F3C machines now

[trillian]

I'm so out of the loop on what's happening with F3C in the UK. Has anyone here been to the most recent comps and if so I'm just curious what sort of helis are being flown now. I assume mostly FBL and electric. What about three blade heads?

[electricsceadu]

i would ask pete christy on this
as himself or mark will be able to inform you of the current flavour in f3c

[ian694]

Hi Trillian,

This year has been big learning curve for everyone. Essentially, flybarred models are just as capable at flying the new schedule as flybarless. Most of us have used flybarless throughout this year. 2/3 bladed just comes down to personal preference. Electric is definitely the way to go nowadays though. There are pictures of our machines on the Euro Heli Series Website (www.euroheliseries.net). Hope this helps.

Kind Regards

Ian

[Mutley]

From what i can make out (as i'm just getting back in myself) Steve is still running his Sylphide E12's, Mark is running Forzas with 3 bladed heads. Stand to be corrected of course.

I think now that FBL is allowed i'd say its more open on what people will\can run and its more personal preference now - has the days of the 2K dedicated contest machines gone ????

What i do think is pretty exciting is the euro series : Euro Heli Series

Ian, What are you running ?, Fuselage ?

[ian694]

I have been running Trex 700's this year. 2 bladed heads and Black Shark fuselages and Spartan Vortex flybarless. I tried 3 bladed heads but preferred the feel of the 2 blades. Steve has the Sylphides wih 2 and 3 blades. Marks Forza has 2 blades.

Regards

Ian

[Steve]

Go to one of the summer events Sheryl and find out for yourself. ;-)

[trillian]

Go to one of the summer events Sheryl and find out for yourself. ;-)

That's easier said than done unfortunately. I have been stuck at home most weekends this year due to engineering works.

[pchristy]

A few comments:

Firstly, from a personal perspective, for competition work, electric is the only way to go. The power advantage outweighs most other considerations! For sports flying, I still prefer the convenience of i/c. No long waits for recharging, no having to lug a large and heavy generator up to the patch, the list goes on....!

Two and three-bladed heads: The Japanese say that a 3-bladed head gives better response because of the shorter period between blade sweeps. The technical term for this is "Marketing B******s"! The response rate of a rotor system is determined by its diameter, mass and speed. The number of blades plays no part in it. However, a 3-bladed head runs smoother for the same reason a 6-cylinder engine is smoother than a four. Mark has tried a 3-bladed head, but is currently sticking with 2. When I asked him why, he commented that the 3-blader had too much inertia for some aerobatics, though it was good on the autos. To be effective, a 3-blader needs lighter blades than those currently supplied, so that the inertia in the system is close to that of the current crop of two bladers. At the moment, its much higher. Steve started off using a 3-blader this year, but reverted to his two-blader for the more recent comps. I haven't had chance to ask him why yet, but what Mark said makes sense and fits with the maths!

Mark says that flybarless makes it much easier to set the machines up for contest work. He had only had two flights with his Forza before its first contest in Holland, yet he managed to be within 1% of Steve's winning score. Normally he would spend weeks trimming a flybar machine before he would be happy with it in a contest.

Finally, the Forza looks like a very good contest machine. Small, light and simple, yet surprisingly agile. I've only got the little 450 one, which I was fortunate to win in the Charmouth raffle earlier this year, but even that has made a big impression on me. Each time I fly it, I land with a huge grin on my face!

[trillian]

When I asked him why, he commented that the 3-blader had too much inertia for some aerobatics, though it was good on the autos. To be effective, a 3-blader needs lighter blades than those currently supplied, so that the inertia in the system is close to that of the current crop of two bladers. At the moment, its much higher. Steve started off using a 3-blader this year, but reverted to his two-blader for the more recent comps. I haven't had chance to ask him why yet, but what Mark said makes sense and fits with the maths!

Yeah right now we do not yet have enough choices in three blade sets. On my Triabolo I'm using the NHPs that come with it and they are 160 grams each, so the combined weight of all three blades is only slightly more than a pair of Radix FAI 710s at 230 ish grams each.

I should mention, I'm not trying to be serious about F3C flying, I just fly for fun but the Triabolo does feel like the best heli that I currently own for that style of flying although height control can be an issue when hovering in wind.

[Mutley]

Seems there's a similar discussion across the pond

The Future of F3C Heli Design? - Page 1