The Spirit of Butts' Farm
TAM 5 ( Transatlantic model ) is a radio controlled model aircraft with autopilot function of the TAM series of Maynard L. Hill (USA) and his team Barrett J. Foster and David G. Brown. The TAM 5 - The Spirit of Butts Farm called Machine of this type crossed from 9 to 11 August 2003 at the non-stop flight to the North Atlantic. With the autopilot function, it is also an unmanned aerial vehicle.
History
In his short autobiography Web Two Sunsets & Still Flying Maynard L. Hill describes that he pursued the goal of a transatlantic flight with a model aircraft since 1996. Until then, he had set up several FAI official long-distance records for model airplanes. The concrete design and manufacture of the Trans - Atlantic models began in 1999. Initially five copies for flight tests were built. In subsequent years, 23 more machines that were provided to the flying of the components and for the record attempt emerged. With machine number 19, she was named TAM 1, the first record attempt was made on 8 August 2002. This experiment, as well as three other failed. The machine TAM 5, serial number 25, was successful. The Hill on TAM awarded 5 additional name "The Spirit of Butts Farm" is the one on the Spirit of St. Louis the first solo Atlantic crossing as well as to R. Beecher Butts remember, a supporter of the project.
Record flight
The machine was launched on August 9, 2003 at 6:00 clock Cape Spear near St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. After an initial bumpy flight with a tailwind with flight speeds to 88 km / h ( 48 kn) stabilized the model as the data transmitted by satellite data showed the planned ground speed of 69 km / h ( 37 kn). The flight model reached after 3030 km and 38.5 flight hours Mannin Beach, near Clifden in Ireland. Dave Brown took over from the control of the model from the ground and landed it 14:08 local time clock to the applause of many spectators just a few meters next to the designed cross country. About 99 percent of the flight time of the high-tech model was controlled by an autopilot. After landing, or 0.043 kg fuel the initial amount of 2.261 kg were in the tank.
TAM 5 has been passed after the flight the U.S. National Model Aviation Museum.
FAI record entry
- F8 Category: Autonomous Flight
- Sub -class F8 Open ( Aeroplane, piston engine)
- N ° 907: Duration: 38 h 52 min 19 sec
- Date of flight: 11/08/2003
- Record holders: Maynard L. HILL (USA), Barrett J. FOSTER, David G. BROWN
- Course / place: Cape Spear, NF (Canada) - Mannin Beach (Ireland)
The record consisted FIA CIAM officially 2003 until 2009. In 2009, the Commission Internationale Aeromodelling the FIA at their meeting on 23 and 24 March Lausanne not recognize the category F8 Autonomous Flight as a model airplane decided. The records were deleted. Maynard L. Hill instead received a special award of the FIA CIAM.
Construction
The machine was designed by Hill and his team specifically for the record flight across the Atlantic. The model was built in a traditional way from balsa wood and hard wood with a covering made of mylar. In an over -flying distance of around 3,040 kilometers and a given fuel consumption of 10 cc engine had a speed of the model are obtained, which was sufficient for the existing amount of fuel for a flyover. The entire fuel was in a 330 mm ( 13 in ) long and 114 mm ( 4.5 in ) wide tank with 3 chambers, which was carrying device at the same time. Since the model had except during takeoff and landing only to fly straight, has been omitted to save weight on the rudder and right aileron. The machine belonged to the FAI class F8 Open.