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Taboo XL home Construction notes Construction tips Ordering info |
1. Model Setup
Control System
o minimize slop in the servos (use quality servos - JR241, MX-50)
o use small servo arms and max servo throws - minimize the effect
of the servo play
o pull-pull lines - check and adjust often
o tape hinges - check often and repair if necessary
o try to acheive a zero slop control system - a DLG at high speed
is very sensitive to control play and trim changes!
o avoid servos with temperature drift! can be disastrous during a
contest
Structural Integrity
o check wing attachment bolt often
o check control rods/clevises/etc. often
o check fin and stab attachment points often
Ballast
o every thermal glider needs ballast in windy weather!
o install a ballast system if your plane does not have it
o test your glider with full ballast in strong winds BEFORE
going to a contest
2. Launch
o set the CG and elevator trim so that the model does not pull
up excessively at high speed
o always launch into the wind!
o stance - glider on the downwind side
o wind up - lower body rotates first, arm with the glider slightly
behind the lower body
o release - the pushing leg well planted on the ground, lower body
almost stops rotation, upper body and throwing arm catch up with
the lower body, the body torso acts as a torque spring, minimum
wrist motion
o launch presets - elevator up 3-5deg, rudder - neutral or outside
10-15deg, if using a gyro - no rudder preset needed
o glider must rotate to near vertical trajectory very soon after
the release
o minimal control inputs during the climb out!
o push over when the glider speed is slightly higher than the
normal level speed
o adjust the trajectory depending on the wind - turn off the
elevator launch preset sooner to get a shallower angle
o launching into the thermal behind or on the side of you - launch
into the wind with a slight bank angle, do a very lazy half turn
while climbing, minimal control inputs
3. Contest Flying
o read and understand the task before the round is started! (total
time task, limited throws task, extra time in the window (4x2 in
a 10min window versus 5x2)
o for total time tasks (with or without penalty):
o launch immediately
o do not spend any time on the ground (unless you realize
that you will use all throws before the end of the round)
o do not land off field! it is better to cut the flight short
and come back to the field than lose all of that flight
time
o for limited throws tasks:
o watch other competitors closely
o watch ground signs (wind shifts)
o launch when any sign of lift is observed (competitor's
plane or wind shift indicate a thermal)
o be aware of the window time - do not spend too much time on
the ground just to make 2-3 short flights at the end of the
window!
o do not over-fly your target time, especially in a total time task
or full window task (5x2 in a 10min window) - land as close as
possible to the target time, over-flying every flight by 10sec
immediately takes 40-50sec off your maximum achievable score
o launch high! do not forget to concentrate on the launch technique
and using all of your power for launches during a contest round -
do not let excitement and rush of the competition kill your
launch
o if you know that you can't launch well while rushing, take 2-4
sec of extra time to get that perfect launch, it may give you
much more flight time than those 2-4 seconds lost between the
flights
o try to be ahead of the task - if you know you can easily finish
the current flight task, go upwind and scope the air that is
coming towards you, find the thermal that you can use on the next
flight
o if you can't scope the air yourself pay careful attention to
other airplanes in the air before you come in for landing and
choose your direction for the next flight before you launch
o learn to use ballast efficiently and do not hesitate to use it
during a contest as soon as it gets windy; landing out of field
due to the strong wind will cost you much more than a lost
thermal; if it is windy - ballast is your best friend
4. Practicing
o always use a stop watch to time all your flights - you can't
improve your skills if you don't measure your performance
o fly contest tasks if at all possible - find a helper (wife or
flying buddy) and simulate a full blown contest environment -
working time, score sheet, total points
o get a talking timer from Radio Shack, attach it to your Tx,
always use it during your practice sessions to simulate a working
window
o practice in bad weather days as well as in good ones - if the
wind is strong or the clouds covered the sky and there is no lift
- it is a perfect practice day (a good chance to test your plane
with full ballast, or improve your launch technique in zero-lift
and zero-wind conditions)
o suggested practice tasks (courtesy of Joe Wurts):
o maximum number of 10 second (15, 20) flights within 4 min
(6, 8) window, launches must be higher than 50 ft - practice
landing approach timing and quick turnaround and re-launch
o maximum number of thermals "bagged" within a 10min window
(to "bag" a thermal, the glider must make a full 360 deg turn
while climbing or 3 turns without any loss of altitude)
o max flight time is 1 min (2 min), find a thermal within a 1
min flight, land and re-launch into the same thermal -
count the max number of times you can re-launch into a
previously found thermal; if you can't re-launch into the
same thermal for the second time, you must find a new one
during the 1min flight (after making a full climbing turn
in the previously found thermal)
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