Wasp VI
IN OUTDOOR Hand-Launched Glider competition, consistency is the name of the game. The Wasp VI, due to its large size and a careful selection of moments, offers superb consistency and a thermaling ability that is nearly impossible to beat. The plane's contest performance is impressive in all kinds of weather-from light lift and calm winds to high winds and super booming thermals. To many people the idea of a built-up Hand Launched Glider may seem like too much unnecessary complication. For a sport model this is probably true, but for a competition design the concept offers several advantages. The major difference is the wing loading that can be achieved with a built-up structure. The real importance of this is not that it produces a super-light airplane, since too light a plane is impossible to throw, but that you can build light planes from less-than-light wood. Getting a piece of good C-grain wood in the 8- to 10-lb. range is a lot easier than finding the same type of wood in the 4- to 6-lb. range.
