RADIO CONTROL SOARING - 2001/04
this MOnth’s Soaring column will
cover three topics. I’ll review the
International Hand Launch Glider Festival
2000 video, then I’ll describe a high-tech
scratch-built Hand-Launched Glider
(HLG) by Matt Gewain.
Last, I’ll explain the good and the bad
of switch-jacks. These clever devices
perform the function of a power switch
and a charging jack for the flight pack.
People either love them or hate them. I
will attempt to explain why.
RADIO CONTROL SOARING - 2001/03
thE CoMMoN thread in this column is
that all the stuff is related (at least
tangentially) to DJ Aerotech products.
I’ll detail John Roe’s contest setup for the
DJ Aerotech Wizard. It made a huge
difference on my airplane that had been set
up in a more standard manner. This is a good
lesson, even if you don’t have a Wizard.
I’ll show neat modifications for wings,
demonstrated on a Wizard.
Then I’ll give some insight into why DJ
Aerotech’s new Spectre-series gliders fly
well with slender wings.
DJ Aerotech has been producing composite
Hand-Launched Gliders (HLGs) for many
years. I had a Monarch D-Lite and I loved it.
The Monarch had an excellent glide ratio
and forgiving handling. This polyhedral
airplane was easy to fly, with wellcoordinated
thermal turns. It was also highperformance
for its time.
Oc-Tow-berfest
How do you get a 1⁄3-scale model glider
into the sky?
You tow it with a 1⁄3-scale model towplane!
Aerotowing works well for full-scale
gliders, so it is no surprise that it works well
for models. It is the safest way to launch
large model gliders.
Oc-Tow-berfest 2000 was held September
29-October 1 near St. Louis MO. This was
the second year for the event. Pilots came
from New York, Michigan, Texas,
Wisconsin, North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, and Missouri to participate.
Aerotow events are building in popularity. At
the end of this article I include a Web site with an
aerotowing contest calendar. At least 15 such
events were held in the United States last year.
Scheduling the event in the fall makes good
weather likely; this year it was perfect.
One pilot pointed out that for a good turnout
at an aerotow event, it is important to schedule
several days of flying. Many pilots won’t drive
halfway across the country for one day of flying
that could have bad weather.
Aerotowing joins the Radio Control (RC)
power fliers with glider fliers.
Contest Director Pete George enlisted the
help of the Midwest Air Wing (MAW) R/C
Club, which is primarily a power airplane group.
The event was held at the MAW flying
field—a nice facility northeast of St. Louis,
near Pontoon Beach IL. The friendly hosts
barbecued a vast quantity of ribs at the field
for Saturday dinner.
RADIO CONTROL SOARING - 2001/02
The TheMe of this month’s column is Rudder-Elevator-Spoiler
(RES)-class gliders.
I’ll give a brief explanation of the class, an update on the
rekitting of the Sagitta 900, and details of Rich Burnoski’s RES
offerings and his new company. I’ll also include my impressions
of the Two-meter Chrysalis and an introduction to Mark Drela’s
Allegro-Lite RES design.
In ReS class the controls are limited to rudder, elevator, and
spoilers. This competition class is intended to let relatively simple
and inexpensive gliders compete on a level playing field.
Computer radios are not needed, so the initial investment can
be three to four times lower for an RES glider.
RADIO CONTROL SOARING - 2001/01
ThIS MonTh I’ll give a short plug for a
new Cross Country race—the Canal Run.
The bulk of the column will describe some
pod-and-boom Unlimited models that were
inspired by Tom Kiesling’s Mantis.
Starting in 1976, the SOAR club of
Chicago IL ran a Cross Country Radio
Control (RC) Soaring contest called The
Great Race.
In Cross Country, the pilot steers his
glider while he or she rides in the back of a
pickup truck. The airplane alternates
between thermaling and high-speed straightline
flight. Stops on the shoulder of the road
are frequently required to concentrate on
thermaling.
The length of The Great Race course
varied slightly throughout the years; it was
usually between 42 and 50 miles.
To win this competition, pilots not only
had to complete the course, but they had to
do it faster than the other competitors. It was
a popular event, with very stiff competition
between teams.
