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The ideal shut-off system:
We are still fare away form having an ideal system. We are even far away from having a usable system, but lets dream into wonderland and see what an ideal shut-off system could bee like.
My vision for an ideal shut-off system is a small electronic device that could be build on to the engine.
With some kind of remote control it should be possible for the pilot to stop the engine.
If the line breaks or if the model leaves the circle an automatic system should also be able to stop the engine.
If this system could be built into the engine back plate it would be well protected in hard landings og midair collisions.
It would also be easy to move the engine/shut-off from model to model.
The receiver and the shut-off valve could be powered from a small battery or from a condensator.
This condensator could be recharged via the glowplug clip just before the engine start.
Well, this is was just a short trip to dream land. Back in the real world there is still a long way to go before we even have a usable system.
How combat may benefit from shut-off systems:
- Protect your engines:
- Engines with damaged propellers, very lean fuel adjustments or burned glowplugs could be stopped before the engines are damaged.
- If you just want to test a engine setting you could reduce a test flight into a very short flight.
- Saving time at competitions:
- With a remote controlled shut-off system the pilots could stop their engines right after a bout, reducing the noise pollution and speed up the competition.
- Simplified safety rules:
- With a general "anti-fly-away-device" some of the other safety issues must be categorised as "double safety".
Here I think of issues like: "Handle safety straps with slipknots" or "An officials subjective judgement on the quality of your lines" (European Championships Bulletin 3, page 7).
With a double security it must be possible to keep the rules simple and objective.
- Safety:
- Shut-offs would reduce the number of dangerous situations at the flying field.
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