Radio Control: Soaring
THE NEW ENGLAND RC Soaring Convention will be held Saturday, November 15 in Portland ME. In past years we have flown sailplanes on the Friday before and the Sunday after the convention. Scheduled speakers are John Derstine and Steve Savoie, "Aerotowing Scale Gliders;" Bill Kuhlman (B2 Streamlines), "Use of Polars in Airfoil Comparisons;" Larry Lloyd (Airtronics), "Programming Computer Radios;" George Sparr (Aerospace Composite Products), "Choice and Use of Composite Materials in Sailplane Design and Construction;" Dave Garwood, "Slope Jets and Foamie Slope Combat." Seating is limited and reservations are required by November 3. Send check or money order, payable to Downeast Soaring Club, to reserve your seat. Jim Armstrong, 292 Foreside Rd., Topsham ME 04086; Tel.: (207) 725-5758 (evenings); E-mail: [email protected].
Elmira Aero-Tow '97
A well-organized flightline and as many as four tow pilots available made for plenty of opportunity to fly these massive and beautiful sailplanes, both vintage and modern Scale. Three days of perfect weather made for long flights. The elevated venue gave us vistas in several directions, including a view of the jetport in the valley below and hang gliders working a distant ridge. Aerobatics enthusiasts saw EMS factory pilot Theo Arnold performing breathtaking maneuvers with a 5.4-meter Duo Discus. These guys displayed awesome piloting ability, partly because sailplane aerobatics have been flown in competition in Germany for 25 years.
Radio Control: Soaring
THIRD IN A SERIES of powerful and productive collaborations between AMA and the League of Silent Flight, the 1997 Soaring Nats was another fine flying meet. Approximately 200 pilots came from 28 states to fly in six contests from July 26 through August 1. We had some memorable weather, plenty of heat on the weekend, and three days of wind from "an unusually strong high pressure system" as The Weather Channel called it. Only once was flying curtailed because of rain, and that happened late in the afternoon. We flew from 12 powerful winches prepared by Michigan's Mike Wade. Some called it a week of carnage; with strong winds and strong winches, about 30 sailplanes were lost on launch. About half folded wings or blew stabs on tow, and about half winched into the ground after getting out of shape after release.
Radio Control: Soaring
Soaring Safety, something we sometimes forget until reminded the hard way, reduces accidents, snafus, and "gotchas." Attention to basic safety principles and procedures makes the soaring life more pleasurable, more productive, and, well, safer. "Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But like seafaring, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect." That old pilot's maxim gives some insight into the methodology for making our flying safer. Preparation is the key.
Radio Control: Soaring
Judging by the number of events staged and the number of magazine articles published on the topic in the last two years, aerotowing is growing rapidly in interest and sophistication. Aerotow events are held annually in Elmira, New York; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Los Banos, California; and other locations, often drawing 50 pilots or more. The grace and majesty of launching by aerotow, plus the opportunity for cooperation and interaction between sailplane pilots and power-airplane pilots, is rare in other areas of Radio Control (RC) flying.
