daft t&#039;build castle in&#039;t swampMon Aug 23 1993 08:054
    > His real job is running his hotdog/hamburger stand at a nude beach 
    > near his home in California.
    
    Brave guy! 8^)