Canadian endurance record

[Paul Taylor]

I stumbled across this video. Kind of cool.

https://youtu.be/K6ONEgv0aig?feature=shared

[John Rist]

That's cool.  The endurance of the pilot is also amazing.   

[Steve Helmick]

Very cool! Things that surprised me were the use of standard issue 25% nitro fuel. I would be using lower nitro content and adding about 6 oz of Coleman fuel per gallon of glow fuel to extend range.  Steve

[Dan McEntee]

Very cool! Things that surprised me were the use of standard issue 25% nitro fuel. I would be using lower nitro content and adding about 6 oz of Coleman fuel per gallon of glow fuel to extend range.  Steve

  Yeah, after watching the video I thought of several things to do that would increase the fuel economy. I was surprised that an R/C throttle was allowed. Switching to a diesel and a few other tricks could easily double their results. Their tank system worked well. I remember reading a couple of articles by Maynard Hill on his endurance and distance experiences, and the simple fuel regulator he designed is something to look at also. You could build one big tank, have that feed a smaller tank through his regulator and that would eliminate any potential problems of multiple tanks. Using an office chair in the center of the circle like it has been discussed is another consideration. If R/C throttle is allowed, I think it should be under control of the pilot, not remotely operated by another person. It simplifies things but still adds to the challenge.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Brett Buck]

WAM used to have both endurance and economy events, and further subdivided by engine classes and skill class. Endurance had 12 separate trophies awarded, Economy 12, etc, or at least as well as I can remember. And they did this at *every contest*, more-or-less every other week during the summer.

   Timing these events was torturous, of course, and with typical flights times of several hours, it took an amazing amount of space (since every other event in the rule book had to go, too). A typical B Economy plane was a Flite Streak with a McCoy 29 (red-head or blue-head) rigged with a TD 049 or Holland Hornet venturi, and and a 2 foot long 1/4" ID muffler extension.

   They also had "cargo", think a holland hornet with maybe a 80" span 20:1 aspect ratio wing lifting maybe 10 lbs.

   These type of events were the first to fall off or get dropped out when the site didn't permit it (which they apologized for my calling it a "limited" contest), and as events were dropped or not held, Stunt, Carrier, Sport Race , and Balloon Bust were the last holdouts.

      Brett

[Paul Taylor]

WAM used to have both endurance and economy events, and further subdivided by engine classes and skill class. Endurance had 12 separate trophies awarded, Economy 12, etc, or at least as well as I can remember. And they did this at *every contest*, more-or-less every other week during the summer.

   Timing these events was torturous, of course, and with typical flights times of several hours, it took an amazing amount of space (since every other event in the rule book had to go, too). A typical B Economy plane was a Flite Streak with a McCoy 29 (red-head or blue-head) rigged with a TD 049 or Holland Hornet venturi, and and a 2 foot long 1/4" ID muffler extension.

   They also had "cargo", think a holland hornet with maybe a 80" span 20:1 aspect ratio wing lifting maybe 10 lbs.

   These type of events were the first to fall off or get dropped out when the site didn't permit it (which they apologized for my calling it a "limited" contest), and as events were dropped or not held, Stunt, Carrier, Sport Race , and Balloon Bust were the last holdouts.

      Brett

Any got a photo of one of those Flite Streaks??

Must have sounded cool. 😎

[Paul Smith]

Doug's record-setting device included a stock OS Max LA15 with BOTH the stock RC throttle and an RC needle valve.  The needle valve had a small pinion gear.  The continuous-rotation servo had a big ring gear.  So in addition to throttling the engine, Doug could also lean the mixture as much as he dared. 

Canadian endurance rules are like the ancient AMA Rules that allowed anything you could fly up to four pounds.  This lead to flights that lasted throughout the hours of daylight.

AMA Rules were reduced to four ounces of fuel and later to one ounce of fuel. 

[Brett Buck]

Doug's record-setting device included a stock OS Max LA15 with BOTH the stock RC throttle and an RC needle valve.  The needle valve had a small pinion gear.  The continuous-rotation servo had a big ring gear.  So in addition to throttling the engine, Doug could also lean the mixture as much as he dared. 

Canadian endurance rules are like the ancient AMA Rules that allowed anything you could fly up to four pounds.  This lead to flights that lasted throughout the hours of daylight.

AMA Rules were reduced to four ounces of fuel and later to one ounce of fuel.

    I think that is the same story with WAM Economy, I *think* that they limited it from 1-4 ounces depending on the engine class, but I couldn't swear to it. Otherwise it was just completely nuts.

      Brett

[Brett Buck]

Any got a photo of one of those Flite Streaks??

Must have sounded cool. 😎

  No, I do not. I somehow wound up with a McCoy 29 Blue Head, a Tatone muffler, and, the wing from a Flite Streak from Bill Fitzergald's basement, as parts from an old WAM economy plane but it's not particularly photogenic.

      Brett

[realSteveSmith]

To those wondering about the choice of fuel, engine, etc....  here's a video that details some of the thoughts and testing that went into the decisions these guys made.  I believe this video was produced after the record in 2016 but there is some mention of work done prior to the 2016 record attempt.

https://youtu.be/tF-IFMIXcco?si=cUHQvSPBXd_zAI3s

It's also worth noting that Doug Blackmore and Len Bourel reset this record (by over an hour) the following year.  Video of that adventure below.

https://youtu.be/_p0XPvo0WT4?si=Qqk_edWWUKpRLL-3

[Motorman]

A 4 Lb. limit with no tank size restriction? I could fly for days with those rules. The old AMA record was about the same and we had to use a 4oz tank.

MM

[Paul Smith]

When the rules changed I set an AMA record of 28 minutes on 3.5 ounces of fuel.

That record was soon broken by somebody who worked hard at running a diesel over lean for a much longer time. 

As I recall, one limiting factor was the minimum line size of .018" x 60' which effectively disallowed very low power settings.

[Motorman]

If i recall correctly, you can now use .014" solids 52'6" radius. One ounce tank of course and minimum .09 engine.

Plane I flew back in 2011 in a rainy/breezy thunder storm fearing for my life. Seen here configured for grass field take off. 

MM

[spare_parts]

I'm not sure what to make of the slowflyer prop on the 09. Reed conversion also?

[Motorman]

From the APC site:  Slow Flyer (SF) Propellers
Maximum RPM=65,000/prop diameter (inches)

9" prop = 7,222 rpm max, so no problem.

MM

[spare_parts]

Does AMA run 332 at the nats?

[Motorman]

There is a provision in the rule book where you can make an attempt at any sanctioned contest with prior permission from the CD. Of course you have to be ready to prove your tank and engine size and have timers that understand the rules. From what I've heard, it would be too windy at the nats.

MM