Monday, March 22, 2010

Abu Dhabi Flying at last!

Race 31 is assembled and flying. After long hours of work over the last 3 days, we started test flying today. The plane and engine are working well. The new engine seems a definite improvement! You will notice the new lines of the plane now with modified top sections and sleek canopy. Less drag and more power! Yeah!

Test flying of the other planes is underway too. Now, the new planes and modifications are out in the open for all to see. Most notable is Nigel Lambs new wing tip fins! His plane now looks like 2 sharks swimming in formation! Or a bit like a mini 737! Look out for the pictures. Hannes Arch has the new V3 Edge which is much lighter so he has more equipment and also ballast to bring it to the minimum weight. The advantage of this is the weight is closer to the center of the aircraft which should make the energy required to make manouevres less which of course turns into more speed around the track. Paul Bonhommes Edge has some improvements which are difficult to see but we know for sure he has a new engine similar to ours which should give him more power than last season, and has lost some weight out of the plane too. Interesting addition to his plane are the cowl flaps under the bottom of the cowling. This allows him to keep his engine really cool before retracting them going into the track for less drag and full power in the minute or so of the track run.

WOW!!

Technician testing winglet covers while Pilot tests winglets!

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