Radio Control: Soaring
TOLEDO. That modeler's mecca where the annual throngs gather to see the latest from manufacturers and modelers was again-for the 30th year-the place to be, during the first week in April. One column can't begin to cover it all; however, those models and ideas which seemed to be the focus of a lot of attention are presented this month.
Radio Control: Soaring
LAST month's column showed a unique way of mounting the airborne equipment in a fiberglass fuselage. However, that method adapted itself to fuselages that had basically a more flat bottom in their profiles as compared with say, those of more teardrop-like designs. Photos this month show a series of steps which can be applied to nearly all shapes of fuselages, especially to those with a more bulbous front end and which are elliptical or circular in cross section.
Radio Control: Soaring
HERE are a couple of birds this month that are relatively new to the soaring scene. Actually, there are three of them; two are just of the same basic design. Those two are Savage and Son of Savage. The handiwork of Mark Rebeck (San Juan Capistrano, CA), the Savage was primarily designed for slope flying. Wingspan is 70 in.; flying weight is two pounds, and the 650-sq.-in. wing puts the wing loading at 7-8 oz. per sq. ft. Control functions are only ailerons and elevator. If you have never flown an aileron-equipped Sailplane before, you may want to consider the Savage as a starter. The one-piece wing makes for simple construction, and the linkage for the flying stab is a system with which you're probably already familiar.
Radio Control: Soaring
SHOW TIME. Just in between the end of the flying season and the beginning of the building season-for Midwesterners anyway-a group of Chicagoland RC clubs sponsors its annual "Expo." Originally formed with the idea of coordinating their common interest-radio controlled models-over a dozen clubs organized what is now called the Greater Chicago Radio Control Association. Among its contributions to the sport and the community, the organization has provided one outstanding service that any other large city (with more than one hobby shop and one club) should copy. Using a blow-up map of the city and surrounding suburban area, locations of all flying fields, boat ponds, and race car tracks are shown. These maps are then posted in hobby shops and are also distributed to the clubs.
Radio Control: Soaring
MARCS SAILPLANE SYMPOSIUM. Who hasn't been at a weekend contest and gotten into a discussion over building techniques, radios, or any other related modeling matter only to be called to fly or time or sandbag? There never seems to be enough time for both-flying and talking, I mean. One club found a solution, though. A few months back, a group called the Madison Area Radio Control Society took off on the idea of a Sailplane symposium. This wasn't the first idea of its kind, but it was a good one. Having no idea of what kind of turnout could be expected, the MARCS-as they are called-were more than pleased when Sailplane enthusiasts from five states showed up for a Soaring activity where a protest couldn't even be filed!
