2007 f5j overview seattle area soaring society. topics what is f5j? current activities...
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2007 F5J Overview2007 F5J Overview
Seattle Area Soaring SocietySeattle Area Soaring Society
TopicsTopics
What is F5J?What is F5J? Current activitiesCurrent activities
– WorldwideWorldwide– NorthwestNorthwest
CategoriesCategories– Speed 400Speed 400– Outrunner Class (“Albuquerque” Rules)Outrunner Class (“Albuquerque” Rules)– 7 Cell7 Cell– Unlimited Unlimited
CompetitionsCompetitions
What is F5J?What is F5J?
Broad category for thermal duration, Broad category for thermal duration, electric powered sailplanes electric powered sailplanes
Not yet an official FAI categoryNot yet an official FAI category Different classes range from simple, Different classes range from simple,
inexpensive setups to state-of-the-art inexpensive setups to state-of-the-art very high performance planesvery high performance planes
Competitions are great fun and much Competitions are great fun and much simpler to run than Thermal Durationsimpler to run than Thermal Duration– No winchesNo winches– Man-on-man is easy to coordinateMan-on-man is easy to coordinate
F5J EvolutionF5J Evolution
New technologies in electric RC are benefiting F5JNew technologies in electric RC are benefiting F5J– Brushless motorsBrushless motors– Lipoly cellsLipoly cells
BenefitsBenefits– Lighter e.g. equivalent outrunner class plane is Lighter e.g. equivalent outrunner class plane is 5oz 5oz
lighterlighter than a speed 400 plane than a speed 400 plane– Much simpler maintenanceMuch simpler maintenance– More accessible for beginnersMore accessible for beginners– No more expensive than older setupsNo more expensive than older setups
F5J ActivitiesF5J Activities
Still relatively casual in the USStill relatively casual in the US ““Big” CompetitionsBig” Competitions
– NatsNats– Alberquerue F5J WCAlberquerue F5J WC
InternetInternet– x5J on RCGroupsx5J on RCGroups
LocalLocal– SASS 2007 F5J SeasonSASS 2007 F5J Season– SRAC Duration ContestsSRAC Duration Contests
F5J ClassesF5J Classes
Speed 400Speed 400 Outrunner (“Albuquerque” Rules)Outrunner (“Albuquerque” Rules) 7 cell (Limited Rules)7 cell (Limited Rules) UnlimitedUnlimited
F5J – Typical Speed 400 and F5J – Typical Speed 400 and Outrunner PlanesOutrunner Planes
F5J – “Out-of-the-Box” ideas for F5J – “Out-of-the-Box” ideas for Speed 400 /Outrunner planesSpeed 400 /Outrunner planes
F5J – Speed 400F5J – Speed 400
Original inexpensive setup and still popular todayOriginal inexpensive setup and still popular today– However, Outrunner class is rapidly taking overHowever, Outrunner class is rapidly taking over– In one big contest last year, Outrunner entrants In one big contest last year, Outrunner entrants
outnumbered Speed 400 2.5:1 even though Outrunner outnumbered Speed 400 2.5:1 even though Outrunner had only been introduced the year beforehad only been introduced the year before
Speed 400 can motorSpeed 400 can motor– Gearbox allowedGearbox allowed
7 or 8 cell Nicad or Nimh cells7 or 8 cell Nicad or Nimh cells
Goal of this design was a 50% better climb rate using Goal of this design was a 50% better climb rate using simpler, more efficient technology that is no more simpler, more efficient technology that is no more expensive expensive
Same planes as Speed 400Same planes as Speed 400 Inexpensive setupInexpensive setup
– Simple brushless outrunner motor with long life (many seasons)Simple brushless outrunner motor with long life (many seasons) 28mm diameter and 16mm length28mm diameter and 16mm length Hacker A20-20L is by far the most popular at the momentHacker A20-20L is by far the most popular at the moment EFlight xxx is also a good choice (Galaxy has these)EFlight xxx is also a good choice (Galaxy has these)
– No gearboxNo gearbox– Lipo batteriesLipo batteries
2s (2 cells in series) pack limit2s (2 cells in series) pack limit Twice the capacity of typical Speed 400 packsTwice the capacity of typical Speed 400 packs No need to recharge to optimize performanceNo need to recharge to optimize performance
– Overall setup is ~5 oz lighter than a Speed 400Overall setup is ~5 oz lighter than a Speed 400
F5J – Outrunner ClassF5J – Outrunner Class
F5J – Outrunner ClassF5J – Outrunner Class
Inexpensive yet high performance setup:Inexpensive yet high performance setup:
Cost Comparison for Speed 400 and Outrunner Class Setups
Speed 400 Outrunner
Motor 30$ Limited life - 3 Motors 105$ Hacker A20-20L including speed controller
Gearbox 60$ Cosmotech -$ Speed Controller 40$ -$
Batteries 24$ 8 cell 1100 50$
2100 mAhr pack (twice the capacity of the Speed 400 pack)
Total 154$ 155$
F5J – 7 CellF5J – 7 Cell
Sometimes being referred to as “Limited”Sometimes being referred to as “Limited” MANY competitions now allowing either 7 MANY competitions now allowing either 7
Nicads/NiMh or 2 Lipol CellsNicads/NiMh or 2 Lipol Cells No airframe limitations so a wide range of planes No airframe limitations so a wide range of planes
can compete effectively. Most common is large can compete effectively. Most common is large floaters e.g. AVAefloaters e.g. AVAe
F5J UnlimitedF5J Unlimited The ultimate in airframe and power plant The ultimate in airframe and power plant
technology. No limits on airframe or power plant! technology. No limits on airframe or power plant! Arc welders with wings …Arc welders with wings …
Top contenders draw >>100 Amps and climb Top contenders draw >>100 Amps and climb vertically and almost a mile/minutevertically and almost a mile/minute
Typical planes are e-converted unlimited winch-Typical planes are e-converted unlimited winch-launch planes such as Pikes, Graphites, etc.launch planes such as Pikes, Graphites, etc.
F5J Competition FormatF5J Competition Format
Very similar to winch-launched competitionsVery similar to winch-launched competitions Man-on-Man makes this a lot of funMan-on-Man makes this a lot of fun Launch phaseLaunch phase
– Fixed or pilot-determined motor run timeFixed or pilot-determined motor run time– Pilot-determined makes for more exciting competitionPilot-determined makes for more exciting competition
Duration TaskDuration Task– 5, 7, 10 minutes just like TD5, 7, 10 minutes just like TD
Landing TaskLanding Task– Land at 10:00 for example on the spotLand at 10:00 for example on the spot– Just like TD (except everyone is landing at the same Just like TD (except everyone is landing at the same
time!)time!)
F5J SummaryF5J Summary
Rapidly growing new category with Rapidly growing new category with emphasis on funemphasis on fun– Very accessible to first-time competition/F5J Very accessible to first-time competition/F5J
pilotspilots Highly competitive planes not much more Highly competitive planes not much more
expensive than winch-launched sailplanesexpensive than winch-launched sailplanes SASS ‘07 F5J Season will be a blastSASS ‘07 F5J Season will be a blast Get your planes ready!!Get your planes ready!! Dave and Trevor are ready to helpDave and Trevor are ready to help