Category: news
26 06 10 - 22:15
F5J goes FAI
I'm sure that you already know that a working group was formed at the last FAI meeting in April with the task to put together worldwide F5J rules, acceptable for all. Since I already invested some time into transforming our Eurocup rules discussion and modification into a process, I was appointed to represent a voice of Slovenia in the working group.Since the working group hasn't yet produced any definite agreements, there's nothing to show officialy. Instead, let me report on one of the possible compromises we're likely to end up with.
As you know, there are two major directions in which F5J is developing: one is component limited (to limit the power available) and the other is height limited (where the starting height is defined). Each group has good arguments for their direction and against the other direction, but I think these are easy to overcome if only there's some political will to actually do it. That's why I suggested a compromise where the height would be defined not as a starting height but as an upper limit and the pilot would still have the freedom to start his flight at a lower height, therefore having the possibility to get more seconds for his flight.
This of course led to the discussion about rate of climb and how to limit that. We agreed that we'll try to use the existing equipment already in the models, the height limiter. With some software upgrades it will be possible to use it also as a rate of climb limiter - you climb too fast, your motor turns off. I spent last two days for putting together appropriate motor-gearbox-prop-battery combo for one of my models that would enable me to test these software features when they become available. I'm in contact with the guy behind RC electronics who develops the most popular altimeters and height limiters around here and I expect we'll have something ready to show for event in Holič in two weeks. See you in Holič!