Gopher Canyon
In this age of urbanization, modelers who take a more sophisticated, whole-sound approach to measuring noise have the edge in achieving quiet flight. This San Diego club association won a flying site partly by doing just that. LIKE MANY another success story, this one grew out of hard work, innovation, and perseverance. The story of Gopher Canyon is about how a dedicated group of RC fliers overcame local opposition to secure a muchneeded club flying site. That this happened in San Diego makes it all the more notable an achievement. In a large, crowded city like San Diego, finding a flying site that isn't in close proximity to residential areas is difficult indeed. San Diego is also a very fast-growing city, so a field with long-term potential is a rare commodity. Compounding the challenge, the city is surrounded by mountains and ocean. On the plus side, however, San Diego fliers are fortunate in having an active association of flying clubs. When the going gets tough, the tough get organized! Spearheaded by Dennis Caudle, the local clubs banded together as a unified front in 1986. The association acts as liaison to the county and other land-controlling organizations.
Glider Flying
I WOKE from a light nap with a start. My body said it's 2 a.m. and go back to sleep, but the sun outside my window said broad daylight and get up, lazy. Where am I? Oh, yea, KLM flight 67 going to Denmark. There's Irv Aker, sketching Wakefield designs to pass the time, and Bill Bogart looking out the window for shock waves on our 747 wing. Thus, started a pattern of confusion that would last several weeks. I was on my way to Roskilde, Denmark, to watch the Russians fly A/2 glider at the 1977 Free Flight World Champs. The Russians are, as their contest results prove, the best glider fliers in the world, and developed most of the techniques we use to circle-tow and zoom-launch. I hoped to improve my own flying by observing them closely.
