RC Model Red Bull Type Race

[tim]

We have begun to look into having a Red Bull Style Air Race for model rc planes in Indianapolis, the world home for racing. Nothing definite yet. It will be like the full scale red bull type races. The course will have three double pylons(Air Gates) that will be flown thru knife edge(may be changed) with one, to be determined, aerobatic manuver flown between each of the double pylons. "Laps" will be timed. There will probably be two classes. 0" to 89" wing span and 90" to unlimited wingspan. Details still being discussed. Smoke will be mandatory.
We are going to test the pylons we are thinking of using to test for airplane reaction to contact with them this year hopefully. We have one site that would be perfect and is right next to one of Indys major race tracks with tons of room for camping, etc.
What do you guys think? Sound cool? Would you participate? Any suggestions or thoughts welcome.

[why_fly_high]

Sounds like fun! I always thought this was perfect for indoor racing. You could stand in the middle and easily see the whole course.

Good Luck!

Dan

[jnjacksn]

I've always wanted to try this. I don't think I have the depth perception down well enough to pull it off though! Good luck, It would still be great to watch.

[zivbit]

Hi Tim,

We - Adrian, Din and myself - have done this race demo using 3 40% planes in the ARAVA AIrshow in Israel.
We have used air-filled redbull cones aligned to create a corridor in which the planes rushed through.
We have used 2 40% SD Yaks, and 1 40% SD Extra260.

It was a blast! a true crowd pleaser.

Few things:
1. it is a lot dificult than you may think. passing through the cones with a plane does not give you the path a pilot see when flying inside the plane..

2. Even a straight through path is not so easy and dangerous to the plane

3. Make at least 10 meter or more gap between 2 cones so you can pass through safely.

4. PRACTICE a lot with a small cheaper plane before you go in with a 40%

Best of luck - its lots of fun.
Isn't it Adrian?

Cheers,

Ziv

[yakwrecker]

I wanted to try this too. Starting with foamies indoors, then maybe 50cc outdoors then a full on 40% jam. I think it would be awsome.

[tim]

thanks for the info Ziv. we know its going to be a lot of detailed work to pull this off, if we can. we have discussed how the air gates should be positioned, but you are correct about actually testing with disposable planes(is there such a thing?). even if we figure out the best possible locations and get all the details sorted, this competition will not be for the squeemish.
However, if done properly i think it could be huge. great not just for the rc crowd, but for the public as well.

[ifly3d]

I think that will be fun. I got just the plane hanging in my shop.

[Tired Old Man]

Have two classes. One for expert/advanced flyers and one for novice/intermediates. Name the whole thing The Scale Red Bull Crashorama

Funnin' aside, the idea sounds like a lot of fun.

[videocruzer]

very cool
I have wanted to do this the very first time i saw the full scale races.
I started experimenting with video gear on my planes.
the live video was very stable and clear on the eletric foam planes but on the nitro I am having to come up with a much better way to isolate the vibration from the camera gear.
I have a micro video switcher onboard that lets me switch the 2 cameras from the transmitter. I have one more component to add to the system and thats a gps overlay device. it will give me speed, alttiude,heading, even way points to fly to overlaid on the live video from my plane.
the glasses have been modified and has a 640x480 screen thats just over a 1/2" square mounted in the sunglasses.
there is commercial products $500(320x200) up to $7000. for 7 grand you get OLED (Organic light emitting diode) transparent micro srceen that has your data (video) overlaid infront of one eye.
I am also working on a live wireless video server that would be online (onsite)so any wireless ip device could view the realtime video.

[eagle1]

I have two "disposable" planes to use for such adventures but no engines, would need speed as well as aerobatics, passing the gates sounds like it would be a booger, maybe if you were in a tower of some sort then the landings would be the culprite

[RCER123]

This is pretty cool! Love the cameras mounted of the sundowner! Be a bit tricky don't ya think!

[videocruzer]

always something new to learn in rc
when you focus on the plane with both your eyes you still see a faint image of whats on the sreen (kind of in the back of your mind). but if you focus on the screen in the glasses you mind only sees what the camera sees. its very strange. I have only done it once.
I am going to be moving the camera gear back over to my epp wings to see what more time with the glasses does.