RADIO CONTROL SOARING - 2003/05

May 2003 95
FOR THIS MONTH I asked Cal Posthuma
to tell what it was like to complete the
League of Silent Flight (LSF) “Level V” for
a second time. LSF Level V is a pinnacle of
personal achievement in Radio Control (RC)
Soaring. Only 108 pilots had managed to
reach LSF Level V as of my deadline. Cal
finished the tasks a second time last
summer—overcoming the challenging flying
tasks, logistics, and doing all this from a
wheelchair. Before Cal’s account I will
briefly describe what LSF is about.
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 is the organization that manages the Soaring portion of the
Nationals for AMA. 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
Mike Garton, 2733 NE 95th Ave., Ankeny IA 50021; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL SOARING
* 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 Féderation 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.
Six hours into an eight-plus-hour slope flight near Elberta,
Michigan (L-R): Larry Jeffery, Cal, and Martin Doney.
Crew after the second eight-hour slope flight (L-R): Martin Doney,
Larry Jeffery, Cal Posthuma, and Harry DeBoer.
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 truly noble organization.
Following is “Level V the Second Time Around” by 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
96 MODEL AVIATION
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
Crew after Cal completes first eight-hour slope duration flight (L-R):
Beth Fish, Roger Fish, Larry Jeffery, Bob Robinson, John Hoover.
Larry pushes Cal for two-kilometer goal and return cross-country
flight on his way to first LSF Level V. Walt Good photo.
Young (1984) Cal flies his glider from the back of a pickup truck
for LSF Level V distance of 10 kilometers. Good photo.
May 2003 97
good for two-hour thermal and all crosscountry
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 2k 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 going
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 easy. 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 nicads 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 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 need 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 hours pain loves 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.altelco.net/~calplsf/index.html