RADIO CONTROL SOARING
Mike Garton 2733 NE 95th Ave. Ankeny, IA 50021 E-mail: [email protected]
League of Silent Flight (LSF)
The League of Silent Flight (LSF) was founded in 1969. It currently has more than 7,500 members from 17 countries. The following description is from the LSF web site: www.silentflight.org.
"The non-profit LSF fosters and supports all phases of both sporting and competition activity for model sailplanes and encourages the advancement of model aeronautics and related aspects of RC soaring.
"The best-known aspect of the LSF is the Soaring Accomplishment Program. This system recognizes individual proficiency and accomplishment in RC soaring through a set of successively harder tasks that measure the sailplane pilot's skills and knowledge of soaring. The modeler has an opportunity to achieve these specific tasks with a sailplane of his or her choice. These tasks are designed to challenge and entertain, while allowing the pilot to measure and improve his flying skills and understanding of model soaring against a proven set of standards."
LSF manages the soaring portion of the AMA Nationals. They are volunteers who solicit and work with additional volunteers to get the job done.
I've included a table summarizing the tasks in the LSF Soaring Accomplishment Program. For a full description, including formulas for calculating contest points, see the LSF web site. It contains a wealth of soaring information, including an online membership application. A Level 1 application can also be obtained by sending a check or money order for $2 to the address at the end of the column. The $2 is to cover postage, printing, and envelopes. There is no membership fee for this organization.
- A second thermal flight which meets the basic Thermal Duration requirement for this Level may be flown in lieu of the Slope Duration requirement. However, the second thermal flight may not be flown on the same day.
- Establishing a world record—recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale—shall constitute the requirements for a contest win. However, six contests or records, or a combination of six contests and records, must be recorded on all performance vouchers from Level II through Level V. The 12,000-point requirement must also be fulfilled for Level V.
Level V the Second Time Around — Cal Posthuma
"On August 15, 2002 I completed Level V the second time around with an eight-hour slope flight. It took a bit longer than the first time, but was just as enjoyable. So much fun, that I have already finished Level II in my third time around. The side benefit is that if you stay enthused then those around you do too.
After doing the tasks for the five levels twice, I think I have it figured out now. I will complete the third time around as long as I can get contest wins. Contests require both thermal skills and reflexes honed by practice to get those landings. All the other tasks are mainly thermal reading and planning with a good dose of determination.
Many of my tasks have been memorable. The most memorable would be goal and return and those long eight-hour slope endurance tasks. Two-hour thermal tasks I only remember as a pain in my neck from looking up that long.
With all the talk lately that new technology has made thermal tasks too easy, I actually use old technology. I use my Sailaire for most Level V tasks. It is easy to fly and easy on my body as I can look away and it will not do something stupid. A thermal sniffer is good for two-hour thermal and all cross-country tasks. For cross-country you need a truck, spotter, driver and someone at the goal. I use cell phones for communication with someone at the goal to minimize turnaround time.
My first 2 km cross-country was very memorable to me. I used a Sagitta 900. Since many of you may not know me, I have been in a wheelchair since I was 12 due to muscular dystrophy. The wheelchair has not been too much of a handicap in soaring but it has had its moments.
I intended to ride the chair lift of my van for the 2 km. I had second thoughts once a few "falling off the chair lift" scenarios went through my mind. My airplane was high and I thought it would take a while but why not just drive the electric chair down the road to the goal? So with timer in tow and Walt Good saying he would come back from the goal as soon as the airplane made it, I headed down the road.
It did not take long to realize the chair was far too slow. My old chair only did about three mph. My timer, John Winstanley, released my clutches and started pushing the chair. Now, all was going well until my hat blew off. John went back to get my hat. He forgot that I was free-wheeling and soon the out-of-control chair headed for the ditch. It luckily stayed upright but I had to look over my shoulder to see my airplane.
John got me back up on the road and all was well again. He was tiring from pushing the chair so Larry Jeffery was needed from a following van. The rest of the goal and return went well as it became more of a relay race between Larry and John. I am glad a Sagitta can fly by itself so well. By the time my second 2 km came around my wheelchair technology had caught up and I was almost faster than the Sailaire I used.
I have found the cross-country 10 km to be the most fun and rewarding of all the tasks. I did both 10 km goal and returns in a pickup. This means we needed to lift the chair and me into the pickup. At 550 pounds this is a four-person task by itself.
I used a Sagitta 900 on the first 10 km and a Sailaire the second time. You do not need a big airplane, just an easy airplane to fly. I have found the key is to get high and stay high. Just keep it moving slower in lift and faster in the sink. More lift is usually down the road. I have seen many times that the lift will change and the 10 km will be possible so you must not give up easily. Neither of my attempts was done on the first attempt of the day. About one p.m. to two p.m. seems the charm.
The eight-hour slopes are memorable for other reasons. It is a mental and physical challenge. You are also at the mercy of the weather and need good meteorology to pick the right time to try.
My first eight-hour slope flight was in 1984. I used a Wind Drifter with four C alkaline batteries. I used a plug-in alkaline pack for my Kraft transmitter. When I unplugged the pack the transmitter went back to NiCd batteries automatically. It took two 7-cell alkaline packs. The C cells in the Wind Drifter could have done sixteen hours or better and I needed ballast anyway.
Both of my eight-hours were off the southwest-facing slopes of Elberta, MI. My first eight-hour was on a breezy, cold and wet day in August. The slope was marginal but I survived with the help of a great crew. I had help of a shelter made by Mike Stump, food, drink and aspirin. The plane never got more than thirty feet above the slope.
My second eight-hour took four attempts in four days of remarkable winds. The trouble is it must last eight hours and it must stay in the right direction. I had six hours done when the wind died. The next time the wind stayed up but it shifted too far parallel with the slope. I probably did 17 hours on the slope to get eight hours, but I was determined to get it done.
I owe a bunch to the guys who witnessed for me as they stayed with me through it all. They did some EPP (expanded polypropylene foam) combat to keep me entertained. They also managed not to mid-air me. The airplane stayed level with the top of the slope the whole time so I had to fly it more than I liked with only a couple brain-fade scares. It is the only task I dread for the third time around so will be the last thing I do.
The most rewarding part of doing Level V twice would be all the friendships involved. These are team tasks. For thermal tasks you have others bird-dogging lift with you. Cross-country is not just for yourself, but others try as well. For eight-hour pairs, people love company. Task work gets others enthused. Soon you hear "I need a timer" and it isn't even a contest day. By achieving Level V you are also required to help others do the same."
A Few Facts
- Bob Champine was the first double Level V, and Don Harris was the second. Don Harris is going for his third Level V. He is a couple of levels ahead, so it will be a contest in 2003–2004.
- The Sailaire and Sagitta 900 names are now owned by Dream Catcher Hobby, Inc., MA.
Sources
- League of Silent Flight
c/o AMA Box 3028 Muncie, IN 47302-1028 www.silentflight.org
- Cal Posthuma
13430 60th Ave. Coopersville, MI 49404 [email protected] www.altelec.net/~calpsf/index.html
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
