How much time...

[Phil Coopy]

Sounds like a dumb question, but I am graduating from beginner stunt to the full sequence, so about how much runtime should I expect will be required?

Phil

[Trostle]

From engine start to completion of the full AMA pattern, assuming typical lap times of 5 seconds plus or minus a couple of tenths, no extended ground time before release of the model and no extra laps beyond the required minimum two laps between maneuvers, the pattern is completed in something around 6 minutes.  Faster lap times will result in pattern completion in less than 6 minutes. 

There could be a case argued to adopt the 7 minute limit of the FAI rules.  It would save time to run the contest and require less time for the judges to work.

Keith Trostle

[Greg L Bahrman]

You have to get it all done in 8 minutes. Hand signal the judge and he starts his stop watch. Start your motor do the pattern and land. when the plane stops moving the judge will stop his watch. Anything under 8 minutes is good, over eight minutes and you lose your pattern points etc. and basically your out of the competition.

[Phil Coopy]

Thanks guys,  my concern is tank size.  Right now I'm running out after 5.5 minutes/tank.

Phil

[Bill Little]

I like to time mine for no more than 6:30.  If you're running 5:30, you need another 30-45-60 seconds.

If you're getting over 7 minutes "RUN" time, you *might* be close when it comes to contest time.  We tend to take longer getting the engine started and such in the beginning.  Maybe not, but it sems to be normal with nerves and apprehension...........

[Bill Hodges]

Phil:

I time the engine run on all my flights and I shoot for about 6:30 run time when flying the full pattern.  That gives me about 6:55 total time and that is comfortable for me. 

Bill Hodges
50 days till retirement!!!! 

[rob biddle]

  Hi Phil,
I wasn't too concerned about the total run time when I started learning the full pattern. Just more concerned about having the plane in a "retrieveable" position when I knew the engine was about to quit.

A stop watch can be a mans best friend when learning the pattern.

The main focus for me was to learn all of the manouvres one at a time until I could fly the whole pattern.

I put all of the stunts together in sequence with all of the level flight laps every flight right up until I learnt the clover, by which stage I could fly the pattern and the proper order of things was then second nature to me.

I just need to get good at it!

After I could complete the pattern in sequence I concentrated on the total elapsed time of the engine run.

When I am sport flying with the local blokes we try to load as much fuel on board as possible. It gives you more air time over the course of the day as lots of coffee drinking and general BS get in the road of the serious business of flying!
 Cheers, Rob.

[Phil Coopy]

Thanks guys,  I'm gonna need a bigger tank.

Phil

[Jim Morris]

Hi Phil, for a general rule of thumb, I like about 10 laps after the clover leaf. This will allow a little room for different weather conditions. Always start out with too much fuel and fine tune it after you get your engine set up the way you want it. This will save the loss of fuel at a very bad time.

[Bill Little]

Thanks guys,  I'm gonna need a bigger tank.

Phil

Hi Phil,

I forgot to ask, what size tank do you have, and what engine?

[Ward Van Duzer]

This assumes (theres that word again!) the full PAMPA pattern. OTS takes less of course! 

Ward-O

[Bill Little]

This assumes (theres that word again!) the full PAMPA pattern. OTS takes less of course! 

Ward-O

Yes, Ward, Phil stated that,  "I am graduating from beginner stunt to the full sequence". 

I take that to mean the full "PAMPA" pattern.