Tactics and Techniques - Ground Tactics and Techniques

Now that you've mastered the aerial tactics it's time to master the ground tactics.

Ground tactics refer to the techniques I use prior to "START COMBAT".  In this article I'll discuss the Tactics and Techniques I use in the shop, at the field, in the pits, and on the flight line.

A combat event can be won or lost before you ever arrive at the host club's flying field.  These techniques will help eliminate frustrating equipment days and give you more time during the events for the important things.  Like talking a little smack to your fellow pilots and enjoying the camaraderie always prevalent at combat competitions.

These are the areas I'll cover in Ground Tactics and Techniques:

Shop preparations
Flight testing
Dialing in an airframe
Pre-game warm up
Pre-flight routine
Letting it fly

Shop preparations

Taking extra time in the shop can pay huge dividends when the scores are tallied at the end of a combat event.  An hour fixing problems in the shop is equivalent to about 2 hours of fixing problems at the field.  My advice is to spend an extra hour and go over your airframes before you head to the flying field to test fly.  In the shop you're more likely to fix minor problems correctly then you are at the field.  When I head out to tear up the sky with my new combat ship the last thing I want to do is chase problems down and waste precious flying time.

Prior to an event I'll run through the following checklist to assure everything is in safe working order.

1.  Make sure engine is bolted down tight to the fuselage.
2.  Check engine bolts, pull out and Loc-tite if they're loose
3.  Check for stripped servos
4.  Check all servo and radio leads for broke wires or connectors
5.  Flex test wing to assure it is not broke
6.  Check control surfaces
7.  Look for cracked components or anything out of the ordinary

These simple checks only take a few minutes for each airframe.  A couple extra minutes running through these checks is not only a great safety practice but also will keep the easily avoidable problems from arising during test flights and eventually on game day. 

Flight Testing

Now that you've given your combat ships the once over its time to head to the flying field and work out all the bugs.  Regardless if it's your first or fiftieth combat plane it's bound to have a few problems to work out.  This debugging process should NOT happen the morning of the event.  It should occur a week or two in advance at your home flying field. 

I generally test fly the week before a large event to assure my equipment is dialed in.  With experience this process takes less and less time to complete.  In addition to finding any minor problems you'll also begin getting used to your combat planes.  Being comfortable with your ships is a HUGE factor in being competitive in this tough sport.  During flight testing I keep a log of each plane to keep track of any problems to fix when I return to the shop.  A quick note like the following usually is sufficient:

Plane: Iceman ("TOP GUN" again but a name is often easier to identify with then a number)
RPM: 18.5K
NOTES:  Flies good, fix taped aileron joint on left wing. 

Knowing your planes are safe and dialed in goes along way to boosting your confidence the morning of the event.  Especially when you arrive at the field only to see Dr. Evil sitting relaxed in this folding chair ready to harvest your streamer the first round.  Never underestimate the importance of having your head where it needs to be.   

Dialing in an airframe 

This is the most important section of this article so wipe the sleep from your eyes if I've bored you to this point and listen up.  In V1.0 of TEAMseaholm Tactics and Techniques I discussed the importance of finding a design your comfortable with and sticking with it.  Part of being comfortable with a design has a lot to do with the set up.  You could be the best R.C. pilot in the country and if you're not comfortable the way your plane flies your sunk before you ever tie on a streamer.  

First, let's talk about the importance of the center of gravity (CG) location.  Most kit manufacturers provide a CG range for their designs.  You'll soon find the CG location that fits your flying style.  I set my AVENGERS up with the CG as far aft as possible that will still allow for stable flight.  Aft CG requires less elevator control throw to turn and generally quicker response with less control movement. Take great care to set up ALL your airframes with the CG in the desired location.  Don't assume that by placing the flight gear in the same location your CG will always be the same.  I have a very simple CG tester that will cost you about $1 to build but will help to assure your planes all fly the same. 

Control throws are a close second in importance to CG and need to be consistent from one plane to the next.  I set up all my planes with the same control arms, servo-arm hole locations, and linkage lengths.  This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation when trying to get 2+ airframes to fly the same. 

Now that your CG and control throws are set it's time to do your final dialing in the air. Elevator set-up is very crucial with today's high performance designs.  I set up my elevator throw so I can sustain at least 3-4 full up horizontal turns without a snap.  This set up technique allows me to bang full stick movement while the plane remains rock solid in the air.  Never set-up your elevator with extra control throws.  I've made this mistake in the past, in the heat of battle you won't remember to use PARTIAL stick travel.  So usually you're about 5 feet off the deck, yank full up, and snap your bird right into the ground.  This isn't the result we're looking for in a round of combat.  

Finally, I've found lateral balance is often over looked by competitors but can really help the overall comfort level with an airframe.  I laterally balance my planes in flight by using the following steps:

1.  Fly away from yourself
2.  Roll the plane up perpendicular to ground
3.  Pull full up elevator 

The plane should exit the turn at the same height and attitude as it entered.  If the plane has a tendency to tuck or balloon out of a turn I add steel screws to the "light" wing tip.  The illustrations should make this technique more clear. 

Now that your planes are dialed in its time to pack up and head to the contest.

Pre-game warm up

I suggest running 3 to 4 miles to get the blood flowing then do a 100 crunches....  Yeah right, I'm talking about getting those thumbs and engines warmed up the morning of the contest.

I like to test fly my top 2-3 airplanes the morning of the contest for a couple reasons.  For one, it gets the engines warmed up and set relatively close to where they'll need to run the first round.  Nothing is more frustrating then to have your engine chew up most of the 90-second start window while it slowly wakes up and comes to life.   

Test flying in the morning also helps to work out some of the pre-game jitters.  Yes, even after a couple seasons of combat and hundreds of rounds you'll still have the nerves to contend with.  Heck, that's part of the reason we do this right, the adrenaline rush.  So getting in a couple test flights will help ease those nervous shakes a bit before the first round. 

Warming up will also help you get accustomed to the new surroundings of the field.

You can scope out obstacles to avoid and familiarize yourself with the safety line locations.  New backdrops at an unfamiliar field can really play tricks on your "vision" if you haven't taken the time to get used to the field.  I generally fly a mock pylon course in the morning to help get warmed up and used to the surroundings.  My game is much stronger when I can put the airplane where I want it.  By flying a mock pylon course it forces me to work on flying smooth, opening up the soft vision as I look for the imaginary pylons, and helps me work on flying precise.  Once I'm feeling comfortable with the pylon laps I usually start yanking and banking to make sure all my control throws are set at comfortable levels.  Elevation changes from your home field can require minor set up changes to get the plane back in the comfort zone.  The last thing you want to do is have your plane snap the first hard turn you make in a round.  This will not only shake your confidence it will usually end in a dirt nap.  Again, this isn't really the start to a day we're looking for.  

Pre-flight routine  

Now, that your thumbs and engines are limbered up it's time to get ready for the first round.  Michele and I have a pre-flight routine/ritual that is the same before each round of combat.  Having a well-rehearsed routine adds to your piece of mind and allows you to concentrate on swiping streamers rather then frantically changing glo-plugs or some other avoidable last second fire drill.  In addition, a well-planned pre-flight launch sequence really aids in the safety department.  I've been witness to many instances where a pilot got tied up in the prop because of poor pre-flight techniques.  If this article does nothing more then help minimize bodily harm this next season, it has been well worth my time. 

Prior to taking our plane to the flight line we always run through the following checklist: 

1.  Glo plug - a metered glo driver is a quick way to check the plug
2.  Streamer - we tie on a new streamer each round
3.  Model - make sure your transmitter is set to the correct model
4.  Fuel - tank is topped off
5.  Battery - check the charge level

Michele usually handles the streamer while I run through the remaining items.  No suprises once on the line because we know what jobs we need to take care of.

Our round has been called and it's time to head to the flight line.  Once on the fight line the important pre-flight routine really begins.  The importance lies in the fact that getting in a hurry once the clock is running never leads to desirable results.  Remember, 40 flight points are not worth a trip to the hospital so, "TAKE YOUR TIME!"  I can't stress enough the importance of being aware of the prop during launch and engine start up. 

At the flight line Michele and I follow this routine:

T-120 seconds till "START COMBAT" 

A.J. - turn on transmitter, turn on airplane
Michele - removes streamer from tail and unrolls string to knot

T-90 seconds till "START COMBAT"

A.J. - start timer on radio which is at 6 minutes and 30 seconds, 90 seconds + 5 minute round
Michele - "No farting around!"
A.J. - "Yes dear"

T-60 seconds till "START COMBAT"

A.J. - place glo-driver in place and start engine.
A.J. - move transmitter to right side of plane
A.J. - position myself behind plane and carefully remove glo-driver with hands and body behind propeller disc

T-30 seconds till "START COMBAT"

A.J. - pick airplane out of cradle and check needle with quick pinch and adjust if needed
A.J. - bend over and pick up transmitter with right hand
A.J. - step forward to flight line
Michele - positions herself on left side ready to toss streamer
A.J. - get Line Marshall's acknowledgement to launch
A.J. - launch airplane
Michele - toss streamer  

This routine usually gives us about 15 seconds till "START COMBAT" to relax and to start locating targets.  Granted this doesn't always pan out to the exact second but more times then not happens right on cue.

Letting it fly

So you're safely air born and ready to invoke those tactics learned from V1.0 of this series.

The Letting it fly section is simply to reinforce the importance of having fun and letting it all hang out.  Fly right up to the edge of your abilities and you'll see improvement I can assure you.  Don't forget to shut your brain down from time to time and allow your experience and reflexes to take over.  After awhile you'll find yourself doing things in a round of combat you'd never do sport flying on a Sunday afternoon.