Aeromodelling
Model airplanes is a hobby and a sport derived from the technique of building and flying small, medium and large-sized airplanes, called model airplanes, which have been prepared to fly without a crew. In 1936 the "International Aeronautics Federation" incorporated it as a section of sports aviation, publishing an international sports code. The scientific side of this hobby includes the study of aerodynamics, mechanics, the design and project of model airplanes and their construction. While the sports part consists of making the aircraft fly in different ways, depending on the type of model aircraft.
Model airplanes are usually made to scale, either as the most exact replica of existing ones, or exclusively for model airplanes or even test designs for future real airplanes. There are also several modeling brands that produce models of commercial airplanes, which are usually static. Airlines around the world have used these types of models as a way to publicly promote themselves.
FAI Categories
The different categories into which model airplanes are subdivided are determined by the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) and are defined by a letter that in model airplanes is always "F" followed by a number and another letter to determine the different specialties within that category. Let's see what they are:
F1 Category - Free Flight
- F1A - Planners A-2
- F1B - Rubber motor 30 grams
- F1C - Compressed cylinders with piston engine
- F1D - Interior models
- F1E - Laser sailors
- F1F - Helicopter
- F1G - Models with rubber motor 10 grams
- F1H - Planners A-1
- F1J - Models with piston engine
- F1K - Models with CO2 engine
- F1L - Indoor models (EZB)
- F1M - Initiation Indoor Models
- F1N - Hand-launched Indoor Planners
- F1O - Hand-launched outdoor planners
Category F2 - Circular Flight
- F2A - Speed models
This specialty is, without a doubt, the most technological of model airplanes. In it, the laws of aerodynamics are taken to their limit, using asymmetric planes (they usually have only the inner wing and only the outer stabilizer, the wing is metallic, the propeller only has one blade, they use very high quality materials and use Unusual in other specialties (Titanium, Magnesium, etc.) the engines spin at more than 40,000 r.p.m. thanks to the use of tuned resonator exhausts and reach speeds of more than 300 km/h.
- F2B - Acrobatic models
Aerobatic models, although they have varied over time, have done so less than in other specialties, they are large surface models of both the wing and the elevator, a short tail moment that, when using the ailerons in the opposite direction to the elevators, it allows maneuvers with minimum turning radii. This allows for maneuvers such as "loopings" square and triangular, while being able to make wide turns with a constant radius. The use of "Uniflow" allows engine operation not to be influenced by fuel level. The engines are slightly oily carbureted, so that, when the model goes up, it accelerates slightly with respect to horizontal flight, and, when it descends, it also slows down slightly, with this the maneuvers are carried out at a practically constant speed, with which the effect it is much more aesthetic. This march has been the classic between 1955 and 1980, the so-called "4-2-4" on the "glow" of two times, of which he has been the "King" of aerobatic motorization the Fox 35, to such an extent that in 1974 Bob Gieseke (USA) won the World Championship with a Nobler & Fox35. This engine has been manufactured continuously from 1952 to the present, and even in recent years Fox has included a version with a ceramic jacket, much more expensive than the standard one. However, that style was not maintained towards the end of the XX century and there has been a clear two-time march with "pipas& #3. 4; and currently in 2015-2016 it is motorized electrically, as was achieved by the last World Champion of Bulgarian origin.
- F2C - Racing models
The races are the F1 of model airplanes, in the case of circular flight races three athletes fly their models in the same circle in order to complete 50 or 100 laps (The model airplane would complete 5 or 10 kilometers of flight depending on if they are classifications or the final race). Due to the limited capacity of the tank by regulations, pilots must land their models to carry out refueling and engine start operations, these tasks are carried out by their corresponding mechanics. The term in English is "Team racing", that is to say team races because it is in the synchronization of the team where the most important advantages are obtained, reaching a refueling in less than 3 seconds from the moment the mechanic touches the model until you release it. The model airplanes reach speeds close to 220 km/h, which forces the pilots to maintain a good physical condition and good reflexes. In addition, the preparation of the models, engines, propellers is quite important. There are a series of penalties for those contestants who voluntarily hinder the other competitors or fly outside the allowed height (by increasing the height, the flight diameter is reduced, so they distort the speed)
- F2D - Combat models
They are of a very different design from the rest of the model airplanes, called Combat Wings, this describes them perfectly, it is a wing with a built-in stabilizer and a support for the engine, they are attached to a string that in turn holds a paper tape, the flight is carried out in pairs, and each pilot tries to cut the tape of the opponent, scoring how many cuts he makes, more than how much tape he cuts. Due to the extreme maneuvers, both to cut and not to cut, it is very common for one or both of the participants to crash, but, as the competition is based on time, changing models is allowed.
- F2E - Combat models with diesel engine (Provisional class).
Also called slow combat, it is similar to combat, but the speed reached by the combat wings is lower, and the maneuvers that can be performed are also limited, it was prepared to improve the access of new pilots to a specialty that is it had become exceedingly difficult to begin on it. It requires the use of normal motors and commercial propellers.
- F2F - Racing models with diesel engine and profiled fusel (Provisional class).
Called Carreras 15 and Carreras 30 depending on the size of the models and their displacement, as in the case of slow combat, it allows an approach to racing without the need for a very high expense, using simpler aircraft Both build and fly. It requires the use of normal motors and commercial propellers.
Category F3 - Radio controlled flight
- F3A - Acrobatics
- F3B - Thermal planners
- F3C - Helicopters
- F3D - Pylon races
- F3F - Laser sailors
- F3G - Motorcycles
- F3H - Career planners
- F3I - Airwound Planners
- F3J - Thermal sailors
- F3M - Large scale models (e.g. 3 meters wide)
- F3P - Indoor acrobatics with Depron models
Category F4 - Models
- F4A - Free flight models
- F4B - Circular flight models
- F4C - Radiocontrol models
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- F4D - Inner free flight models with rubber engine
- F4E - Free flight models inside with CO2 or electric motor
- F4F - Free flight models inside (Peanut Formula)
- F4J - Flight models powered by gas turbine
Category F5- Models with electric motor
- F5A - Acrobatics
- F5B - Motorcycles
- F5C - Helicopters
- F5D - Pylon races
- F5E - Solar aircraft
- F5F - Electric planners (up to 10 items)
- F5J - Thermal sailors with standards similar to F3J and engine height.
Internationally outstanding pilots
- Quique Somenzini (Argentina)
- Hanno prettner (Austria)
- Christophe Paysant-Le Roux (France)
- Chip Hyde, United States
- Rodrigo Rosales (El Salvador)
- Rodrigo Andrés Rosales (El Salvador)