Mittwoch, 28. Oktober 2009

Markus is back from China











We met Markus and Michi in Rheidt. Here he shows us the motor he used from 1845 until 1846. We had a good nice weekend together with all our friends in F5D.

A Rookie in Rhiedt (englisch Version)

F5D 3. Competition German Championships in Rheidt 2009

For the last time this year F5D Pilots from all over Europe gathered in Germany to compete in a pylon race. This time the airfield wasn’t that far away, so I set off on Saturday morning. (Not my time of day…). Before sunrise I did have doubts. Why was I doing this? Some strong coffee and my friend Frank got me back on track.

A cold and windy day greeted us as we got out of the car that morning at the Rheidt airfield. I did have a look at the weather forecast so I brought the right clothes. A good idea as this day would not get any warmer. I saw many familiar faces and the preparations were already underway.
After a lot more coffee I got registered. The competition got started and the first group was already off before I opened the RC box. That’s what I call organised. Well, the competition, not me…
Jens was calling Jörg in group four and proved to us that you don’t need a megaphone to be heard all across the field. I would definitely not be having any trouble hearing him, which was comforting.

I was getting a raised pulse before the start of my run. I couldn’t use “Newbie” as an excuse anymore because I wasn’t, but then again I wasn’t feeling new anymore. After a cut at Pylon 2 and a respectable time I was getting the hang of it and was getting better. This was rudely interrupted by rain so we had a break.

What I find confusing is when the Marshalls call a flying height safety in one run, and your caller screams „lower, lower“ in the next to avoid a mid-air. There was only one mid-air this time and again I wasn’t watching…

The Catering provided for sandwiches, coffee, salad and BBQ. The guys from Switzerland had a great idea an brought a fondue so everyone could dip some bread into liquid cheese.
Five Pilots from the British Empire also joined in the competition, and they were having a great time. We got along quite well and I was able to help out with some of the translation issues.
The planes were checked to confirm that they were according to the rules, but that wasn’t a problem once the scale was known to measure 16g under.

At the end of the day we all got together in the “Alte Post” for dinner. We had a great time, lots of food and drink. The translation of the menu didn’t produce exact results but the food that did reach the Table was delicious too.

The daylight saving time got me an extra hour of sleep the I really needed.
The next day was a warm and sunny autumn day and I started off with a rich breakfast from the catering at the airfield. After adding enough caffeine to my blood I could get started.
I got one more good run before the wind turned around. After it did that I was having a very hard time. The last two runs felt like the limiter cut off the engine in round 7. I was having an untranslatable German saying state of mind thing after that, but that’s how it goes.
Meanwhile Jens was plotting a conspiracy. He arranged for everyone to keep me in the dark about the results. I had already accepted the fact that I would end up in the middle of the List.
When position 4 was called and I was still not mentioned I thought they forgot me.
Position 3 was called and still no mention, so thought oh well, next year…But No! Position 2 called for my name and I couldn’t resist an slight outcry.

But that was not the end of the conspiracy. As the positions for the German Championship in F5D Limited was called I though oh well, can’t have gotten far there, I only attended two events. I was baffled to hear Jens my name again for the bronze medal. Jens was also very pleased with the result, but I think even more pleased about his well planned conspiracy.
So the day blurred in amazement and content.

I would like to thank Jens for his help and for calling me around the course, the marshals, the organisers and in fact everyone there for a great event.

Until next time.

READY! TURN!

Kai Falkenberg

All the pictures you will find here

Ein Rookie in Rhiedt (German Version)

F5D 3. Teilwertung Deutsche Meisterschaft in Rheidt

Zum letzten mal im Jahr 2009 versammeln sich die F5D Piloten aus ganz Europa in Deutschland zu einem Pylon-Racing-Wettbewerb. Diesmal war die Rennstrecke nicht so weit entfernt und bin also Samstag Morgen losgefahren. So früh am Morgen ist nicht meine Uhrzeit. Vor onnenaufgang habe ich mich gefragt warum ich das überhaupt mache, aber Frank und eine Kanne Kaffe konnte mich wachrütteln.

Ein kalter, windiger Tag begrüßte Frank und mich als ich in Rheidt aus den Auto stieg. Da ich mir aber schon so was gedacht habe war ich entsprechender Kleidung aufgebrochen. Ein guter Plan, da es am Samstag nicht viel wärmer wurde. Es waren schon viele bekannte Gesichter da, und es wurde fleißig aufgebaut.

Noch mehr Kaffe, anmelden und dann ging es auch schon los. Die erste Gruppe ist einfach so losgeflogen, ohne das ich überhaupt einen Koffer geöffnet hatte. Das nenne ich mal gut organisiert. Also, der Wettbewerb…nicht ich…

Jens hat in Gruppe 4 den Caller für Jörg gemacht, und hat mal wieder gezeigt das man kein Megafon braucht um auf dem ganzen Platz gehört zu werden. Das stimmte mich zuversichtlich für meinen Lauf. Ich würde Jens auf jeden Fall hören wenn er meine Wenden ansagt.
Die Pumpe lief bei mir schon leicht an, und dann ging es los. Den Neueinsteiger konnte ich mir nicht mehr als ausrede heranziehen, und fühlte mich auch nicht mehr ganz so neu. Einen übermütigen Cut an Pylon 2 und eine passable Zeit waren mein Ergebnis in Runde 1.
Ohne Cuts ging’s dann weiter, bis ein Schauer eine Mittagspause erzwungen hat. Was besonders verwirrt ist, wenn die Zeitnehmer wegen Höheunterschreitung „SAFETY!!!“ rufen und dein Caller im nächsten Lauf „Runter, Runter, Runter“ ruft um einen Mid-air zu vermeiden. Davon gab es dieses mal nur einen und ich hab wieder nicht hingeschaut..
Das Catering am Platz war mit Brötchen, Kaffee, Salat und Grillgut bestens bestückt. Die Schweizer hatten eine super Idee und haben ein Fondue mitgebracht und alle konnten etwas Brot in den Käse tunken.

Aus dem britischen Imperium waren auch 5 Piloten angereist und haben fröhlich mitgemischt. Ich hab mich mit den Jungs gut verstanden und konnte hier und da beim Übersetzen helfen. Es wurde auch die Reglementkonformität der Modelle geprüft, was aber kein Problem war nachdem klar war das die Waage 16g zuwenig anzeigt.
Am Ende des Tages waren wir alle in der Alten Post in Rheidt zu Abendessen und auch da war die Stimmung ausgelassen. Es gab viel zu Fachsimplen und Plaudern. Besonders spannend war die Essensbestellung für die Boys aus UK. Da kann es vorkommen das die direkte Übersetzung was anderes erwarten läßt als dann tatsächlich auf den Tisch kommt. Das war aber egal, da alles was auf den Tisch kam gut, reichlich und lecker war.
In der Nacht war Zeitumstellung, was eine dringen benötige extra Stunde Schlaf zur Folge hatte. Dann hat der Herbst seine schönste Seite ausgepackt und es wurde ein warmer sonniger Tag.
Nach einem reichlichen Frühstück vom Catering am Platz war genug Koffein im Blut das es weiter gehen konnte. Der erste Lauf ist noch gut gelaufen, dann hat der Wind gedreht und konnte die Läufe nicht beenden weil der Limiter in (gefühlt) Runde 7 anschlug. Ich war „schwer am sikken“ wie man in Köln sagt.

OK, ist halt so. Jens hatte unterdessen eine Verschwörung in die Wege geleitet und hat allen gesagt Sie sollen mir nichts von den Ergebnissen verraten.
Ich hatte mich also damit abgefunden irgendwo in der mittleren Plazierung zu landen.
Als ich bei der Ansage von Platz 4 immer noch nicht dran war, dachte ich das ich in der Wertung vergessen wurde.

Platz 3 war ich auch nicht, also mußte ich in der Wertung vergessen worden sein…Nein! Platz 2! Ich konnte mir einen kleinen Aufschrei nicht verkneifen.

Aber das war noch nicht alles. Die Verschwörung ging ja noch viel weiter. Die Gesamtwertung der Deutschen Meisterschaft F5D Limited wurde verlesen. Würde ich da überhaupt auftauchen? Ich hatte ja nur 2 Durchgänge besucht. Mir entgleisten die Gesichtszüge als Jens und ich zum 3. Platz in der Gesamtwertung aufgerufen wurden. Jens war auch zufrieden, aber am meisten Spaß hat ihm die gut geplante Verschwörung gemacht.
So verschwamm der Nachmittag in Erstaunen und Zufriedenheit. Ich möchte mich an dieser Stelle bei Jens bedanken, der mir als Caller in beiden Durchgängen geholfen hat, den Kurshelfern, den Organisatoren und sowieso allen die da waren für einen super Wettbewerb.

Bis zum nächsten mal wenn es wieder heißt:

EINLEITEN! RUM!

Euer Kai Falkenberg

Alle Fotos vom Kölle Team sind hier

Dienstag, 29. September 2009

Newbies over Nördlingen oder F5D aus der Sicht eines Neueinsteigers

Newbies over Nördlingen.

Ein Bericht aus der Sicht eines Neueinsteigers.

Als ich von Pylon Racing gehört habe war mein Interesse geweckt und ich habe mich mit dem Thema genauer auseinandergesetzt. Dabei habe ich beim Reno Racing Jens Göbels kennen gelernt, der mir dann das F5D Pylon Racing gezeigt hat.

Da war es dann soweit: Ich wollte so einen Flieger haben. Gesagt, getan und zwei Wochen Später lag ein Demon auf meiner Werkbank. Nach einigen Gesprächen mit Jens und dem Durchforsten einschlägiger Foren, habe ich ein Limited Setup zusammengestellt. Das war eine gute Entscheidung, denn als ich das erste mal der Kurs treffen sollte fühlte ich mich wieder wie ein Anfänger. Ich hatte vier Trainingstermine bevor es nach Nördlingen ging. Somit war meine Zielsetzung für Nördlingen klar: Nicht zu viel kaputtmachen und ankommen.

Am Freitag sind Jens und ich dann, nach einer ungewöhnlich gut gelaufenen Auto-Pack-Aktion (zu gut wie sich später herausstellen sollte) von Köln losgefahren. Die meisten Teilnehmer waren schon im Gasthof zum Engel versammelt und wir haben in geselliger Runde noch einen Schlaftrunk zu uns genommen (oder zwei). Als es dann an der Zeit war die Zimmer aufzusuchen stellen wir fest, das ein komplettes Gepäckstück fehlte, was aber glücklicherweise am nächsten Tag in Köln gefunden und in Sicherheit gebracht wurde. Gut schlafen geht anders, was nicht am Gasthof sondern an den nicht enden wollenden Gedanken an Propeller, Akkus und Limiter lag.

Nach einem guten Frühstück war mein Koffeinspiegel wieder im Normalbereich und es ging los zu Fluggelände. Ein herrlicher Sommertag erwartete uns mit blauem Himmel und strahlendem Sonnenschein. Es ging dann auch sofort los mit Senderabgabe und Anmeldung.

Als es dann auf zehn Uhr zuging war ich zwar noch nicht dran aber die Checkliste hatte ich schon zwei mal durch. Die Winker von Pylon Nummer 1 oder „Spitz“ hatten Verspätung und es ging dann um elf Uhr los.
Da ich in Gruppe 7 eingeordnet war habe ich den Lauf der Gruppe 6, die vom Veranstalter „die Jungen Wilden“ getauft wurde in der Ready-Box verfolgt. Als diese Gruppe ihren ersten F5D Lauf startete war sofort klar das Limited für mich eine gute Wahl war da die F5D Flieger enorm schnell sind.
Ich habe dann meinen ersten Lauf mit einer Segelflugeinlage in der letzten Runde ohne Cuts nachhausegeschaukelt. Somit war der erste Setupwechsel fällig, aber erstmal wieder den Sender abgeben. Einen schärferen Propeller montieren, Akku laden, und sich über den berauschenden Effekt von Adrenalin freuen.

Lauf zwei sollte zeigen das 10 Sekunden schneller mit dem schärferen Propeller machbar waren. Die sehr hilfsbreiten Mitstreiter haben mir für den dritten Lauf einen Platz in ihrer Akku-Heizkiste zur Verfügung gestellt, was dann noch mal für 10 Sekunden kürzere Rundenzeiten führte. Dabei wurde aber immer deutlicher wie wichtig es ist der Kurs zu treffen. Dabei ist ein gute Ansager unerläßlich und Jens hat mich 5 Runden lang ohne Cuts durch den Kurs gebracht, wobei seine Ansagen zu meiner Fluglinie fast wichtiger wahren als das eigentliche „RUM“ am Spitz.

In Lauf 6 habe ich mit noch einen Cut an Pylon Nummer zwei eingehandelt, bin aber trotzdem mit einem Grinsen vom Platz gelaufen. Vorgaben Tag 1: (alles noch ganz) erreicht.
Was mich aber fast vom Hocker gehauen hat war die Aussage: du bist zweiter!
Nach diesem erfolgreichen Tag sind wir alle im Engel zu Essen verabredet gewesen. Das Essen und die Gesellschaft machten daraus einen gelungenen Abend.

Der Wetterbericht hat irgendwas von „Nebel“ erzählt, was in Nördlingen wohl auch ein bekanntes Wetterphänomen ist, aber an diesem Sonntag vergessen hat aufzutreten. Ein zweiter Tag mit viel Sonne und drei weitern Durchgängen stand uns bevor. Im letzten Lauf habe ich das Setup nochmals schärfer gestellt, was aber eine weitere Segelflugeinlage mit Cut über die Ziellinie zur Folge hatte. Vorgabe Tag 2: (immer noch nichts kaputt) erreicht.

Der vierte Platz von elf setzte diesem Wochenende die Krone auf.
Jetzt heißt es Üben, Üben, Üben. Das nächste Rennen ist in vier Wochen, und ich werde auf jeden Fall wieder dabei sein.

Also: Einleiten, RUM!

Euer „Newbie“ Kai

Englisch Version

Newbies over Nördlingen.

When I heard of pylon racing I was fascinated, and I did some reading on the subject. I attended the first electric Reno Racing event here in Germany were I met Jens Göbels. He told me about F5D pylon racing and I had to know more.
After some research in the related forums and discussions with Jens I set about getting myself an appropriate plane. Said and done, two weeks later I had a Demon on my workbench. Some more reading and advice lead me to put a limited setup together.

During the first attempt to fly the course I felt like a beginner that held the remote for the first time. I had 4 training days before the Race in Nördlingen so my objective was clear: try not to crash and finish the race.

On Friday Jens and I headed off from Köln to Nördlingen after an unusually good start (too good as we would see later). Most of the other participants were already gathered in the “Gasthof zum Engel”, and we had a great evening in good company. After a beer or two it was time to get to our rooms and we unloaded some luggage. To our surprise we found an entire piece of that luggage missing (so much for a good start). Luckily the bag was found and secured the next day.

A good nights sleep was hard to find as my thoughts about propellers, batteries and limiters would not end. A good breakfast and lots of coffee got me back on track the next morning and we were off to the airfield.
A beautiful summer morning greeted us with blue skies an sunshine. Registration of remotes and pilots was next and I was going through my check list over and over and it wasn’t even my turn yet. The number one pylon callers had a hangover so we didn’t start until eleven o’clock.

As I was in group number seven I was able to watch group number six, who were dubbed “the young and wild” during the day from the ready box. As I saw these planes with their incredible speeds I was glad to have chosen the limited class.
I then proceeded with my first run which ended in a half round thermal gliding to the finish line.

It was after that run that I changed my setup for the first time during that weekend. A faster propeller was mounted, the battery charged and I enjoyed the effect of the adrenalin. This new Propeller would cut 10 seconds off my time in the next run. The second setup change was due. One of the other competitors was kind enough to lend me a slot in his battery heat box. This cut another 10 seconds off my time. It became more apparent every time around the course that the flight style is most important to fly fast. The other important factor (and in my eyes the most important) is your caller. Jens called me around the course without cuts 5 times in a row, and I had the impression that his calls at pylon number one were not as important as his comments to correct my flight line. In run six I got myself a cut at pylon number two and I walked off the airfield with a grin. Task for day 1: (nothing broken) complete. What I did not expect was that I was second in the ranking.

After a successful day of racing we gathered in the „Gasthof zum Engel“. Everyone was there, good food and great company rounded off a really fun day.
The weather forecast said something about fog, which is a well known phenomenon in that area but it forgot to turn up. Another day of sunshine and three more runs was ahead of us. In my last run of the day I changed my Setup again only to find that I overdid it. A thermal task in the last round with a really big cut got me through to the finish line. Task for day two (still nothing broken) complete. To find myself in fourth place of eleven made this weekend memorable for me. For the next race in four weeks I will be training a lot an I will most certainly attend.

Untill next time: Ready, TURN!

Your Newbie Kai

Englisch and German from

Kai Rene Alexander Freiherr von Falkenberg

http://www.koelleteam.de/

Montag, 28. September 2009

Nördlingen 2009




















The winner is: Marcel Kremer
A first result from the second F5D competition in Germany you will found here

Samstag, 15. August 2009

Midairs over Herzebrock

Carsten my buddy


























Thanks Klaus!















Thats why he is allways second! No concentration during flight!
here the full article with all the pictures:
My Article from F5D.org in english.
Three times a year, the electrically adicted Pylon Pilots meet each other. Mostly it's the same. Everybody knows it. A small group of model aviators who like to fly at speed. A group that is open to the outside, and friendly and cheerful to each other. Like every year we look to our friends and models: What's new, what has been done over the winter, What was built new, who has more fat around the hips and so on. As usual, everything remained the same.
With the goal to fly 10 laps as quickly as possible with a defined amount of energy, 25 pilots traveled to Herzebrok. All of these three competition are parts of the German championship. This competitions are also the qualifying for the World Cup 2010 in Muncie F5D USA for the German team. That is a basis, for an exciting contest. It also came, despite the long Journey, surprisingly, many participants from Austria and Switzerland.

Klaus and Patricia Brettner and Modell Club Condor Herzebrock have invited to this event. The competition was very well prepared and started on time with a limited group. Altogether there were four pilots registered in this class, plus Bastian Könen without the limiter. He could fly out of the competition as a friend. Ralf Metzger, one of the creative minds from the Munich AkaModell, met for the first time in the Limited class since the rules changed and which requires the use of an energylimiter. He seemed to feel comfortable. His many years of abstinence from flying competition has not made noticeable and he was fling his sovereign rounds. Good times and an accurate flight style allowed him to take home, the beautiful trophy to the south of Germany. The Limited class allows exciting race with the same conditions for each pilot. The difference to the "big" FAI class is a lower energy limit (450 Wmin over 1000 Wmin) and the prohibition of own buildings for motor, controller and propeller. Its resulting in lower speed and allows for new competitors the feeling for exciting position battles. If you want to have fun and your flying style is still somewhat uncertain, this is exactly the right class for beginners. The racefeeling and the good mood is in limited available for cheap money. Full fiberglass is not absolutely necessary and secrets around the drives are public(see RCN). Unfortunately, the number of participants in the Beginners (Limited) class shrunk, as several drivers changed in the F5D FAI class. As an example, the reigning German champion Jörg Heuser flys now F5D. The reverse case is also, however. Steffen Mueller has decided, to fly in the Limited Class and was also promptly Second. Peter Hansen, with his good old Turn Left battleship in third place.

The faster class FAI F5D was clearly dominated by Marcel Krämer, which showed to the older men, where the hammer hangs. An average of less than 60 seconds and a new world best time of 55 seconds for him. Congratulations. With its extremely precise and deep flight style, he used the 1000 limit Wmin most efficiently. Marcel has trained, prepared and we saw that clearly. That the flight style is important for victory , it has always been known. With the energy limiters we have now competitions conditions, which allow to measure objectively. A fine thing this energylimiter. This new toy alows with little effort to obtain competitive materials, which is normaly for everybody available. In the second place flew with the usual steady performance Dirk Belting. The third place for Günther Mayr from Austria with a minimal advantage. He was one point in front of Daviz Dzida.

A receiver probably dead in the model of Christian Roessler has led his model in a slightly inclined trajectory to an forced landing way out. It's amazing how exact the Fail Safe was set and how far such a model can sail without motor. With luck they could found it without a long search salvaged. The flight season has seemingly simultaneously started with the construction period. I have rarely seen so many bad Midairs like in this competition.
In accordance with the motto: "Never touch a F5D plane in the air."
State of the art in F5D FAI:
Models are in many cases, the out of the shelf avionics from Sergey Sobakin. A good safe value this CFK model. There are also self-constructions like the Batleth or own exotics collected from different models.

Motors
The situation is changing now. The new star engine is black, not purple anymore. The two fastest pilots in the competition put a new engine on. NEU Motors. The Hacker Empire in F5D seems to sway. There are also products of Lehner, Plettenberg and Kontronik used. It is important to ensure that the motor fits to the propeller. With your personal flight style is also your motor
defined. If your setup is too sharp, too much energyconsuming, it can happen that you have to finisch a round with long long thermal task.
Lipo
Concerning Lipo cells there is no clear trend. The introduction of the limiter has shown that virtually all cells, which can survive the burden of a race, can good be used. From 3S to 5S, everything was at the startline. The trend tends in accordance with Swiss studies to higher voltages. (5S)
Limiter
With the introduction of the limiter the battery battle is gone. All pilots use the Unilog from SM Modellbau. The complete LogSystem (shunt and Unilog) allows to understand the technology you use. Also for meassureing adicts, Unilog is the best, because so much data to have, was until recently not possible at all. The limiter, allowed me personally to go with three batteries at the German World Cup but then also two seasons to fly. The old NiMh batteries were at the end after only two flights defect. Only the debate must be launched, whether the amount of energy from 1000 Wmin is not a little bit too much.
An issue which will surely flare up again, is the manipulation of the limiter. For me it was relatively simple to dupe the limiter. It would be theoretically possible to obtain more energy than is required by the regulations. The measurements of the drive systems in the future should be adapted and strengthened. Currently there is only one system from Thomas Wäckerlin from Switzerland, which is able to record the amount of energy in a proper way.
Propeller
Preferred brands come from the APC and Graupner. There also have been sighted various self-constructions props. For example, the external rotor drive with folding propeller by Marcel Petrasch makes a good impression. Also moulded APC propellers were used.
2.4 Ghz
The 2.4 Ghz systems are spread slowly in the F5D Group. Many German pilots in the scene rely on their proven Graupnersysteme on the 35 Mhz band. Only the Swiss have completely changed to Futaba 2.4 Ghz. The first experience in various competitions also through German pilots show that the system seems to work.
Whats up?
Noteworthy was the stress Grunenberg Thomas did on himself. He started in the Limited and FAI class simultaneously and with only with one model. In each round, he had to change twice the engine and the battery. And incidentally he was also twice working as an active helper. Unfortunately in one round it caused a collision, so that his Sharky had an irreparable damage. So he could take a break on Sunday and was able to relax involuntarily.

Hartmut Siegmann Limited has changed the cass and started now in F5D. But he has taken the rudder deflections and Expo settings he was used from the Limited class. As a result, his flightstyle on the course due to the greater speed looks a little bit silly. Also the fact that a wasp during the flight, sat behind his glasses, does not somehow lead to calm his flight. The wasp helped, however, that finally Hartmut could forget during its flight that his COG was not yet optimally configured.
Martin Schlief
"the old man and the field of honor" was unfortunately only for a visit in Herzebrok. This time, he has no models with him. As it looks, he will start again. We are pleased and have not already to write his obituary, what would be a very long one.
Despite free beer of the evening was quiet and civilized. We missed the Brit's The free beer was very good.

Thanks Klaus and Patricia for your exiting competition!

We'll see you hopefully in two years back in Herzebrock.

Dienstag, 11. August 2009

Montag, 1. Juni 2009

F3D Electric

Just for Fun. I recived an older F3D plane from Viktor Casutt. He was a very popular and good F3D Pilot from Switzerland. He won a lot of international competitions. My target was to fly the nice competition model with an electric motor. Target is to fly that thing with around 2.5 kW.
Looks good. First flight was done. More on this project soon.






Motor Neu 1515 2.5 D S Prop 7x5E APC (Test)


Castle Creation Phoenix 125

Batterie 6 S Kokam 4000 mAh


Old style very nice build by Viktor Casutt!


Sonntag, 10. Mai 2009

Just for fun






I got a little Storm from eflight for testing. Perfekt for start to become a good feeling in racing models.
Motor HP-Y22L-2840
Prop APC 4.1 x4.1
Akku 1200 mAh Extreme
22 Amps ESC with BEC
RX Futaba Fasst R6004FF
2 Micro Servos
Time from unwrap the present to launch the plane 60 min. Cheap, good, fun so all you need to have a good time with your friends!