Tag: Sam Brauer

Sam’s Trimming Guide for Challenging Aircraft

Remember: Meets at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury on August 20, and September 10-11, 2022.  See you there!

 

BY  
Sam Brauer

Look for the “smile in the trailing edge of the port wing- but a straight line in the starboard wing

Advanced Flight Trimming Techniques

You may have seen clubster John Koptonak’s 10 Step Trimming Guide in a recent Flying Aces Club newsletter.  It’s a great piece and has been helpful to many folks in getting their Free Flight models to fly.

Sam Brauer goes a bit further with his article presented here.  Sam focuses on low-winged models which we all know can be tricky to trim out.  In his article, Sam discusses on-field aerodynamic adjustments (washout, decalage, rudder, thrustline and weight) and their impact on model airplanes in free flight.
(NOTE: Webster’s defines decalage as the difference in angle of incidence of the two wings of a biplane, but for our purposes decalage is the difference in angle of incidence between the wing and the horizontal stabilizer of a model airplane.)

Sam knows what he’s talking about.  At the recent 2022 FAC Nationals meet in Geneseo, he ran deep into the final heats of several very competitive mass launch events. 

Great job carrying the torch for the Stealth Sqdn, Sam.  And thanks for sharing your flight trimming techniques!  

Click the link below to read the article.

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Supercapacitor Electric Power for FAC Models

Supercapacitors offer many advantages as power systems for lightweight Free Flight models

 

A typical supercapacitor power system

BY  
Sam Brauer

Sam’s supercapacitor powered free flight models

Not Your Grandpa’s FF Model!

How often have you heard a bystander say “I used to build models like that as a kid”?  

Of course we know our simple stick and tissue models are a combination of art, craftsmanship and engineering.  And yes, that rubber strand power source has been around since the beginning of the hobby itself. 
A rubber motor is a simple, cheap and incredibly efficient power source, but advances in small electric power systems provide us with an alternative.    
Clubster Sam Brauer has been messing around fitting simple and cheap supercapacitor power systems to his small Free Flight models.  And he’s had tremendous success as witnessed by our roving reporter at a recent Pinkham Field meet in Durham, CT.

Sam is back with another article sharing his learnings, explaining the advantages of supercap systems and even recommending where to get the components to make your own system.   Many thanks to Sam for sharing!

Click the link below to read his article and do keep us posted if you try out a supercap power system!

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A Different Paradigm for Propeller and Rubber Motor Selection

“certain props work with certain motors”

 

BY  
Sam Brauer

Using Plastic Props

Clubster Sam Brauer flies all types and sizes of free flight rubber powered model airplanes, both indoors and outdoors.   In this article, he presents his experience with commercially available plastic propellers and the rubber motors that power them.

The prop and rubber motor combination is one of the strongest contributors to flight duration.  Certain props and rubber motors work better with certain models.
Sam has tried most all of the combinations over his modeling career.  His article presents many thought -provoking ideas (e.g., easily made prop mods) and includes an informative Table listing different plastic props, key specifications and suitable rubber sizes.  
This is really good stuff for anyone starting out in the hobby. 
Experienced modelers will benefit from a new perspective on prop/rubber that may help increase their models performance.

Click the link below and learn something new!

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The Zen of Indoor Free Flight: A Modeler’s Take

“The key goal in successfully flying indoors? A repeatable, reliable, power pattern!”

 

BY  
Sam Brauer

Try indoor FF

Long-time Radio Control (RC)  and Free Flight (FF) modeler Sam Brauer has been having increasing competitive success in our indoor meets in recent years.  His Golden Age Reproductions P-51 Mustang is the scourge of the Glastonbury indoor WW2 mass launch events and his RAF B.E.2c “farm tractor” is a threat whenever it flies.   Clearly,  Sam has figured out how to make free flight models fly really well indoors.

We asked Sam to share some of his learnings and he came through with this informative and thought-provoking article.   Never one to shy away from a debatable point (whaddya mean I don’t have to build straight!!), Sam will challenge your thinking.  You can’t argue with his success…so open your mind, click the link below and listen up!

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