The most common request for content generally included the question, “How do I
learn xxx maneuver?” or some variation on that theme. Instead of jumping right into
a specific skill, it seems as though it’s a good idea to discuss the process of learning to
fly RC model airplanes in a more comprehensive sense. Although there isn’t a magic
bullet that makes any maneuver or skill easy, I’ve found several tips that can make a
huge difference.
It is critical to acknowledge that we all learn differently. I find this to be particularly
pronounced when working with pilots of different ages. Younger pilots (to a point)
adapt and learn faster. I believe this is in part because younger pilots are accustomed
to learning. They do it in school every day.
For those of us in middle ages (I’m 39), I haven’t been in any formalized non-jobrelated
school in nearly 20 years. I think it is fair to say that I’ve forgotten how to
learn as well as I once could. The tips that follow in this column are my attempt to
distill some of those learning skills and processes that we can apply to our flying to
help us improve.
Owning It
Probably the most important mindset with regard to flying model airplanes is the
premise that you, as the pilot, are in
control. This seems obvious, but you
wouldn’t believe the number of times
I’ve heard pilots claim that the airplane
just “did” this or that as if it had intent
and/or will. Clearly, your model has
neither. It is, in all instances, doing what
you told it to do.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t
realize what we told it to do. Additionally,
2.4 GHz technology has nearly
eliminated glitches and interferencerelated
issues, making the connection
between the pilot and model as secure as
it has ever been.
Sure, each airplane’s performance
and feel differs, causing it to respond
differently to the control inputs based on
those unique characteristics. It is your job,
as a pilot, to learn each model’s unique
characteristics and adapt your control
inputs to better operate the model.
Always remember that you are in control
and 100% responsible for the model’s
flight path.
A Sense of Purpose
To improve as a pilot, you need to
focus on learning and flying with a sense
of purpose. I hear far too many pilots
complain that they’re not getting better,
yet they fly basically the same flight
each time. They take off, burning holes
in the sky with the throttle wide open,
their left thumb resting on the side of
the transmitter, followed by a loop or
roll, and a mediocre landing. In that
short flight, there were at least a couple
dozen opportunities to work on a skill or
maneuver.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t
spend a part of each flight just messing
around, but I’d argue that the only way
to improve is to spend a sizeable part of
each flight working on a specific skill.
www.ModelAviation.com December 2012 Model Aviation 89
FLIGHT TRAINING
Scott Stoops
[email protected]
Whether you’re just getting started in
this hobby as Austin is, or a seasoned
vet, the basics of learning are the
same. Perfect practice makes perfect!
The Stevens AeroModel Daddy-O is a great airplane for practicing everything from touch-andgos
to traditional sport aerobatics. Takeo s and landings should be practiced. Consider them a
maneuver to perfect.
When working with a student, I’d
prefer it to be at least 50% of each fl ight,
but would settle for a solid third. This
brings me to my next bullet point: plan
your fl ight.
Flight Plan
When I speak of having a fl ight plan, a
more correct term might be to plan the
fl ight, or at least have a rough outline
of what you’d like to accomplish. My
competition aerobatic fl ights are nearly
100% scripted.
Flying the Sukhoi forces me to work
on skills that I struggle with instead of
only doing what I’m already comfortable
with or enjoy the most. It could be
something as simple as forcing myself to
work on outside snaps or rolling circles
for 5 to 10 minutes (I dislike these
maneuvers, but I have to be competent
at both to be competitive).
In that same sense, I routinely see
excellent pilots who are horrible at
landing their models. Not unlike a fourpoint
roll, relatively simple things such
as takeoffs, landings, and fl ying a clean
traffi c pattern are maneuvers that should
be practiced and perfected. By allowing
time in each fl ight for a couple of touchand-
gos, etc, you can improve your skills.
Plan your fl ight and fl y your plan!
Effectively Using Flight Simulators
Flight simulators are one of the
primary reasons that the skill of the
average RC pilot has improved as much
as it has in the last decade. The quality of
the simulation is so close to feeling real
that the skills can be directly translated
to the model with a high level of
confi dence.
Being able to hit reset and have
a perfect new airplane setting on
the runway allows you to attempt
new maneuvers with confi dence.
Pilots of every level can benefi t from
incorporating a quality fl ight simulator
into their training repertoire.
I have a couple of suggestions about
how to use the simulator, however.
For starters, I recommend using the
largest monitor you can fi nd. This helps
give useful visual perspective that isn’t
possible on a small screen. I have an
HDMI output from my laptop into a 60-
inch LCD TV in the family room that
works great.
The second suggestion is to stand
while fl ying. Unless you sit while fl ying
at the RC fi eld, sitting in front of your
computer fl ying the simulator doesn’t
resemble how you’re going to hold your
transmitter at the fi eld. If you fl y with
a transmitter strap, I’d also use it while
fl ying on the simulator.
Conclusion
Flying model airplanes can be a
frustrating endeavor. It isn’t easy to do,
and the path to success can be fraught
with setbacks.
That noted, it is also one of the most
rewarding things I’ve ever done. Seeing
the smile on a student’s face after a fi rst
solo is absolutely priceless. Own it, fl y,
and train with a sense of purpose; make a
plan and fl y it! You can do this.
As always, remember that learning is fun
and fun is what this greatMesa in Santa Barbara in June
2003. Most of them have been held
there, with one at Little Mountain
in San Bernardino, California. Other
WeaselFest events have taken place in
Austin, Texas; Platteville, Wisconsin; and
Bat Yam, Israel.
Day 1: Mountain Flying at
Knapp’s Castle
The 2012 WeaselFest was scheduled
for two days. Saturday’s weather was
overcast, with steady 15 to 20 mph
northwest winds and temperatures
below 40°F.
I was at Knapp’s Castle, or “The
Ruins,” a mountain terrain flying
site with magnificent views of Lake
Cachuma and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Fliers layered up against the cold in
parkas, gloves, and goggles, and flew
Weasels and a variety of other sailplanes
in what seemed like unlimited lift.
Dave “Zenmaniac” Lorentzen from
Madison, Wisconsin, described our first
day of flying.
“Day 1 of WeaselFest—amazing flying.
Friday’s rain stopped, and Saturday
brought the clearing winds which come
from the northwest and give priority
to their site called ‘The Ruins,’ after a
mansion that burned down in the 1940s.
This slope is at about 4,000 feet above a
valley.
“The wind was measured at 25-30
[mph], and the lift
was unimaginable.
I flew 45-minute
stretches with
about a half-hour
[in] between, from
11 a.m. to about 4
p.m. The flying was
exhausting, as was
trying to track my
Weasel in a mass
of about 25 other
Weasels, Zagis, and
other foamies.
“We had a get-together at a pizza
place for dinner and had drawings for
door prizes. Tomorrow is supposed to
have winds favorable for the Ellwood
slope, which is a bluff along the ocean,
promising a completely different style of
Sloping (and about 20° warmer!).”
There were 20 or more sailplanes in
the air most of the time—predominantly
Weasels, 48-inch flying-wing designs,
and VTPR aerobatic airplanes. I flew
my ballasted Weasel (with 2 ounces of
steel wire inside the carbon-fiber wing
spar tube), and then switched to my
Dave’s Aircraft Works Schweizer 1-26
(available from Sky King RC Products),
which was easier for me to see far away
as it cruised out over the valley.
The lower Knapp’s Castle flying site
location is a shorter walk from the road,
but it has a tighter available landing area.
A brief hike up the ridgeline brings us
to a flying site with spectacular views
of the lake and valley below, and larger
grass landing areas. Launching is tricky
because the airplane must be thrown
hard enough to get out past a ridge
below, into the big lift. Once the model
was up and out, we flew in classic big
sky, big lift flying conditions.
On the way back to the cars, I
watched some dynamic Soaring. This is
one impressive flying site.
Attending the flying event and at the
dinner were four Slope aircraft designers
and makers. In alphabetical order: Ward
Hagaman (Ward Hagaman Designs),
Steve Lange (LeFish and
www.SlopeAerobatics.com), Michael
Richter (Dream-Flight), and Matin
Taraz (North County Flying Machines).
We had fliers from California, Arizona,
Wisconsin, and New York, as well as
international visitors from Australia,
New Zealand, and the Netherlands. That
makes the WeaselFest an internationalevent and a continuing tribute to a welldesigned
and fun-to-fly Weasel.
Day 2: Beach Flying at Ellwood Bluffs
Sunday’s weather was sunny, a
balmy 70°, and 5 to 10 mph ocean
breezes—highly suitable for the 100-
foot escarpment overlooking the Pacific
Ocean known as Ellwood Bluffs. It was
video footage of the easy-going action
at this flying site that made me want to
make the trip to California and attend
my first WeaselFest.
The wind started out light, and
increased in strength as the day
progressed. In
addition to the
Weasel, another
Dream-Flight
wonder kit, the
Alula, came into
its own. The Alula
is designed for tip
launch, is lighter, and
has a higher-aspectratio
wing than
its stablemate, the
Weasel. As a result,
the day started with
Alulas flying in the
light air.
As the lift built in
the late morning and
early afternoon, the
Weasels were launched. I flew an Alula,
a Weasel, and my trusty DAW 1-26.
It was a special treat to see expert
pilots fly their specialized, super-light
wing loading, aerobatic VTPR and
UltraBatics Sailplanes. These great
pilots included Justin Gafford, Dawson
Henderson, Steve Lange, and Peter
Richner of Switzerland. For more on
how these airplanes and pilots perform
the maneuvers, see Steve Lange’s guest
“RC Slope Soaring” column about
UltraBatics in the August 2012 issue of
Model Aviation.
A high point of Sunday afternoon was
Steve Lange’s VTPR clinic in which he
demonstrated for a crowd of onlookers
the basic and advanced techniques of
VTPR, or “Voltige Très Près du Relief,”
translated from French as, “aerobatics
very close to the ground.”
VTPR is an aerobatic Slope glider
flying style characterized by aerobatics
performed at low altitude, often within
a few feet or inches of the ground.
There are extreme moves, in which the
model’s fuselage, tail, or wingtip touch
the ground and the flight continues.
VTPR-style flying is fascinating to
watch and fun to learn. Steve provided
us with the benefit of his knowledge andexperience during the teaching session.
Listed in the “Sources” section are links
to a video of the VTPR clinic, as well as
resource information about VTPR flying
in the US and other countries.
Santa Barbara offers wonderful Slope
Soaring sites in the mountains and at
the beach. The Dream-Flight Weasel has
been nominated for consideration by the
New York Slope Dogs as a “Must-Have
Travel Sailplane.”
The first 10 WeaselFests were tons of
fun, and I believe number 11 will be an
enjoyable flying and learning experience.
To find out when and where it will
be held, search for WeaselFest 2013 in
RCGroups in the Slope Soaring forum.
“Now They’re Flying Model Gliders
by Radio”
References to historical articles
documenting early RC Slope Soaring
have drawn a strong reader response.
Here’s another from the October 1961
issue of Popular Science, titled, “Now
They’re Flying Model Gliders by Radio.”
The following are excerpts.
“Along the California and Atlantic
coasts, where strong prevailing winds
flow upward over rocky cliffs or dunes,
lift is strong and consistent. Slope Soaring
gliders used here are flat-bottomed,
heavier, and have shorter wings than
those used for thermal soaring.
“Slope Soarers will glide indefinitely
as long as they’re kept within a few
hundred yards of the cliff top. Some even
do aerobatics, including spins, snap rolls,
and loops.
“European enthusiasts have a head
start on Americans in model glider
competition, though the fever is
spreading from Southern California to
other parts of the country, notably the
Northeast.
“Records set in glider competition show
what these model aircraft can do. The US
holds the altitude record with 4,988 feet.
Czechoslovakia holds the duration record
of over 15 hours. Russia has the straightline
distance record of 14 miles, and the
closed course (around pylons) record of
102 miles. West Germany holds the speed
record: 78 mph.”
I think the “bird-like glider” mentioned
in a photo caption with the article does
not resemble an Alula, but the “flying
saucer” is a spitting image of a balsa-ribconstruction
Weasel. I have loaded images
of the article to my MA “Slope Soaring”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 101,102,103,104
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 101,102,103,104
The most common request for content generally included the question, “How do I
learn xxx maneuver?” or some variation on that theme. Instead of jumping right into
a specific skill, it seems as though it’s a good idea to discuss the process of learning to
fly RC model airplanes in a more comprehensive sense. Although there isn’t a magic
bullet that makes any maneuver or skill easy, I’ve found several tips that can make a
huge difference.
It is critical to acknowledge that we all learn differently. I find this to be particularly
pronounced when working with pilots of different ages. Younger pilots (to a point)
adapt and learn faster. I believe this is in part because younger pilots are accustomed
to learning. They do it in school every day.
For those of us in middle ages (I’m 39), I haven’t been in any formalized non-jobrelated
school in nearly 20 years. I think it is fair to say that I’ve forgotten how to
learn as well as I once could. The tips that follow in this column are my attempt to
distill some of those learning skills and processes that we can apply to our flying to
help us improve.
Owning It
Probably the most important mindset with regard to flying model airplanes is the
premise that you, as the pilot, are in
control. This seems obvious, but you
wouldn’t believe the number of times
I’ve heard pilots claim that the airplane
just “did” this or that as if it had intent
and/or will. Clearly, your model has
neither. It is, in all instances, doing what
you told it to do.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t
realize what we told it to do. Additionally,
2.4 GHz technology has nearly
eliminated glitches and interferencerelated
issues, making the connection
between the pilot and model as secure as
it has ever been.
Sure, each airplane’s performance
and feel differs, causing it to respond
differently to the control inputs based on
those unique characteristics. It is your job,
as a pilot, to learn each model’s unique
characteristics and adapt your control
inputs to better operate the model.
Always remember that you are in control
and 100% responsible for the model’s
flight path.
A Sense of Purpose
To improve as a pilot, you need to
focus on learning and flying with a sense
of purpose. I hear far too many pilots
complain that they’re not getting better,
yet they fly basically the same flight
each time. They take off, burning holes
in the sky with the throttle wide open,
their left thumb resting on the side of
the transmitter, followed by a loop or
roll, and a mediocre landing. In that
short flight, there were at least a couple
dozen opportunities to work on a skill or
maneuver.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t
spend a part of each flight just messing
around, but I’d argue that the only way
to improve is to spend a sizeable part of
each flight working on a specific skill.
www.ModelAviation.com December 2012 Model Aviation 89
FLIGHT TRAINING
Scott Stoops
[email protected]
Whether you’re just getting started in
this hobby as Austin is, or a seasoned
vet, the basics of learning are the
same. Perfect practice makes perfect!
The Stevens AeroModel Daddy-O is a great airplane for practicing everything from touch-andgos
to traditional sport aerobatics. Takeo s and landings should be practiced. Consider them a
maneuver to perfect.
When working with a student, I’d
prefer it to be at least 50% of each fl ight,
but would settle for a solid third. This
brings me to my next bullet point: plan
your fl ight.
Flight Plan
When I speak of having a fl ight plan, a
more correct term might be to plan the
fl ight, or at least have a rough outline
of what you’d like to accomplish. My
competition aerobatic fl ights are nearly
100% scripted.
Flying the Sukhoi forces me to work
on skills that I struggle with instead of
only doing what I’m already comfortable
with or enjoy the most. It could be
something as simple as forcing myself to
work on outside snaps or rolling circles
for 5 to 10 minutes (I dislike these
maneuvers, but I have to be competent
at both to be competitive).
In that same sense, I routinely see
excellent pilots who are horrible at
landing their models. Not unlike a fourpoint
roll, relatively simple things such
as takeoffs, landings, and fl ying a clean
traffi c pattern are maneuvers that should
be practiced and perfected. By allowing
time in each fl ight for a couple of touchand-
gos, etc, you can improve your skills.
Plan your fl ight and fl y your plan!
Effectively Using Flight Simulators
Flight simulators are one of the
primary reasons that the skill of the
average RC pilot has improved as much
as it has in the last decade. The quality of
the simulation is so close to feeling real
that the skills can be directly translated
to the model with a high level of
confi dence.
Being able to hit reset and have
a perfect new airplane setting on
the runway allows you to attempt
new maneuvers with confi dence.
Pilots of every level can benefi t from
incorporating a quality fl ight simulator
into their training repertoire.
I have a couple of suggestions about
how to use the simulator, however.
For starters, I recommend using the
largest monitor you can fi nd. This helps
give useful visual perspective that isn’t
possible on a small screen. I have an
HDMI output from my laptop into a 60-
inch LCD TV in the family room that
works great.
The second suggestion is to stand
while fl ying. Unless you sit while fl ying
at the RC fi eld, sitting in front of your
computer fl ying the simulator doesn’t
resemble how you’re going to hold your
transmitter at the fi eld. If you fl y with
a transmitter strap, I’d also use it while
fl ying on the simulator.
Conclusion
Flying model airplanes can be a
frustrating endeavor. It isn’t easy to do,
and the path to success can be fraught
with setbacks.
That noted, it is also one of the most
rewarding things I’ve ever done. Seeing
the smile on a student’s face after a fi rst
solo is absolutely priceless. Own it, fl y,
and train with a sense of purpose; make a
plan and fl y it! You can do this.
As always, remember that learning is fun
and fun is what this greatMesa in Santa Barbara in June
2003. Most of them have been held
there, with one at Little Mountain
in San Bernardino, California. Other
WeaselFest events have taken place in
Austin, Texas; Platteville, Wisconsin; and
Bat Yam, Israel.
Day 1: Mountain Flying at
Knapp’s Castle
The 2012 WeaselFest was scheduled
for two days. Saturday’s weather was
overcast, with steady 15 to 20 mph
northwest winds and temperatures
below 40°F.
I was at Knapp’s Castle, or “The
Ruins,” a mountain terrain flying
site with magnificent views of Lake
Cachuma and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Fliers layered up against the cold in
parkas, gloves, and goggles, and flew
Weasels and a variety of other sailplanes
in what seemed like unlimited lift.
Dave “Zenmaniac” Lorentzen from
Madison, Wisconsin, described our first
day of flying.
“Day 1 of WeaselFest—amazing flying.
Friday’s rain stopped, and Saturday
brought the clearing winds which come
from the northwest and give priority
to their site called ‘The Ruins,’ after a
mansion that burned down in the 1940s.
This slope is at about 4,000 feet above a
valley.
“The wind was measured at 25-30
[mph], and the lift
was unimaginable.
I flew 45-minute
stretches with
about a half-hour
[in] between, from
11 a.m. to about 4
p.m. The flying was
exhausting, as was
trying to track my
Weasel in a mass
of about 25 other
Weasels, Zagis, and
other foamies.
“We had a get-together at a pizza
place for dinner and had drawings for
door prizes. Tomorrow is supposed to
have winds favorable for the Ellwood
slope, which is a bluff along the ocean,
promising a completely different style of
Sloping (and about 20° warmer!).”
There were 20 or more sailplanes in
the air most of the time—predominantly
Weasels, 48-inch flying-wing designs,
and VTPR aerobatic airplanes. I flew
my ballasted Weasel (with 2 ounces of
steel wire inside the carbon-fiber wing
spar tube), and then switched to my
Dave’s Aircraft Works Schweizer 1-26
(available from Sky King RC Products),
which was easier for me to see far away
as it cruised out over the valley.
The lower Knapp’s Castle flying site
location is a shorter walk from the road,
but it has a tighter available landing area.
A brief hike up the ridgeline brings us
to a flying site with spectacular views
of the lake and valley below, and larger
grass landing areas. Launching is tricky
because the airplane must be thrown
hard enough to get out past a ridge
below, into the big lift. Once the model
was up and out, we flew in classic big
sky, big lift flying conditions.
On the way back to the cars, I
watched some dynamic Soaring. This is
one impressive flying site.
Attending the flying event and at the
dinner were four Slope aircraft designers
and makers. In alphabetical order: Ward
Hagaman (Ward Hagaman Designs),
Steve Lange (LeFish and
www.SlopeAerobatics.com), Michael
Richter (Dream-Flight), and Matin
Taraz (North County Flying Machines).
We had fliers from California, Arizona,
Wisconsin, and New York, as well as
international visitors from Australia,
New Zealand, and the Netherlands. That
makes the WeaselFest an internationalevent and a continuing tribute to a welldesigned
and fun-to-fly Weasel.
Day 2: Beach Flying at Ellwood Bluffs
Sunday’s weather was sunny, a
balmy 70°, and 5 to 10 mph ocean
breezes—highly suitable for the 100-
foot escarpment overlooking the Pacific
Ocean known as Ellwood Bluffs. It was
video footage of the easy-going action
at this flying site that made me want to
make the trip to California and attend
my first WeaselFest.
The wind started out light, and
increased in strength as the day
progressed. In
addition to the
Weasel, another
Dream-Flight
wonder kit, the
Alula, came into
its own. The Alula
is designed for tip
launch, is lighter, and
has a higher-aspectratio
wing than
its stablemate, the
Weasel. As a result,
the day started with
Alulas flying in the
light air.
As the lift built in
the late morning and
early afternoon, the
Weasels were launched. I flew an Alula,
a Weasel, and my trusty DAW 1-26.
It was a special treat to see expert
pilots fly their specialized, super-light
wing loading, aerobatic VTPR and
UltraBatics Sailplanes. These great
pilots included Justin Gafford, Dawson
Henderson, Steve Lange, and Peter
Richner of Switzerland. For more on
how these airplanes and pilots perform
the maneuvers, see Steve Lange’s guest
“RC Slope Soaring” column about
UltraBatics in the August 2012 issue of
Model Aviation.
A high point of Sunday afternoon was
Steve Lange’s VTPR clinic in which he
demonstrated for a crowd of onlookers
the basic and advanced techniques of
VTPR, or “Voltige Très Près du Relief,”
translated from French as, “aerobatics
very close to the ground.”
VTPR is an aerobatic Slope glider
flying style characterized by aerobatics
performed at low altitude, often within
a few feet or inches of the ground.
There are extreme moves, in which the
model’s fuselage, tail, or wingtip touch
the ground and the flight continues.
VTPR-style flying is fascinating to
watch and fun to learn. Steve provided
us with the benefit of his knowledge andexperience during the teaching session.
Listed in the “Sources” section are links
to a video of the VTPR clinic, as well as
resource information about VTPR flying
in the US and other countries.
Santa Barbara offers wonderful Slope
Soaring sites in the mountains and at
the beach. The Dream-Flight Weasel has
been nominated for consideration by the
New York Slope Dogs as a “Must-Have
Travel Sailplane.”
The first 10 WeaselFests were tons of
fun, and I believe number 11 will be an
enjoyable flying and learning experience.
To find out when and where it will
be held, search for WeaselFest 2013 in
RCGroups in the Slope Soaring forum.
“Now They’re Flying Model Gliders
by Radio”
References to historical articles
documenting early RC Slope Soaring
have drawn a strong reader response.
Here’s another from the October 1961
issue of Popular Science, titled, “Now
They’re Flying Model Gliders by Radio.”
The following are excerpts.
“Along the California and Atlantic
coasts, where strong prevailing winds
flow upward over rocky cliffs or dunes,
lift is strong and consistent. Slope Soaring
gliders used here are flat-bottomed,
heavier, and have shorter wings than
those used for thermal soaring.
“Slope Soarers will glide indefinitely
as long as they’re kept within a few
hundred yards of the cliff top. Some even
do aerobatics, including spins, snap rolls,
and loops.
“European enthusiasts have a head
start on Americans in model glider
competition, though the fever is
spreading from Southern California to
other parts of the country, notably the
Northeast.
“Records set in glider competition show
what these model aircraft can do. The US
holds the altitude record with 4,988 feet.
Czechoslovakia holds the duration record
of over 15 hours. Russia has the straightline
distance record of 14 miles, and the
closed course (around pylons) record of
102 miles. West Germany holds the speed
record: 78 mph.”
I think the “bird-like glider” mentioned
in a photo caption with the article does
not resemble an Alula, but the “flying
saucer” is a spitting image of a balsa-ribconstruction
Weasel. I have loaded images
of the article to my MA “Slope Soaring”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 101,102,103,104
The most common request for content generally included the question, “How do I
learn xxx maneuver?” or some variation on that theme. Instead of jumping right into
a specific skill, it seems as though it’s a good idea to discuss the process of learning to
fly RC model airplanes in a more comprehensive sense. Although there isn’t a magic
bullet that makes any maneuver or skill easy, I’ve found several tips that can make a
huge difference.
It is critical to acknowledge that we all learn differently. I find this to be particularly
pronounced when working with pilots of different ages. Younger pilots (to a point)
adapt and learn faster. I believe this is in part because younger pilots are accustomed
to learning. They do it in school every day.
For those of us in middle ages (I’m 39), I haven’t been in any formalized non-jobrelated
school in nearly 20 years. I think it is fair to say that I’ve forgotten how to
learn as well as I once could. The tips that follow in this column are my attempt to
distill some of those learning skills and processes that we can apply to our flying to
help us improve.
Owning It
Probably the most important mindset with regard to flying model airplanes is the
premise that you, as the pilot, are in
control. This seems obvious, but you
wouldn’t believe the number of times
I’ve heard pilots claim that the airplane
just “did” this or that as if it had intent
and/or will. Clearly, your model has
neither. It is, in all instances, doing what
you told it to do.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t
realize what we told it to do. Additionally,
2.4 GHz technology has nearly
eliminated glitches and interferencerelated
issues, making the connection
between the pilot and model as secure as
it has ever been.
Sure, each airplane’s performance
and feel differs, causing it to respond
differently to the control inputs based on
those unique characteristics. It is your job,
as a pilot, to learn each model’s unique
characteristics and adapt your control
inputs to better operate the model.
Always remember that you are in control
and 100% responsible for the model’s
flight path.
A Sense of Purpose
To improve as a pilot, you need to
focus on learning and flying with a sense
of purpose. I hear far too many pilots
complain that they’re not getting better,
yet they fly basically the same flight
each time. They take off, burning holes
in the sky with the throttle wide open,
their left thumb resting on the side of
the transmitter, followed by a loop or
roll, and a mediocre landing. In that
short flight, there were at least a couple
dozen opportunities to work on a skill or
maneuver.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t
spend a part of each flight just messing
around, but I’d argue that the only way
to improve is to spend a sizeable part of
each flight working on a specific skill.
www.ModelAviation.com December 2012 Model Aviation 89
FLIGHT TRAINING
Scott Stoops
[email protected]
Whether you’re just getting started in
this hobby as Austin is, or a seasoned
vet, the basics of learning are the
same. Perfect practice makes perfect!
The Stevens AeroModel Daddy-O is a great airplane for practicing everything from touch-andgos
to traditional sport aerobatics. Takeo s and landings should be practiced. Consider them a
maneuver to perfect.
When working with a student, I’d
prefer it to be at least 50% of each fl ight,
but would settle for a solid third. This
brings me to my next bullet point: plan
your fl ight.
Flight Plan
When I speak of having a fl ight plan, a
more correct term might be to plan the
fl ight, or at least have a rough outline
of what you’d like to accomplish. My
competition aerobatic fl ights are nearly
100% scripted.
Flying the Sukhoi forces me to work
on skills that I struggle with instead of
only doing what I’m already comfortable
with or enjoy the most. It could be
something as simple as forcing myself to
work on outside snaps or rolling circles
for 5 to 10 minutes (I dislike these
maneuvers, but I have to be competent
at both to be competitive).
In that same sense, I routinely see
excellent pilots who are horrible at
landing their models. Not unlike a fourpoint
roll, relatively simple things such
as takeoffs, landings, and fl ying a clean
traffi c pattern are maneuvers that should
be practiced and perfected. By allowing
time in each fl ight for a couple of touchand-
gos, etc, you can improve your skills.
Plan your fl ight and fl y your plan!
Effectively Using Flight Simulators
Flight simulators are one of the
primary reasons that the skill of the
average RC pilot has improved as much
as it has in the last decade. The quality of
the simulation is so close to feeling real
that the skills can be directly translated
to the model with a high level of
confi dence.
Being able to hit reset and have
a perfect new airplane setting on
the runway allows you to attempt
new maneuvers with confi dence.
Pilots of every level can benefi t from
incorporating a quality fl ight simulator
into their training repertoire.
I have a couple of suggestions about
how to use the simulator, however.
For starters, I recommend using the
largest monitor you can fi nd. This helps
give useful visual perspective that isn’t
possible on a small screen. I have an
HDMI output from my laptop into a 60-
inch LCD TV in the family room that
works great.
The second suggestion is to stand
while fl ying. Unless you sit while fl ying
at the RC fi eld, sitting in front of your
computer fl ying the simulator doesn’t
resemble how you’re going to hold your
transmitter at the fi eld. If you fl y with
a transmitter strap, I’d also use it while
fl ying on the simulator.
Conclusion
Flying model airplanes can be a
frustrating endeavor. It isn’t easy to do,
and the path to success can be fraught
with setbacks.
That noted, it is also one of the most
rewarding things I’ve ever done. Seeing
the smile on a student’s face after a fi rst
solo is absolutely priceless. Own it, fl y,
and train with a sense of purpose; make a
plan and fl y it! You can do this.
As always, remember that learning is fun
and fun is what this greatMesa in Santa Barbara in June
2003. Most of them have been held
there, with one at Little Mountain
in San Bernardino, California. Other
WeaselFest events have taken place in
Austin, Texas; Platteville, Wisconsin; and
Bat Yam, Israel.
Day 1: Mountain Flying at
Knapp’s Castle
The 2012 WeaselFest was scheduled
for two days. Saturday’s weather was
overcast, with steady 15 to 20 mph
northwest winds and temperatures
below 40°F.
I was at Knapp’s Castle, or “The
Ruins,” a mountain terrain flying
site with magnificent views of Lake
Cachuma and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Fliers layered up against the cold in
parkas, gloves, and goggles, and flew
Weasels and a variety of other sailplanes
in what seemed like unlimited lift.
Dave “Zenmaniac” Lorentzen from
Madison, Wisconsin, described our first
day of flying.
“Day 1 of WeaselFest—amazing flying.
Friday’s rain stopped, and Saturday
brought the clearing winds which come
from the northwest and give priority
to their site called ‘The Ruins,’ after a
mansion that burned down in the 1940s.
This slope is at about 4,000 feet above a
valley.
“The wind was measured at 25-30
[mph], and the lift
was unimaginable.
I flew 45-minute
stretches with
about a half-hour
[in] between, from
11 a.m. to about 4
p.m. The flying was
exhausting, as was
trying to track my
Weasel in a mass
of about 25 other
Weasels, Zagis, and
other foamies.
“We had a get-together at a pizza
place for dinner and had drawings for
door prizes. Tomorrow is supposed to
have winds favorable for the Ellwood
slope, which is a bluff along the ocean,
promising a completely different style of
Sloping (and about 20° warmer!).”
There were 20 or more sailplanes in
the air most of the time—predominantly
Weasels, 48-inch flying-wing designs,
and VTPR aerobatic airplanes. I flew
my ballasted Weasel (with 2 ounces of
steel wire inside the carbon-fiber wing
spar tube), and then switched to my
Dave’s Aircraft Works Schweizer 1-26
(available from Sky King RC Products),
which was easier for me to see far away
as it cruised out over the valley.
The lower Knapp’s Castle flying site
location is a shorter walk from the road,
but it has a tighter available landing area.
A brief hike up the ridgeline brings us
to a flying site with spectacular views
of the lake and valley below, and larger
grass landing areas. Launching is tricky
because the airplane must be thrown
hard enough to get out past a ridge
below, into the big lift. Once the model
was up and out, we flew in classic big
sky, big lift flying conditions.
On the way back to the cars, I
watched some dynamic Soaring. This is
one impressive flying site.
Attending the flying event and at the
dinner were four Slope aircraft designers
and makers. In alphabetical order: Ward
Hagaman (Ward Hagaman Designs),
Steve Lange (LeFish and
www.SlopeAerobatics.com), Michael
Richter (Dream-Flight), and Matin
Taraz (North County Flying Machines).
We had fliers from California, Arizona,
Wisconsin, and New York, as well as
international visitors from Australia,
New Zealand, and the Netherlands. That
makes the WeaselFest an internationalevent and a continuing tribute to a welldesigned
and fun-to-fly Weasel.
Day 2: Beach Flying at Ellwood Bluffs
Sunday’s weather was sunny, a
balmy 70°, and 5 to 10 mph ocean
breezes—highly suitable for the 100-
foot escarpment overlooking the Pacific
Ocean known as Ellwood Bluffs. It was
video footage of the easy-going action
at this flying site that made me want to
make the trip to California and attend
my first WeaselFest.
The wind started out light, and
increased in strength as the day
progressed. In
addition to the
Weasel, another
Dream-Flight
wonder kit, the
Alula, came into
its own. The Alula
is designed for tip
launch, is lighter, and
has a higher-aspectratio
wing than
its stablemate, the
Weasel. As a result,
the day started with
Alulas flying in the
light air.
As the lift built in
the late morning and
early afternoon, the
Weasels were launched. I flew an Alula,
a Weasel, and my trusty DAW 1-26.
It was a special treat to see expert
pilots fly their specialized, super-light
wing loading, aerobatic VTPR and
UltraBatics Sailplanes. These great
pilots included Justin Gafford, Dawson
Henderson, Steve Lange, and Peter
Richner of Switzerland. For more on
how these airplanes and pilots perform
the maneuvers, see Steve Lange’s guest
“RC Slope Soaring” column about
UltraBatics in the August 2012 issue of
Model Aviation.
A high point of Sunday afternoon was
Steve Lange’s VTPR clinic in which he
demonstrated for a crowd of onlookers
the basic and advanced techniques of
VTPR, or “Voltige Très Près du Relief,”
translated from French as, “aerobatics
very close to the ground.”
VTPR is an aerobatic Slope glider
flying style characterized by aerobatics
performed at low altitude, often within
a few feet or inches of the ground.
There are extreme moves, in which the
model’s fuselage, tail, or wingtip touch
the ground and the flight continues.
VTPR-style flying is fascinating to
watch and fun to learn. Steve provided
us with the benefit of his knowledge andexperience during the teaching session.
Listed in the “Sources” section are links
to a video of the VTPR clinic, as well as
resource information about VTPR flying
in the US and other countries.
Santa Barbara offers wonderful Slope
Soaring sites in the mountains and at
the beach. The Dream-Flight Weasel has
been nominated for consideration by the
New York Slope Dogs as a “Must-Have
Travel Sailplane.”
The first 10 WeaselFests were tons of
fun, and I believe number 11 will be an
enjoyable flying and learning experience.
To find out when and where it will
be held, search for WeaselFest 2013 in
RCGroups in the Slope Soaring forum.
“Now They’re Flying Model Gliders
by Radio”
References to historical articles
documenting early RC Slope Soaring
have drawn a strong reader response.
Here’s another from the October 1961
issue of Popular Science, titled, “Now
They’re Flying Model Gliders by Radio.”
The following are excerpts.
“Along the California and Atlantic
coasts, where strong prevailing winds
flow upward over rocky cliffs or dunes,
lift is strong and consistent. Slope Soaring
gliders used here are flat-bottomed,
heavier, and have shorter wings than
those used for thermal soaring.
“Slope Soarers will glide indefinitely
as long as they’re kept within a few
hundred yards of the cliff top. Some even
do aerobatics, including spins, snap rolls,
and loops.
“European enthusiasts have a head
start on Americans in model glider
competition, though the fever is
spreading from Southern California to
other parts of the country, notably the
Northeast.
“Records set in glider competition show
what these model aircraft can do. The US
holds the altitude record with 4,988 feet.
Czechoslovakia holds the duration record
of over 15 hours. Russia has the straightline
distance record of 14 miles, and the
closed course (around pylons) record of
102 miles. West Germany holds the speed
record: 78 mph.”
I think the “bird-like glider” mentioned
in a photo caption with the article does
not resemble an Alula, but the “flying
saucer” is a spitting image of a balsa-ribconstruction
Weasel. I have loaded images
of the article to my MA “Slope Soaring”
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/12
Page Numbers: 101,102,103,104
The most common request for content generally included the question, “How do I
learn xxx maneuver?” or some variation on that theme. Instead of jumping right into
a specific skill, it seems as though it’s a good idea to discuss the process of learning to
fly RC model airplanes in a more comprehensive sense. Although there isn’t a magic
bullet that makes any maneuver or skill easy, I’ve found several tips that can make a
huge difference.
It is critical to acknowledge that we all learn differently. I find this to be particularly
pronounced when working with pilots of different ages. Younger pilots (to a point)
adapt and learn faster. I believe this is in part because younger pilots are accustomed
to learning. They do it in school every day.
For those of us in middle ages (I’m 39), I haven’t been in any formalized non-jobrelated
school in nearly 20 years. I think it is fair to say that I’ve forgotten how to
learn as well as I once could. The tips that follow in this column are my attempt to
distill some of those learning skills and processes that we can apply to our flying to
help us improve.
Owning It
Probably the most important mindset with regard to flying model airplanes is the
premise that you, as the pilot, are in
control. This seems obvious, but you
wouldn’t believe the number of times
I’ve heard pilots claim that the airplane
just “did” this or that as if it had intent
and/or will. Clearly, your model has
neither. It is, in all instances, doing what
you told it to do.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t
realize what we told it to do. Additionally,
2.4 GHz technology has nearly
eliminated glitches and interferencerelated
issues, making the connection
between the pilot and model as secure as
it has ever been.
Sure, each airplane’s performance
and feel differs, causing it to respond
differently to the control inputs based on
those unique characteristics. It is your job,
as a pilot, to learn each model’s unique
characteristics and adapt your control
inputs to better operate the model.
Always remember that you are in control
and 100% responsible for the model’s
flight path.
A Sense of Purpose
To improve as a pilot, you need to
focus on learning and flying with a sense
of purpose. I hear far too many pilots
complain that they’re not getting better,
yet they fly basically the same flight
each time. They take off, burning holes
in the sky with the throttle wide open,
their left thumb resting on the side of
the transmitter, followed by a loop or
roll, and a mediocre landing. In that
short flight, there were at least a couple
dozen opportunities to work on a skill or
maneuver.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t
spend a part of each flight just messing
around, but I’d argue that the only way
to improve is to spend a sizeable part of
each flight working on a specific skill.
www.ModelAviation.com December 2012 Model Aviation 89
FLIGHT TRAINING
Scott Stoops
[email protected]
Whether you’re just getting started in
this hobby as Austin is, or a seasoned
vet, the basics of learning are the
same. Perfect practice makes perfect!
The Stevens AeroModel Daddy-O is a great airplane for practicing everything from touch-andgos
to traditional sport aerobatics. Takeo s and landings should be practiced. Consider them a
maneuver to perfect.
When working with a student, I’d
prefer it to be at least 50% of each fl ight,
but would settle for a solid third. This
brings me to my next bullet point: plan
your fl ight.
Flight Plan
When I speak of having a fl ight plan, a
more correct term might be to plan the
fl ight, or at least have a rough outline
of what you’d like to accomplish. My
competition aerobatic fl ights are nearly
100% scripted.
Flying the Sukhoi forces me to work
on skills that I struggle with instead of
only doing what I’m already comfortable
with or enjoy the most. It could be
something as simple as forcing myself to
work on outside snaps or rolling circles
for 5 to 10 minutes (I dislike these
maneuvers, but I have to be competent
at both to be competitive).
In that same sense, I routinely see
excellent pilots who are horrible at
landing their models. Not unlike a fourpoint
roll, relatively simple things such
as takeoffs, landings, and fl ying a clean
traffi c pattern are maneuvers that should
be practiced and perfected. By allowing
time in each fl ight for a couple of touchand-
gos, etc, you can improve your skills.
Plan your fl ight and fl y your plan!
Effectively Using Flight Simulators
Flight simulators are one of the
primary reasons that the skill of the
average RC pilot has improved as much
as it has in the last decade. The quality of
the simulation is so close to feeling real
that the skills can be directly translated
to the model with a high level of
confi dence.
Being able to hit reset and have
a perfect new airplane setting on
the runway allows you to attempt
new maneuvers with confi dence.
Pilots of every level can benefi t from
incorporating a quality fl ight simulator
into their training repertoire.
I have a couple of suggestions about
how to use the simulator, however.
For starters, I recommend using the
largest monitor you can fi nd. This helps
give useful visual perspective that isn’t
possible on a small screen. I have an
HDMI output from my laptop into a 60-
inch LCD TV in the family room that
works great.
The second suggestion is to stand
while fl ying. Unless you sit while fl ying
at the RC fi eld, sitting in front of your
computer fl ying the simulator doesn’t
resemble how you’re going to hold your
transmitter at the fi eld. If you fl y with
a transmitter strap, I’d also use it while
fl ying on the simulator.
Conclusion
Flying model airplanes can be a
frustrating endeavor. It isn’t easy to do,
and the path to success can be fraught
with setbacks.
That noted, it is also one of the most
rewarding things I’ve ever done. Seeing
the smile on a student’s face after a fi rst
solo is absolutely priceless. Own it, fl y,
and train with a sense of purpose; make a
plan and fl y it! You can do this.
As always, remember that learning is fun
and fun is what this greatMesa in Santa Barbara in June
2003. Most of them have been held
there, with one at Little Mountain
in San Bernardino, California. Other
WeaselFest events have taken place in
Austin, Texas; Platteville, Wisconsin; and
Bat Yam, Israel.
Day 1: Mountain Flying at
Knapp’s Castle
The 2012 WeaselFest was scheduled
for two days. Saturday’s weather was
overcast, with steady 15 to 20 mph
northwest winds and temperatures
below 40°F.
I was at Knapp’s Castle, or “The
Ruins,” a mountain terrain flying
site with magnificent views of Lake
Cachuma and the Santa Ynez Valley.
Fliers layered up against the cold in
parkas, gloves, and goggles, and flew
Weasels and a variety of other sailplanes
in what seemed like unlimited lift.
Dave “Zenmaniac” Lorentzen from
Madison, Wisconsin, described our first
day of flying.
“Day 1 of WeaselFest—amazing flying.
Friday’s rain stopped, and Saturday
brought the clearing winds which come
from the northwest and give priority
to their site called ‘The Ruins,’ after a
mansion that burned down in the 1940s.
This slope is at about 4,000 feet above a
valley.
“The wind was measured at 25-30
[mph], and the lift
was unimaginable.
I flew 45-minute
stretches with
about a half-hour
[in] between, from
11 a.m. to about 4
p.m. The flying was
exhausting, as was
trying to track my
Weasel in a mass
of about 25 other
Weasels, Zagis, and
other foamies.
“We had a get-together at a pizza
place for dinner and had drawings for
door prizes. Tomorrow is supposed to
have winds favorable for the Ellwood
slope, which is a bluff along the ocean,
promising a completely different style of
Sloping (and about 20° warmer!).”
There were 20 or more sailplanes in
the air most of the time—predominantly
Weasels, 48-inch flying-wing designs,
and VTPR aerobatic airplanes. I flew
my ballasted Weasel (with 2 ounces of
steel wire inside the carbon-fiber wing
spar tube), and then switched to my
Dave’s Aircraft Works Schweizer 1-26
(available from Sky King RC Products),
which was easier for me to see far away
as it cruised out over the valley.
The lower Knapp’s Castle flying site
location is a shorter walk from the road,
but it has a tighter available landing area.
A brief hike up the ridgeline brings us
to a flying site with spectacular views
of the lake and valley below, and larger
grass landing areas. Launching is tricky
because the airplane must be thrown
hard enough to get out past a ridge
below, into the big lift. Once the model
was up and out, we flew in classic big
sky, big lift flying conditions.
On the way back to the cars, I
watched some dynamic Soaring. This is
one impressive flying site.
Attending the flying event and at the
dinner were four Slope aircraft designers
and makers. In alphabetical order: Ward
Hagaman (Ward Hagaman Designs),
Steve Lange (LeFish and
www.SlopeAerobatics.com), Michael
Richter (Dream-Flight), and Matin
Taraz (North County Flying Machines).
We had fliers from California, Arizona,
Wisconsin, and New York, as well as
international visitors from Australia,
New Zealand, and the Netherlands. That
makes the WeaselFest an internationalevent and a continuing tribute to a welldesigned
and fun-to-fly Weasel.
Day 2: Beach Flying at Ellwood Bluffs
Sunday’s weather was sunny, a
balmy 70°, and 5 to 10 mph ocean
breezes—highly suitable for the 100-
foot escarpment overlooking the Pacific
Ocean known as Ellwood Bluffs. It was
video footage of the easy-going action
at this flying site that made me want to
make the trip to California and attend
my first WeaselFest.
The wind started out light, and
increased in strength as the day
progressed. In
addition to the
Weasel, another
Dream-Flight
wonder kit, the
Alula, came into
its own. The Alula
is designed for tip
launch, is lighter, and
has a higher-aspectratio
wing than
its stablemate, the
Weasel. As a result,
the day started with
Alulas flying in the
light air.
As the lift built in
the late morning and
early afternoon, the
Weasels were launched. I flew an Alula,
a Weasel, and my trusty DAW 1-26.
It was a special treat to see expert
pilots fly their specialized, super-light
wing loading, aerobatic VTPR and
UltraBatics Sailplanes. These great
pilots included Justin Gafford, Dawson
Henderson, Steve Lange, and Peter
Richner of Switzerland. For more on
how these airplanes and pilots perform
the maneuvers, see Steve Lange’s guest
“RC Slope Soaring” column about
UltraBatics in the August 2012 issue of
Model Aviation.
A high point of Sunday afternoon was
Steve Lange’s VTPR clinic in which he
demonstrated for a crowd of onlookers
the basic and advanced techniques of
VTPR, or “Voltige Très Près du Relief,”
translated from French as, “aerobatics
very close to the ground.”
VTPR is an aerobatic Slope glider
flying style characterized by aerobatics
performed at low altitude, often within
a few feet or inches of the ground.
There are extreme moves, in which the
model’s fuselage, tail, or wingtip touch
the ground and the flight continues.
VTPR-style flying is fascinating to
watch and fun to learn. Steve provided
us with the benefit of his knowledge andexperience during the teaching session.
Listed in the “Sources” section are links
to a video of the VTPR clinic, as well as
resource information about VTPR flying
in the US and other countries.
Santa Barbara offers wonderful Slope
Soaring sites in the mountains and at
the beach. The Dream-Flight Weasel has
been nominated for consideration by the
New York Slope Dogs as a “Must-Have
Travel Sailplane.”
The first 10 WeaselFests were tons of
fun, and I believe number 11 will be an
enjoyable flying and learning experience.
To find out when and where it will
be held, search for WeaselFest 2013 in
RCGroups in the Slope Soaring forum.
“Now They’re Flying Model Gliders
by Radio”
References to historical articles
documenting early RC Slope Soaring
have drawn a strong reader response.
Here’s another from the October 1961
issue of Popular Science, titled, “Now
They’re Flying Model Gliders by Radio.”
The following are excerpts.
“Along the California and Atlantic
coasts, where strong prevailing winds
flow upward over rocky cliffs or dunes,
lift is strong and consistent. Slope Soaring
gliders used here are flat-bottomed,
heavier, and have shorter wings than
those used for thermal soaring.
“Slope Soarers will glide indefinitely
as long as they’re kept within a few
hundred yards of the cliff top. Some even
do aerobatics, including spins, snap rolls,
and loops.
“European enthusiasts have a head
start on Americans in model glider
competition, though the fever is
spreading from Southern California to
other parts of the country, notably the
Northeast.
“Records set in glider competition show
what these model aircraft can do. The US
holds the altitude record with 4,988 feet.
Czechoslovakia holds the duration record
of over 15 hours. Russia has the straightline
distance record of 14 miles, and the
closed course (around pylons) record of
102 miles. West Germany holds the speed
record: 78 mph.”
I think the “bird-like glider” mentioned
in a photo caption with the article does
not resemble an Alula, but the “flying
saucer” is a spitting image of a balsa-ribconstruction
Weasel. I have loaded images
of the article to my MA “Slope Soaring”