Dale Collier

With only three years of RC Sailplane flying experience, a father and son team from Maui, Hawaii established new records in Class A Slope Duration (Junior and Open) and Open Closed-Course Distance a few years ago. And dad went on to break the U.S. Duration and Closed-Course Distance records in his attempt at the World Record. It's an hour before first light, and we're unlocking the pasture gate. The small caravan of trucks and cars slips in silently and begins the ascent to the top of the hill, headlights showing the way. At the top, few words are spoken as the trucks are unloaded, each man knowing his job. No one sees the red ball rising in the east over the Pacific. An idea that began a year ago is now a reality. A group of 12 is about to make an assault on the F3B RC World Duration and Closed Course Distance records. History and planning. The idea was first mentioned to me after a particularly satisfying two-hour 56-minute thermal flight on July 12, 1987 in a pasture called Poli Poli on the island of Maui. The conversation went something like this: "Why don't you go for the World Record?" "How long is the World Record?"