Topic: Ashdown Sussex Open Cross country comp

A poll regarding the dates for this event has started on the large forum
sounds a bit like RC soups

who's got the biggest battery comp then I see.

Ashdown forest open XC comp dates - RC Groups

here's some links to some other forums too!

FlyQuiet - Index
Forum Topics - Model Flying
RcTalk UK Model Flying Forum

who's got the biggest battery comp then I see.

There will be a nice hand launch class for the classics

And an electric glass for power launch gliders the power gliders will be allowed so many seconds of power for there first launch and allowed a few less seconds for relaunches there after, they will have someone walking round with them to make sure the rules are kept and if they so much as twitch the throttle it will be counted as a relaunch

should people turn up with hot liners (not sure if that will actually help) but the judges will take this in to account when scoring

at the end of the day, should someone or more than someone make it round without a relaunch they will win regardless what time the hotliner does it in with 15 relaunches.
so a bigger battery ain't gonna win you 5hit

oh and the rule ain't in stone yet, there is always room for a new rule at the pilots briefing if someone seems to be taking the pi55

So the idea is that the electric class is just an alternative launch option and nothing more?

Maybe you could insist on height limiters instead, there's some pretty efficient electric machines that can get very, very high in just a couple of seconds. I'd have thought they'd have a considerable advantage over a tow launch.

By the way Allen, any of those dates are fine for me, so I haven't bothered voting.

at the end of the day, should someone or more than someone make it round without a relaunch they will win regardless what time the hotliner does it in with 15 relaunches.

Or looking at it another way, if it's a windy day all the guy with the hotliner has to do is have a short blast on the motor, glide as quicky and as near as he can to the next turn point, sprint down to the model and repeat unit he's round the course. My guess is he's finish the course quickest and with the least number of relaunches.....

Just trying to sew up any 'loop holes' Allen

my point is mate that your rules just premote high launches. I.e how high you can go in the time.

Maybe a power to weight consideration is the way to go.  Brian Austin's Barletts Farm runs 200W/kg with a 20 - 30 second throttle time which works well.  Throttle time is based on conditions at the time.  There is some talk that the 200m HL gives a lot longer throttle time so more time to push out to gain perhaps a thermal advantage.  Still - which ever it needs to perhaps be one or the other but not both else things get complicated.  The F3K bit sounds interesting

I am currently eyeing up building a RE model would that be suitable? Maybe a list of suitable models if people were thinking about building for the event?

my point is mate that your rules just premote high launches. I.e how high you can go in the time.

Well the rules are still open for change and advice
but we have to open it to electric gliders or it will just die out again

althought the 1 hour walk (without flying) makes it quite a tricky comp no matter what you fly.

from what I have heard, loosing a model on a good thermal is quite common,

So the idea is that the electric class is just an alternative launch option and nothing more?

Maybe you could insist on height limiters instead, there's some pretty efficient electric machines that can get very, very high in just a couple of seconds. I'd have thought they'd have a considerable advantage over a tow launch.

By the way Allen, any of those dates are fine for me, so I haven't bothered voting.

The rules have not been totally explained or decided yet but one things for sure by the time you and your hotliner have run to the first flag you batteries will probably be flat.
you and your model have to get to the flags together. even with for arguments sake my brio  I could hand launch it with the pull as hard as you can you cant break it atitude then dive at the first flag as fast as possible and do again, although my pulled will be knackered and well pi55ed at me I would win the hand launch class.

This will not be a way to win
you will need to be behind the flag when your model does its turns

you will need to be behind the flag when your model does its turns

I flew in this event a couple of times about 14-16 years ago.. great event..

If its of any interest I have been running an elect xcountry on the flat for the past 4 years at TVSF (Thames Valley Silent Flyers).  Last year I integrated the height limiter (200m) used by many of the eSoaring guys. Ours is run as a pure electric launch event, with no towing (too many grey hairs now)   

If anyone would like to talk scoring, rules, problems, event running etc. I'd be happy to share my stuff..

Regards
Trev

I am interested in the way you limit the hight for the electric
I am hoping to use the hand tow gliders to create visual markers as I dont want competitors to have to buy limiters
I want to keep this comp open to the non competitive flyers too

I am interested in the way you limit the hight for the electric
I am hoping to use the hand tow gliders to create visual markers as I dont want competitors to have to buy limiters
I want to keep this comp open to the non competitive flyers too

don't allow them to enter............ Visual markers........ come on mate!

don't allow them to enter............ Visual markers........ come on mate!

There is no way I am gonna expect entry's to buy height limiters for a once a year event
With in reason I dont think the launch height will make all that much difference (ducks and covers)
this is a 1.5 mile walk on common land while trying to hook thermals and say aloft

Height markers?  Blimps !

Height markers?  Blimps !

radar!  Allen I read the bmfa mag a while back (blush!) and they had to do test on height limiter planes because people were 'certain' that some were going higher than others, but they found that it was just the visual illusion of different size planes.  Obviously none of this matters if it's just a bit of fun. 

Anyway at the mo it looks like it will become the North Chailey XC open and they have a ban on power models.
I am hoping I can bend the rules with electric gliders but this is just part of the red tape I'm wrapped up in at the mo 

Good work Allen, hope it all comes together.

Anyone flying electric gliders in competition these days should either comply to the 200W/Kg rules or have a height limiter fitted. With a height limiter there should be no problem as that will cut in at 200M or after 30 seconds motor run. For 200W/Kg models they ought to have a sticker showing the weight and power from when they were last tested. Limit the motor run to 20 seconds for these models. Also insist that electric models land and are re-launched by hand, ie. no starting of motor at 10ft.

How can hand-launch be incorporated in to this event? BARCS are finalising their Multi-Launch rules where all types of thermal gliders can be used in one competition, more details should be available very soon. At the German Open this year - Bulletin - there will be a for fun 'get around the field' XC competition. We may run something similar the day after the UK F3K Eurotour in May (site was very slow to load when I posted this!). No motors on a DLG

Tony

Good work Allen, hope it all comes together.

Anyone flying electric gliders in competition these days should either comply to the 200W/Kg rules or have a height limiter fitted. With a height limiter there should be no problem as that will cut in at 200M or after 30 seconds motor run. For 200W/Kg models they ought to have a sticker showing the weight and power from when they were last tested. Limit the motor run to 20 seconds for these models. Also insist that electric models land and are re-launched by hand, ie. no starting of motor at 10ft.

How can hand-launch be incorporated in to this event? BARCS are finalising their Multi-Launch rules where all types of thermal gliders can be used in one competition, more details should be available very soon. At the German Open this year - Bulletin - there will be a for fun 'get around the field' XC competition. We may run something similar the day after the UK F3K Eurotour in May (site was very slow to load when I posted this!). No motors on a DLG

Tony

I really want this comp to be open to all
It was always a comp where people that usually would not fly gliders would dig out that old floater from the back of the garage charge up the 30 year old Nicad and 
I know at the end of the day it is a comp and there is a trophy, but I really want this comp to one that gets power flyers out with their unused 1970's glider, pulls the slopers down from there constant lift and gets the families out with the picnics
It was all the competitiveness of F3F and F3J that has killed comps like this, not many power flyers and general slopers have a £1600 airframe at the back of the garage covers in dust but 80% of them have an old floater which with a little TLC could be glistening in the summer sun over a beautiful common land with the south downs as a back drop
anyone would think I was 70 years old with all this sentimental rubbish