Topic: Santas been!!

I'm not sure that it is characterised as cheating. For my personal opinion, I think you've got two classes of mod. Passive aids and active ones. I think tipweight becomes part of the models design and set-up and as such is purely passive.

So for me, gyros are an active aid coz they move the control surfaces without input from the pilot, and as such I'm not too sure that gyro assisted records can be accepted in the same class as records set by aircraft which have no active pilot aids. Although they are certainly an interesting diversion.

I think (could be wrong) that Thundertakers are around $7k for the airframe.

Z

I bow to voice of knowledge.

As to the price, I'm pretty sure that a record breaking TT changed hands slopeside after its maiden session for $10K, possibly to Buxton??
This oldtimers disease is getting to me....

Dunno John. Think John Buxton is the guy with the fastest recorded TT so maybe someone bought it off him...

Hobbers - I don't think a computer radio is the same as a gyro. It doesn't do anything independently of the pilot's inputs. Yes they have mixers et al, but they are still dependent on inputs from the pilot, and only work when the pilot does.

I'm not saying that Graham shouldn't have some fun with the gyro thing - I think Daemon put forward a pretty good case on RCG for using gyros in certain situations - you can DS in really harsh places and really take the mickey with low circuits etc which sounds like a lot of fun (which is ultimately the MOST important thing!) But I reckon that gyro speeds don't really have too much of a place in the max speeds list.

For example, mate, the FPV crew are able to get their airframes to do some pretty incredible things autonomously now. Return to home feature, for example, and once over a preset GPS point the airframe will orbit in a circle of a preset size at a preset height. Ooops! Wouldn't want that including in a pilot speed list! I don't think the capability is that far away though!

Z

I love how the mention of gyros kicks off a whole 'thats cheating' attitude on merkingroups, yet buying a VERY expensive (didn't a Thundertaker or such go for $10K on the slope?) large plane with masses of lead in the tips  is not deemed as such.
I guarantee that you could break 500mph tomorrow with a gyro and it wouldn't be accepted. Despite the game having no formal rules.

There certainly would be a backlash to any record claim given, as you say, existing remarks made on "the other side".

If perchance I find myself in the happy position of record breaking circumstances, I'd switch off the gyro (from the TX) for the purpose.
Or if gyro is used, I'd declare it & really not worry whether a speed is accepted.

My purpose is not to assist in going faster, but to meet the ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE of flying in the two available gyro functions.
Simply launching a plane for conventional flight is surely a much easier option than installing gyro correctly, setting it up properly on the TX, & sorting gain etc in two differing operational modes in the particular conditions encountered . The plane will behave different to normal in either mode & will require fresh piloting techniques.

Gyro won't make a poorly constructed or set-up plane fly better. Rather, it seems a prerequisite that the plane is fully sorted before gyro is engaged.

It's arguable that rates & expo, for example, are continuously available active assists, since they alter pilot input at the stick to the pilot's advantage.
But the arguments are of no concern.

Should be fun mucking around with it.

Anyhow, the thing passed through the HK Post Office on 9th December but hasn't yet been delivered to me.
Hmm.