Author: Dave Garwood
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/02
Page Numbers: 105,106,107
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Radio Control Slope Soaring

Dave Garwood [[email protected]]

Eastern Slope safari

Wanderlust struck me in October 2011 as the leaves were becoming colorful, and I embarked on a five-day slope safari through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, finishing in West Virginia, and spending two days at the Cumberland Fall AeroTow event.

NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for RC slope-soaring pilots: you have nothing to fear from sharing a slope with RC aerotowing pilots. As a matter of fact, you may find it enjoyable and learn some new things about RC soaring.

I've flown at three aerotow events for which the location was selected to make use of slope lift: the Los Banos Scale Sailplane event in California, the Elmira Aerotow event in New York (in the 1990s), and the Cumberland Fall AeroTow gathering in West Virginia. I find cross-pollination to be invigorating and enlightening.

I departed New York and began a drive through eastern Pennsylvania, intending to fly at Breezy View Park overlooking the Susquehanna River, between Lancaster and York. I've flown twice at this location in the last 20 years (we used to call it Chickie's Rock). I find it a pleasant flying site, but the wind was out of the south, rather than the northwest which is favored for slope flying at this location, so no flying at Breezy View that day.

Pushing into Virginia, I made sure to spend sufficient time on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, a scenic highway that curves back and forth between the east and west sides of the ridgeline, with dozens of turnouts for viewing the mountainous countryside, providing places to fly in several wind directions. The scenic viewing spots tend to skimp on landing areas, so it's good to fly a "bounceable" sailplane made from EPP or other durable foam.

On my arrival day at Shenandoah Park, it rained and the mountaintops were obscured by low clouds. A day later, the sky cleared and a westerly wind of 10–15 mph came up, making for a cool soaring day on Skyline Drive.

I flew from turnout locations with a Dream Flight Weasel and a Sky King RC Products DAW 1-26. These two models have proven to be versatile, durable, and fun to fly on many soaring trips. Don't leave home without these two gliders when you embark on a slope safari.

The weekend was approaching and it was time to get down to the Cumberland Fall AeroTow event. On a future RC soaring trip to Virginia, I'd like to travel farther south and fly the Blue Ridge Parkway, and maybe try Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol, Virginia.

The Cumberland Fall AeroTow event was scheduled for October 13–17, 2011. It is held at the High Point Aviation model flying field, the location of the Cumberland Fly for Fun, which has run continuously for 45 years—the longest continually run event of interest to slope-soaring pilots that I know of. This flying site has been used for model aviation since 1967. It is located on the west side of the Appalachian Mountain range, where many full-scale, long-distance soaring records have been set, flying the length of that range in slope lift. The flying site is located south of Cumberland, Maryland, in West Virginia on Knobley Mountain. It is private land, and the owner is dedicated to RC model aviation. The field is roughly 800 feet above the valley floor and faces west. There is a notch in the ridge that allows slope flying in east wind from the same site. Although the wind into the Appalachian chain provides plenty of big-sky lift, the mowed flying field is located a few hundred feet from the actual slope, and thus "hang-ten" flying positions are not available at this location.

Local fliers and event organizers provide hi-starts, winches, and aerotow tugs to get sailplanes up and out into the big lift. Many local fliers have hand-launched into the slope lift, although it looks as though this would take some skill and practice.

I arrived on Saturday, and although sunny skies prevailed, we had strong winds from the south. Most of the scale sailplanes that were brought to be aerotowed stayed stowed inside their transport vehicles and trailers. We were served a fine, hot meal at the flying site and had plenty of time to meet and greet fliers and suppliers from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Arizona.

On Sunday, we had clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and pleasant west winds. The scale fliers began to rig scale sailplanes and the aerotow tug pilots towed them aloft. There was no problem finding lift; both large-scale slope lift and thermals were abundant, and dozens of flights were launched.

I was flying a Multiplex Cularis, a model I found when I was searching for an already-built slope sailplane (see the "Slope Soaring" columns from August 2010 and February 2011). Multiplex makes a great little tow release that fits easily into an existing hole in the nose of the Cularis glider (Aero Tow Coupling for the Multiplex Cularis, part number M723470). I got mine from Tower Hobbies.

The Cularis towed up gracefully and successfully, the Aero Tow Coupling released fine, and soon I was flying in the legendary Appalachian west-face ridge lift. The Cularis's 100-inch wingspan is probably the smallest I can see in big-sky lift, and on this day my Cularis appeared very small.

I flew some aerobatics to burn off excess altitude, concentrating on big-sky Cuban 8s. I had three tows up and three long flights. I felt a connection with the RC fliers who have flown from this field since 1967, and the full-scale soaring pilots who have flown that ridge since the 1930s.

We had another hot lunch served at the field along with conversation among traveling sailplane pilots, manufacturers, and suppliers. These people are friendly and helpful flying companions. Slope fliers, try an aerotow event; it will broaden your horizons.

Back on the road the next day, I reflected on how much fun slope-soaring trips are and how interesting and enjoyable national and regional RC flying events can be. Crossing from Pennsylvania back into New York, I considered a detour to fly at Sterling Bluffs on Lake Ontario, but again, the wind direction was not favorable.

RC Slope Soaring History in Print

On the continuing search for early mentions of slope soaring in print, the December 1983 Model Builder cover shows an RC pilot and a helper launching out over a green valley. The description mentions four names from the history of RC soaring.

"Steve Neu launches Mark Smith's World Championship F3B sailplane, an Eismann Camaro, over the side of a beautiful heather- and fern-covered English slope. Rich Schrameck (U.S. F3B team manager) pilots the model out over an equally beautiful English sheep ranch in the valley below. After a week's worth of tense World Championship competition, this was just what the doctor ordered for soothing the nerves. Inset: Mark Smith's primary sailplane was his Panic, seen here on low pass. Kodachrome transparencies by Bill Forrey."

The RC Modeler cover for February 1975 "features Monica Haig gracing the New Mexico countryside with two fantastic hawks—the vanishing breed variety, and the popular newcomer, the Hobie Hawk by Hobie Model Co. Ektachrome transparency by Max Mills."

The magazine cover noted the construction article and detailed plans contained within. RCM described the Silent Squire as "for slope or thermal soaring." Designed by Bill Evans, the model is described as "a quickly-built, rugged 60-inch span sailplane for slope or thermal flying. Highly maneuverable, the Silent Squire is also stable enough for hands-off flight. Coupled with a light wing loading are a wide speed range, excellent penetration, and a ten-foot stall recovery."

Although the design was published a year before the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, these same characteristics would be welcome in a slope-soaring sailplane today. May the circle be unbroken.

Has anyone among the readership found an article on slope soaring that predates these? MA

Sources

Flying sites for this trip

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.