District X Report - 2003/10

October 2003 171
This photo of Ray Cannon is courtesy of
the Channel Island Condors, Vincent
Massa, editor.
RAY CANNON is pictured above with his
electric-powered B-52. Ray was out for taxi
tests at the Channel Island Condors’ field in
Camarillo, California, a few weeks ago.
As with Ray’s other ships, the B-52 is a
totally original model with lots of innovative
details such as scalelike rotating tandem
landing gear. This magnificent aircraft spans
eight feet and weighs 19 pounds ready to fly.
The airplane is modeled after NASA’s
High and Mighty One used for drops on
historic research flights over Edwards Dry
Lake. It’s powered by eight electric
WeMoTec ducted fans using Plettenberg
200/20/6 motors. These motors are driven by
two stacks of 20 1700 Nicads.
Associate Vice President (AVP) Bill
Malvey, Ladera Ranch, California, sent in
this report on the Central Valley Radio
Control Club’s (CVRCC) second annual
scale glider aerotow event.
“The CVRCC in Visalia, California,
famous for its 20-plus year history of hosting
the Fall Soaring Festival, is setting a new
standard in the world of Scale Glider aerotow
events. On June 6-8, 2003, the club held its
second annual Scale Glider aerotow event.
Chris Pratt acted as the contest director and
delivered an awesome weekend of glidertowing
fun. Glider aerotow emulates fullscale
glider towing where a powered
towplane hauls the glider to altitude then
releases it to search for lift.
“Several towplanes were on hand and
comprised everything from purpose-built tugs
to a couple of scale models, awesome in their
own right. Most of the tugs are sporting 100
cc engines and can haul even the most
massive Vintage Scale ship to incredible
altitudes. This is the ultimate in formation
flying since you are literally tied to the
towplane. The glider typically releases the
towline; however, the tug can also let it go in
the case of an emergency, just as the fullscale
ones do.
“The aerotow event had nearly 40 pilots
over the course of the weekend and the lift
was simply awesome. Those who go to
Visalia for the CVRC Fall Soaring Festival
would be dumbfounded by the strength and
abundance of the thermals we got to fly. The
challenge was to keep your airplane in sight,
not to find the lift.
“Stan Sadorf of Victorville, California,
actually lost his airplane in a thermal. He did
all he could—loops, spins, and finally
deploying the spoilers fully—and hoped for
the best. He thought the airplane was a total
loss until a local resident drove up in his
restored Studebaker pickup with Stan’s
aircraft in the back. It had pancaked into a
road nearly a mile from the field with
relatively little damage. Stan’s four-meter
Discus will fly again soon! Stan bought a
bunch of lottery tickets on his way home!!
“I lost count of the number of tows that
went on, but none of the pilots lost track of
the fun they were having. From all of us, our
thanks go out to the CVRC and Chris Pratt. I
can’t wait for next year!”
Thanks for a great report, Bill. Sounds
like the members of the CVRC have a true
new classic on their hands.
This Cmelak towplane at the CVRCC event
is owned by Steve Dentz. It has a 12-foot
span, weighs 42 pounds, is powered by a
Moki 215cc Radial, and is all molded
fiberglass. Sweet sounding towplane.
Eager glider pilots line up their Scale
Sailplanes for launch.
This Pegasus towplane (116-inch span, DA-
100 engine) is ready to haul up a six-meter
Schuler ASH-26 on CVRC’s beautiful grass
runway.
This scratch-built giant scale SB-10 built by
Tony Elliot of Meadow Vista, California,
floats like a trainer.
Grob 102, also owned by Steve Dentz, is
five meters of soaring perfection.
Till next time... Keep ’em safe and Keep ’em
fly’n.
Associate Vice Presidents
Darwin Barrie Scottsdale AZ (480) 946-8955
Don Goeschl Lancaster CA (661) 940-6066
Don Gulihur Santee CA (619) 449-8397
Marc Karpowich Logan UT (435) 752-3639
Dave Pinjuv Las Vegas NV (702) 656-1772
Frequency Coordinators
Eloy Marez Santa Ana CA (714) 540-4935
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and
Coordinators)
Arizona / California / Hawaii /
Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson
Vice President
PO Box 3312
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548
E-mail: [email protected]
District X Web page:
Web site: www.ama10.org
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