I'm sorry the formating of this spreadsheet does not look straight here (my "transporter" machine needs some work, I'll get SCOTTY to look at it ;-) but I think it is still readable? l hope it gives some idea of line length vs lap time vs plane speed.
If 5 sec lap times feel too fast may I suggest that you borrow an 80 mph combat plane and fly the pattern. You will be doing a 3.4 lap time. When you go back to your 5.0 sec lap time with your stunt plane on longer lines it will seem very sloooooow! Or you could ask Phil or Howard if you can fly one of their AMA combat ships at 2.3 sec lap times! ...... I think they both could still fly the pattern at these speeds, but I know I couldn't! ..... 80 mph combat is fast enough for me now!
When we were kids flying combat together at a contest, Phil would have a soft drink in one hand, be flirting with a cute girl in the crowd, asking if you enjoyed the nice WX and a few seconds into the match you would see your string and streamer floating down to the ground and Phil would just keep smiling .... and yes he would usually get the girl too! (we called them "combat groupies" back then.)
I had the pleasure to fly with Paul, Dave, Phil, Brett and Howard at the GS champs a few weeks ago. Watching these guys fly makes you realize how beautiful the pattern can look when it is flown very close to perfection. ...... It is like watching a talented artist using a beautiful paint brush to paint perfect figures against a brilliant blue sky!
Paul uses MAX lines (to get the e to e + handle + 1/2 wing span to = the 70' total length max allowed under our rules.) and his lap times are at 5.2 sec. The others seem to be very close to Paul's stats. Paul and Dave are both World Champions and I think they have 16 National Championships between them. My guess is that they all have tried more than a few line lengths, speeds, etc., and that they have found the max lines, relatively moderate/fast speeds, HIGH POWER systems to be a good choice. ...... Phil still flys beautiful patterns with less power, but then his planes are filled with helium and that helps!
As seen in the chart below I plan to copy these top pilots with my new P-47, and I fly my P-40 at a little faster lap times but shorter lines, but with a lot of POWER. I feel you can never have too many electrons running around in circles, the more the better (it's like adding more cubic inches to our cars, in America you can never have too many! ;-)
BTW: I guessed at the "A" speed MPH and line length, I think this is what they do? But this still gives us a good idea of what really FAST lap times can be like.
The speeds listed below gives us a good idea of how fast we are really flying. I think in the past some people have computed our speeds using only the eye to eye line length, this gives us an incorrect slower #. .... IMHO: The higher speeds on longer lines that the top flyer's use gives us much more lift (goes up exponentially with speed), higher g force everywhere, more speed left over at the top of the circle, extra penetration through turbulence and the longer lines still makes the pattern look relatively slow and smooth. .... But your milage may vary.
PLANE E to e arm+ r C in feet lap sec MPH
P-47 ECL 67 5 72 452.16 5 61.7
P-40 ECL AXI 2826-10 64 5 69 433.32 5 59.1
P-40 ECL AXI 2826-10 62 5 67 420.76 5 57.4
Paul Walker ECL 67 5 72 452.16 5.2 59.3
COMBAT 80 MPH 60 4 64 401.92 3.4 80.6
COMBAT AMA 120 MPH 60 4 64 401.92 2.3 119.1
AMA A SPEED 60 2 62 389.36 1.3 204.2