Radio Control: Soaring
CLUB OF THE MONTH. Paul Bell, newsletter editor for the Long Island Silent Flyers, sent the photos plus this writeup on his club: "As the name implies, our club is located on Long Island, NY. We have about 70 members, of which more than half are active fliers. The club field is in Stillwell Park (Syosset, NY). We hold eight club contests yearly which draw 25 to 30 steady entrants. We fly Two-Meter and Unlimited, and this year we are trying three classes (levels) of fliers.
Radio Control: Soaring
DAN PRUSS was Model Aviation's contributing editor for Soaring when the magazine was founded back in 1975. Those who knew Dan in the '70s and early '80s remember his many contributions to RC soaring. Dan CDed the SOAR Nats and was Team Manager of the first three U.S. F3B Teams. Dan died of cancer in 1986, and I've been minding the column since then. The job has been marvelously rewarding in many ways, especially in giving me the opportunity to make friends with so many great sailplaners here and around the world. I have enjoyed this immensely, but time marches on and I feel it's time to pass the baton. This will be my last column, but I love to build and fly gliders, so I'll contribute kit reviews and such to the column from time to time.
RC Sailplanes At Toledo
Top: The usual "zoo" at Toledo. The helium balloon is being flown by designer/builder George Steiner. Its two tiny electric motors pivot to move the balloon in any direction. Left: Designer Mike Pratt proudly holds his new Sig Riser 100. It is the Standard Class version of the 2-meter Riser and is well suited as a Soaring trainer. Right: Rol Klingberg holds his flying wing. Gary Anderson of American Sailplane Designs looks on.
Radio Control: Soaring
NATIONAL Soaring Skills Symposium, May 28-29, 1988. Mark that on your calendar. The Eastern Iowa Soaring Society is sponsoring this unique Soaring get-together for the second year. The idea behind it is to have experts in various specialties (such as thermaling, Slope flying, F3B, Electrics, winches, building, etc.) pass along their knowledge. There will be flying seminars and displays relating to flying Sailplanes and Electrics. The demonstrations will not be "formal," in that experienced instructors will be available all day for questions and demonstrations.
Radio Control: Soaring
NEW from Control Systems Laboratories: ATRCS. The Airtronics Module SP is a good RC system and is very popular with Sailplane fliers. What would you think if someone told you they could transform your SP into the equal of the most sophisticated radio in the world-for $300? I think a lot of people would jump at the chance. Granted, rudder-steered polyhedral planes don't need a high-tech set, but for fliers with planes having ailerons and flaps, the ability to do all kinds of "tricks" at a reasonable price will be welcomed by many. The people at Control Systems Laboratories who will performs these miracles are Eugene Engelau and Thomas Mroz. They formed CSL to manufacture and install retrofit computer electronics that will turn your old pumpkin into a Rolls Royce. Their first PC boards are for the SP radio, but mods for other radios will be added shortly.
