| Feeling down? Petrol prices, mortgage and credit card | | | | the oncoming breeze. |
| payments all going up? Get a lift back up in the air. | | | | Bungee, or hi-start, launching sends a model sailplane |
| Get an eco-friendly model sailplane. | | | | skywards like an arrow. The plane is attached to a |
| Sailplanes, also called gliders, fly atop rising air. There | | | | line connected to elastic tubing that is secured to the |
| is no engine noise, only the sound of your heartbeat | | | | ground, or to a winch. Pull the plane back, let it zoom |
| as you watch your model sailplane become a speck in | | | | into the air, and grab the radio control. Better, of |
| the sky. How do you get your model sailplane back? | | | | course to have two people involved so you have |
| How did you get it up there in the first place? What | | | | control at all times. |
| sort of things can you do with your model sailplane | | | | Another launch method which emulates full size |
| when it is in the air? | | | | gliders involves a second powered model airplane to |
| A model sailplane, just like the real thing, is constantly | | | | tow the sailplane up and away. This is a nice way of |
| flying downwards through the air. It must do so to | | | | combining a number of modelling and flying disciplines |
| maintain airspeed to provide lift for the wings and | | | | with the towline released by a separate servo |
| airflow over the control surfaces to give the pilot | | | | actuation. |
| control. But when the air is rising faster than the | | | | And yes, though some view it as cheating, there are |
| sailplane is falling then the sailplane can also rise, riding | | | | model sailplanes that feature an electric motor for |
| atop the rising air. | | | | initial launching and for regaining altitude whenever |
| Rising air occurs either through thermal lift or slope | | | | required. The motor has folding propeller blades that |
| lift. Thermal lift involves heat. Even in the winter | | | | fold back when the motor is not running to remove |
| months, there are occasions when the ground warms | | | | the propeller blades from the airflow where they |
| to temperatures higher than the air above. As you | | | | would otherwise contribute nothing but drag. |
| know with a hot-air balloon, warm air rises. These | | | | Though it is quite thrilling to watch your model |
| pockets of air make perfect elevators for a model | | | | sailplane soar ever upwards, and to remain there due |
| sailplane to rise on. But such rising columns of air are | | | | to your skill in seeking out new thermals, there is still |
| invisible. So the art of thermal soaring is to find a | | | | more your model sailplane can show you. Slope |
| strong thermal, and then to stay in it to rise as far as | | | | soaring off a hill usually involves a constant wind and |
| you can. If you are flying 'point to point' then to | | | | lift, so flyers are not so concerned about losing |
| leave that thermal to fly in the direction you want to | | | | altitude in a hurry. So diving from altitude makes for |
| go while at the same time seeking out your next | | | | speeds up to 100 mph. Then that competitive edge |
| thermal to lift you up again before the prevailing | | | | creeps in again and the slope is where most gliders |
| force of gravity brings your model sailplane inevitably | | | | compete. |
| back to earth. | | | | Racing is either done "F3F" style where your plane's |
| Slope lift, by contrast, relies on the wind and a hill. | | | | flight is timed, or man-on-man style where you |
| The hill forces the approaching wind upwards, along | | | | actually race another plane. Sailplane combat, (SSC), is |
| with your plane. Great slope soaring sites are | | | | something else again where your objective is to |
| invariably found where there is a prevailing wind and | | | | knock your opponent out of the sky and score a 'kill'. |
| a long ridge to create a smooth and constant upward | | | | Because they obviously crash often, combat |
| wave of air. | | | | sailplanes are made out of foam for easy rebuilds and |
| Without thermal lift or slope lift, a model sailplane will | | | | will literally bounce off the ground due to their |
| fall inexorably back to earth. The radio controls allow | | | | forgiving and robust construction. |
| you to guide your plane to seek out lift and if you | | | | The Academy of Model Aeronautics, (AMA), features |
| are flying from point to point, to move from one | | | | several Special Interest Groups to assist the silent |
| source of lift to another in the direction you want to | | | | flier. The League of Silent Flight (LSF) provides rules |
| go. And eventually, of course, to bring your sky | | | | for racing, aerobatics, and a series of thermal tasks. |
| warrior down to a smooth landing. | | | | The RCCA offers combat guidance and events. The |
| There are several methods of launching a model | | | | NEAC offers guidance for electric-powered sailplanes. |
| sailplane for a ride on air. The most basic and obvious | | | | (LSF) League of Silent Flight: |
| method is to simply throw the plane with either a | | | | (RCCA) Radio Control Combat Association, |
| javelin or discus style launch. The plane gains about | | | | (NEAC) National Electric Aircraft Council, |
| 50 feet of altitude from the momentum of the | | | | So there you have it, beautiful, elegant, thermal |
| throw - then you have to hope like crazy that you | | | | soaring model sailplanes or robust, knock 'em down |
| are going to find lift before gravity brings it inevitably | | | | combat kills with cheap, quick to build foamies. Model |
| earthward again. This is where slope soaring has a | | | | sailplane soaring is just as exciting as powered flight. |
| major advantage because as you launch your model | | | | So get yourself a model sailplane and get out there |
| sailplane off the slope you know the lift is there from | | | | and give it a go. |