Back to SAM Old-Timer Contest Schedules and Results
The 2006 SAM 27 Electric Texaco Postal competition was open for team flying on any designated day up till the end of October. This year a re-fly was allowed should the team decied they could improve their times. Also the rules were changed from the current SAM Electric Texaco rules to open the event to a wider spectrum of models and battery chemistries.
The results are as follows.
Weather 72 degrees, calm, partial cloud
1 Dave Harding 96" Stardust Special 14 x 1500 mAh NiCd 116m 20s
2 Dave Bevan 72" Trenton Terror 7 x 2400 mAh NiCd 38m 5s
3 DicK Bartowski 72" Record Hound 7 x 1800 mAh NiMH 32m 10s
4 Al Basualdo 40' Trenton Terror 7 x 650 mAh NiMH 26m 44s
5 Mike Harris Rambler 7 x 1500 mAh NiCd 25m 15s
Team score (top three) = 3hr 6m 35s
75 degrees, cloudless, wind increased to 15 mph
1 Andrew Tickle 350 sq in EE Wren 2 x 1050 mAh LiPo 69m 56s
2 Dick Irwin 470 sq in Airborn 7 x 1500 mAh NiCd 60m 36s
3 Nick Kelez 470 sq in Airborn 7 x 1000 mAh NiCd 36m 54s
4 Loren Kramer 650 sq in Playboy 7 x 1500 mAh NiCd 32m 33s
Team score (top three) = 2hr 47m 26s
This year SAM 27 decided to practice flying as a team to make thermal hunting more efficient. Thermal flyers typically fly well separated. In ground tests we were unable to find any interference from close proximity transmitters. So we got into a (UK style) huddle to make communication easier while flying.
Because of the high wind we (SAM 27) decided to schedule a refly, as allowed by the 2006 rules. The Northern California weather on the refly day was even worse than before. We averaged about 40 minutes each, all landing within minutes of each other. We were joined for the refly by two offsite team members: Gianfranco Lusso (Gianco) in Switzerland, and Mike Kilmer in Northern Louisiana. Gianco flew an Italian KL61, and made 62m 12s while recovering from pneumonia. Mike flew an Airborn for 97m 15s but would not submit the result for the postal contest because his timer never showed up to make it official. So our original time was unbeaten. Andrew Tickle
General Banter overheard during the Contest - "This is more akin to slope soaring than thermal hunting!" and "Who picked this day? The only thermals around here are being restricted by our trouser belts!"
1 Stan Clifton - 25m 45s
2 Dave Whitcombe - 22m 37s
3 Lou Amadio - 19m 24s
4 Geoff Burling - 15m 18s
Team score (top three) = 1hr 7m 46s
Looking forward to improved results next year - shouldn't be too hard. Geoff Burling
Model |
Pilot |
Kit, etc |
Span |
Area |
Dry Model Wt |
Batt Wt |
Ballast |
AUW |
Load |
Motor |
B/less |
G/box |
Prop |
Cells |
. | . | . | in^2 |
Oz |
Oz |
Oz |
Oz |
oz/ft2 |
. | . | . | . | . | |
66% Lanzo Bomber | Lou Amadio | Scratch built | 63" |
590 |
29 |
5.7 |
0 |
34.7 |
8.5 |
Hyp 3013-14 | yes | no | 10x7 | 7xGP1100 NiMH |
105% Playboy | Geoff Burling | Scratch built | 82" |
934 |
42 |
12.1 |
2 |
56.1 |
8.6 |
Elec Model T19 | yes | no | 13x6.5 | 10xCP1300 NICAD |
66% Record Breaker | David Witcombe | Scratch built | 62" |
589 |
32 |
3 |
0 |
35 |
8.6 |
AXI 2820-10 | yes | no | 10x7 | 10xGP1100 NiMH |
66% Lanzo Bomber | Stan Clifton | Scratch built | 63" |
590 |
27 |
5.7 |
0 |
32.7 |
8 |
Hyp 3013-14 | yes | no | 10x7 | 7xGP1100 NiMH |
Congratulations to SAM 76, The Propstoppers.
According to the E-Tex Postal rules the winners; the Propstoppers, will run the event for 2007. Watch this space for the announcement.
Andrew Tickle, SAM 27 CD.