Hi Dennis T,
I was not at the contest this year because my skin is too thin. But because Bob Hunt gives me a huge $$$$ budget for my small Electric column in PAMPA SN I was able to hire three excellent, but very expensive, reporters to give me photos and a report on this contest! The answers I give you are with the help of my outstanding reporting staff:
At the top: E = Wet in the windAs Paul said, the air was the same for all. I have seen Paul and Dave fly back to back before. Dave's wet system is very very close to a perfect stunt run every time. The same can be said for Paul's electric system. At this "top of the mountain" level of CLPA I don't think our E power has any large performance advantage over one of Randy's beautiful PA/Pipe wet setups in the hands of an expert like Dave. Both of these power systems seem to handle the wind equally well in the hands of these top figure drawing artists. Since Paul has flown both systems at the top, it would be interesting to hear if there is much difference to him between the two systems in the wind.
PTG tells me that his new E plane is the best plane he has ever flown and that it handled the wind quite well. He is very close to the top of the mountain, so he is a good example of someone who could tell any difference between the two systems. He, like Paul, has stated that the repeatability and reliability are the largest advantages to them in CLPA. On paper it looks like the E system would have a slight advantage in the wind because it can hold the RPM even in a strong gust up high. BUT, Dave's very high power to weight ratio PA wet system looks like it is always loafing along with no sags, just like the E systems do.
The top wet flyers have really mastered their power systems and they seldom have any big problems. But I feel that the real advantage of E power in the wind comes in the A,I,B classes. Here there is still a variance from flight to flight with wet systems, sometimes a BIG difference. As we all know, this "less than good engine run" problem can be deadly in the wind. I think this is where E power does often have a performance advantage because you always have a perfect stunt run just when you need it most, up high in the wind. ;-)
RE: Cheap batteriesPTG told me he wanted to experiment with different battery sizes so he used cheap batteries so he could buy many different sizes and weights. He gets about 20 cycles from each before they drop off in power and can't be used in CLPA anymore. He has found that he will have to go up a little in mAh (and weight) to have enough overhead and long life for his system. His plane is very light (it is important to note that both Paul and Phil fill their wings and fuse with Helium, this is why their planes are lighter than the rest of us can build ;-), and he uses a thin, but good lift, airfoil and a low plate and parasitic drag airframe, and very short flight time setting. This results in less energy required to complete the mission. Phil is a talented designer and builder, it would be very difficult for us mere mortals to duplicate his magic creations!
Regards,