Radio Control: Soaring
A BIG PART of what makes our RC Soaring hobby so interesting is the freedom to continuously innovate and improve the aircraft. By this I mean that most fliers develop ideas about what makes a better glider. There is nothing stopping any of us from designing and building the world's best, contest winningest sailplane . . . except that most of us are too busy to get around to it! That's why I admire the folks who design, prove out, and actually put their gliders on the market. This month we'll feature two small manufacturers, one that has been around for a couple of years (RnR Products), and a brand new one (Fox Models). But first a commercial on behalf of the Home Team.
Radio Control: Soaring
THE 1991 F3B World Championships will be held in the Netherlands beginning August 24th. This is the Olympic Games of RC Soaring. Nearly 30 countries will compete for Individual and Team Championship titles. Our U.S. F3B team pilots are Larry Jolly, Daryl Perkins and Joe Wurts. Team Manager Randy Spencer sent important news that a fundraising raffle is on, with a round trip air ticket to Holland to attend the World Champs as first prize! Other prizes include an Airtronics Vision radio system, Airtronics Legend Sailplane kit, Composite Structures Technology vacuum-bagging system, custom wing bags from American Sailplane Designs, and many more items from major manufacturers.
Radio Control: Soaring
THORNBURG IS BACK! RC Soaring more or less began in the mid to late Sixties, and one of the pioneers at the time was Dave Thornburg of Albuquerque. NM. He was considered by fellow competition fliers as a leading Soaring guru all through the Seventies. He even moved to California to be closer to the "big action." Dave wrote a series of articles for Model Builder magazine in the late Seventies and early Eighties, and they've come to be recognized as classics. You often still see references to them in magazine columns and club newsletters. "Thornburg's 12 Rules of Soaring" should be memorized by all Glider fliers.
Radio Control: Soaring
I'VE READ "How Fred Flies." The Fred we're talking about is Fred Weaver of San Jose, CA. Fred was the third person to achieve LSF Level V, completing this rigorous test in 1976. (John Baxter and Steve Work got their Level V's in 1975.) With the Gliders and equipment available in those days, finishing Level V was an especially tough job-still is, for that matter! Fred is a three-time winner of the very popular and prestigious Visalia Fall Soaring Festival, winning last year with his trusty Airtronics Cumic. You can appreciate that, with these credentials, Fred has built up a storehouse of Soaring knowledge . . . which would be wonderful to burrow into if we could.
Radio Control: Soaring
NEW: The Westwind from Max Mills Models. Last month's column had Tom Thompson's personal impressions of Max's Southwind polyhedral-winged Standard Class Glider. This month Max himself tells us about his straight-wing version called the Westwind: "The Westwind is designed for the person who has been flying an entry-level Sailplane and has become proficient at landing and thermaling and is ready to fly a new type and style of model. The straight wings of the Westwind are designed for the pilot who has little or no experience with aileron-equipped aircraft. The very positive roll control and wing planform of this model make it extremely predictable to fly. The launch portion of each flight is a pleasure, not a hair-raising experience.
