From: campo@bacchus.crd.ge.com (Peter Campo)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: Re: Q500
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:53:04 GMT
Organization: GE Corp. Research & Development, Schenectady, NY

Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: Re: Q500
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: GE Corp. Research & Development, Schenectady, NY
Keywords: 

In article <22862@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM> lew@4ccvw16.UUCP (Lyman Lew) writes:
>OK here it is. Quickie 500 is also known as RC Sport Pylon as descibed in
>my 1986-87 AMA Regulation Manual. I believe that Q500 falls under Class II
>or III. The AMA regulations for the aircraft is as follow:

A few details have changed since 87, but you have most of it right.  I've 
added some detail below.

>
>1. Engine limit for Class II and III is .40. The motor must be front
>rotary induction, side exhaust, and a throttle that will permit it to
>idle low enough that the airplane does not roll on grass.
>
>2. Stock or commercial mufflers are required. Muffler pressure is allowed.
>Tune pipes and pumps are not allowed.
>
>3. The airplane must have a minimum of 500 sq. in. of wing area and a 
>constant chord with a minimum thickness of 12% of the chord.
>
>4. Fuselage is box type with minimum corner radiuses of 1/4 in.
>
>5. Landing gear must be fixed with a minimum of two wheels.
>
>6. Airplane weight not to exceed 10 pounds but 4-5 pounds is the norm.
>

The minimum weight (at landing after a race, with any remaining fuel) is 
3.5 pounds.  Essentially all competitive flyers are very close to this figure. 
A 5 pound Q500 would have a noticable performance loss in the turns against 
a 3.5 pound model.

For Q500 fuel is supplied by the event organizer and is to include no more
than 15% nitromethane.  Propellors must be "stock", sanding on one side 
only for balancing purposes is allowed.

>
>The flying course can be the course used by Formula I or Quarter Midget.
>Both courses have three pylons labeled 1,2, and 3. Pylon 2 and 3 are spaced
>100 ft apart and pylon 1 is located 608 ft away from 2 and 3 for Formula 1
>and 475 ft for Quarter Midget. Minimum race lap distance is 1055 ft for 
>Quarter Midget and 1320 ft for Formula I. I believe the race is for seven
>laps. Some of speeds I've heard ranges in the 150 to 170mph. I believe
>Formula I is in the 190 range. Someone ought to calculate the kinetic
>energy of one these birds and compare it to any ordinance or small round
>munitions. I think a surprise is in store!
>

You are correct that either course can be used for Q500, but every race I have
seen uses the quarter midget course.  A race consisits of 10 laps from a standing
start.  Normally there are 4 planes per heat (race). In the event tha a pylon is 
"cut" (flown inside of) a penalty lap is imposed. In the event of 2 cuts the 
competitor is disqualified from that heat.  4,3,2 and 1 point is awarded for finishing
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in each heat.  Disqualification results in 0 points.  Usually 
between 5 and 10 rounds are flown, with the winner determined by the maximum point
total.

Straight line maximum speeds for Q500 are probably no greater than 150 mph,
for Formula 1 about 170-180. (Note that Forumula 1 has a minimum weight of
5 pounds). So these planes DO carry a lot of energy.

A few thoughts re: safety

	1). Minimum distances to pits and spectators must be observed religiously.
	2). I feel that the CD (or his designee) should be required to perform
	    a safety inspection of every plane entered in an event.  I have been
	    through many "tech inspections" (including at the Nats) but these have
	    been MOSTLY concerned with rules inforcement (mininmum wing area, etc)
	    and NOT with safety.  Currently the CD can disqualify any plane which he
	    feels is unsafe, but I think he should have to APPROVE every plane for
	    flight (the default should be NOT airworthy until carefully inspected).
	    I have NEVER seen a plane prevented from flying for safety reasons, although
	    I have seen several that *I* would have considered dangerous.  A through
	    safety inspection might reasonably include specific strenght tests (similar
	    to CL pull tests).
	3). I don't think banning particular equipment is required to conduct safe events.
	    A Nelson powered Q500, properly constructed, and competently flown, is in 
	    fact quite safe.  A poorly built plane, with an XYZ .40 doing (only) 80 mph,
	    flown in an usafe manner, can kill.
	4). The issue of whether or not Q500 is (or should be) a beginers event is 
	    seperate from the safety question.  This is in fact a perenial problem in 
	    competition (quarter midget was originally the "entry level" pylon event).
	    Restricting equipemnt to hold down costs and make the event accessible to 
	    new flyers makes sense to me.  Perhaps equally effective is to *enfore* 
	    "graduation" from the "beginners event".  I think that at contests where both
	    Q500 and advanced events (QM, FAI, Formula 1) are held, one should be allowed
	    to enter EITHER Q500 or the "advanced" events (not both). After all the pattern
	    guys don't let the FAI pattern competitors enter sportsman.

Peter Campo
campo@crd.ge.com
AMA 31608


-- 
Peter J. Campo
campo@crd.ge.com
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc