Konrad
Very Strong User
There is a proposal to change the prop in EF-1 pylon racing from the APC 8x8E to the APC 9x6E. This is a very good proposal.
I just flew some tests with the 9x6E and was pleasantly surprised with the results. We tested the 9x6E on EF-1 legal planes, the E-Flite Pogo (with wing extensions), E-Flite Shoestring, GP Proud Bird, and a short wing and a long wing Loki. All planes showed much the same improvements.
The big improvement was in ground handling. There was a very noticeable reduction in P factor at launch and climb out to pylon one! The Pogo really showed this as I was needing about 1/3 as much rudder on the take off roll with the 9x6E verses 8x8E. It was also noticed that the planes stayed on the ground for about 2/3 to 1/2 the length with the 9x6E.
In the air the plane could make tighter pylon turns without loosing as much airspeed. This is a big improvement for novice pilots. If a pilot pulls too hard on the elevator the penalty won't be so severe in lost lap times. Yes, the better pilot will still win. But the novice pilot will appear to be closer in lap times. This should result in less frustration for beginners to pylon racing. (This is key, as EF-1 is an entry event to pylon racing).
The only noted loss in performance was that the straight line speed was down about 2% to 3%. But on a 3 pylon race course this wasn't an advantage as the 9x6E out accelerated the 8x8E from launch to pylon one and out of the turn. With the 9x6E you could fly a tighter line, flying a shorter distance.
When racing the 8x8E and 9x6E head to head the heat times were noticeably lower with the 9x6E. It is obvious that the 9x6E is the prop that should have been called out in the first place. 9x6E makes for a plane that is both easier for the novice pilot to race and gives us old timers lower heat time! This is a rare Win Win situation in racing.
If you agree, please contact your NMPRA board member and encourage them to approve the 9x6E prop for EF-1 pylon racing.
P.S.
The cutout in the spinner needs to be 0.5mm deeper to fit over the 9x6E prop.
Also the static current draw was lower with the 9x6E. None of the planes had telemetry so the unloaded current wasn't measured. But all batteries showed more voltage (capacity) at the end of the heat with the 9x6E.
I just flew some tests with the 9x6E and was pleasantly surprised with the results. We tested the 9x6E on EF-1 legal planes, the E-Flite Pogo (with wing extensions), E-Flite Shoestring, GP Proud Bird, and a short wing and a long wing Loki. All planes showed much the same improvements.
The big improvement was in ground handling. There was a very noticeable reduction in P factor at launch and climb out to pylon one! The Pogo really showed this as I was needing about 1/3 as much rudder on the take off roll with the 9x6E verses 8x8E. It was also noticed that the planes stayed on the ground for about 2/3 to 1/2 the length with the 9x6E.
In the air the plane could make tighter pylon turns without loosing as much airspeed. This is a big improvement for novice pilots. If a pilot pulls too hard on the elevator the penalty won't be so severe in lost lap times. Yes, the better pilot will still win. But the novice pilot will appear to be closer in lap times. This should result in less frustration for beginners to pylon racing. (This is key, as EF-1 is an entry event to pylon racing).
The only noted loss in performance was that the straight line speed was down about 2% to 3%. But on a 3 pylon race course this wasn't an advantage as the 9x6E out accelerated the 8x8E from launch to pylon one and out of the turn. With the 9x6E you could fly a tighter line, flying a shorter distance.
When racing the 8x8E and 9x6E head to head the heat times were noticeably lower with the 9x6E. It is obvious that the 9x6E is the prop that should have been called out in the first place. 9x6E makes for a plane that is both easier for the novice pilot to race and gives us old timers lower heat time! This is a rare Win Win situation in racing.
If you agree, please contact your NMPRA board member and encourage them to approve the 9x6E prop for EF-1 pylon racing.
P.S.
The cutout in the spinner needs to be 0.5mm deeper to fit over the 9x6E prop.
Also the static current draw was lower with the 9x6E. None of the planes had telemetry so the unloaded current wasn't measured. But all batteries showed more voltage (capacity) at the end of the heat with the 9x6E.
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