Jackpot
It is one thing to test a model in isolation and get to know how it flies, but at a recent gathering of Bill Winter and his friends I was privileged to fly at least 15 different airplanes before taking Jackpot up, and this comparison might help you to prepare to fly this model. Even though we RCers fly our models through a control system which, unfortunately, does not provide sensory "feedback" from varying air pressures and perspectives from the cockpit, Jackpot provides strong feedback through its visual cues. Of all the models that I flew that day, Jackpot was the most rock-stable of all. It is a completely forgiving and insensitive airplane, just like a well-designed trainer, yet it provides a great platform from which to explore advanced areas of flight. If you can fly any trainer you can fly Jackpot, and Jackpot will do so much more.
ARIA: The Long Wing: Aria goes soaring with its new, longer wing.
THIS SEQUEL to the Aria article was only a gleam in the designer's eye when we wrote the article on the basic short-wing Aria in the September 1992 Model Aviation. We now know that the longer wing is completely successful, particularly in its own elements-calmer air and weak lift. Along the rolling foothill slopes of rural Virginia, the longer wing rides the river of air, as Dave Thornberg would say, with the turkey buzzards.
Ascender
THE NAMESAKE of the Ascender is the World War II Curtiss canard experimental fighter - an exciting design that never made it to production. Understanding of tail-first design has come a long way since the unique Curtiss fighter, with the XB-70 Valkyrie, the SAAB jet fighters, and Rutan's work. The QED model design (March 1996 Model Aviation) proved that the canard configuration had much to offer in stability without giving up anything in performance. Bill Winter's first delta canard, the Javelin (September 1997 RC Modeler), was developed for me and the way I like to fly - fast. In becoming familiar with the superb low-speed characteristics of a delta-wing-plus-canard configuration through the Javelin, Bill designed a second delta canard for the way he flies: a model that has sport-type speed and good, solid handling characteristics.
Soft Touch
Have you wished for a big airplane, but put it off because of the perceived negatives? Big airplanes fly far better than smaller ones, but do they intimidate you? Have you been spending your time building that special Scale model, and not flying? And need to brush-up? Or do you have a big "hangar queen" that you fly sparingly for fear of damage? Do you want something simple, big, easier and safer to fly than Sunday trainers? If so, consider this prospectus for the Soft Touch:
Aria
WHAT MOST of us want in an Electric model is the most for our money-long and high flights, more maneuverability, good pilot feel, great handling, smooth responses, an affinity for soaring, windy-weather capability, easy approaches and landings (with none of the awkwardness of Sailplane types). Not only do we want all this, but we want it all in one airplane. In his delightful Old Buzzard's Soaring Book (available from Pony X Press, 5 Monticello Drive, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123), Dave Thornburg warns us never to accept compromise in design. If we do, we'll end up with a model that does everything very well, but nothing superbly (Dave is into Soaring competition).
