Radio Control: Soaring
This is the second of two columns on aerotowing, and it will give you basic information about preparing and flying the tow airplane. I have not flown one, so I will present the experiences of other pilots. First are suggestions for the fuel-power tow pilot. I am indebted to John Derstine of the Harris Hill L/D club, Elmira NY, and Robin Lehman of Sailplanes Unlimited for the material about fuel-power tow airplanes. I can say from being towed by these guys that they know what they're doing. A tow pilot must be experienced in all phases of Radio Control (RC) flight and be familiar with his or her tow airplane; it's helpful if he or she has flown sailplanes. The pilot must be able to fly large, smooth circles while towing a sailplane at a steady rate of climb until both airplanes are nearly out of sight.
Radio Control: Soaring
The Inventec Pelikan has been enthusiastically discussed on the Internet RC (Radio Control) Soaring Exchange, and has received enough rave comments that I'm starting to think it may be a breakthrough sailplane. I had a chance to briefly fly two Pelikans: The first belonged to Mark Howard, who was kind enough to let three of us fly his model from a hi-start late one afternoon at the 1997 Nationals (at the AMA Flying Site, Muncie IN). Gordy Stahl (Louisville Area Soaring Society, KY) went first.
Radio Control: Soaring
The Olympic II is one of my all-time favorite sailplanes. I learned winch-launching with it; I got my first half-hour flight with it; I completed the LSF (League of Silent Flight) Level II requirements with it; I learned a lot about flying in slope lift with it; it was my first camera-carrying sailplane; and I got my first contest win with this stick-built balsa model. There is a photo of my Olympic II on page 86 of the June 1996 Model Aviation. The 1998 photos shown here are of the same sailplane, now owned and flown by Jim Harrigan of Rensselaer, New York. This airframe and its Futaba Attack-4 radio set has had an eight-year lifespan and is still flying.
Radio Control: Soaring
Hand Launch (HL) seems to be the fastest-growing branch of Radio Control (RC) thermal soaring, and the development of new airplanes continues at a remarkable pace. Any listing of HL models available would be out-of-date by the time it was published. This month I'll report on three different construction types - three separate design paths - aimed at the same HL objectives: high launch, flat glide, agility in the air, and reasonable survivability. I flew a balsa, an all-foam, and a composite Hand-Launched Glider (HLG) on the same day to observe the similarities and differences among them.
Radio Control: Soaring
MOST RADIO CONTROL (RC) Soaring pilots know the name Joe Wurts. He's a world champion soaring pilot - the best there is in RC Soaring flying skill. He is also a sailplane designer, recognized most recently for developing the wing on the Renaud Designs Emerald and Diamond, and a hotshot Slope Soaring pilot, flying Combat foamies as well as fast fiberglass models. I've had the good fortune to fly with Joe at the Nationals (Nats) in Muncie IN and at the Fall Soaring Festival in Visalia CA, and to learn from him. He has taken the time to help repair my airplane after I blew the stabs off it trying to emulate the moon-shot launches of the F3B fliers at the Nats. Joe is gentleman and a tireless ambassador for the sport. While Easterners were locked in their balsa dungeons and Westerners were trying to dry out from El Niño-induced rainfall, Joe agreed to an E-mail interview for Model Aviation. In addition to "Gee, Joe, how'd you get so good?" I tried to elicit some tips, tricks, and ideas that will help Everyman improve his or her flying.
