Radio Control: Soaring
When the National Soaring Society (NSS) made the decision to limit the Standard Class to wingspan only, the Board of Directors realized that some controversy was bound to follow. That the hue and cry would be of Bacchanalian proportions was not expected, however. Just a year earlier, the East Coast Soaring Society - forerunner to the NSS - established the Standard Class as a sailplane limited to two functions and a wing spread of 100 inches or less. The criticism for this decision came fast, but it came from a different group of competitors. Any praise for the decision at that time just did not exist. Truly, many on the ECSS Board of Directors at that time felt the decision was wrong. But, the die was cast - for the year 1974 anyway. For those of you just getting into our sport and to refresh the memory of others, some background into the Standard Class concept is presented:
Radio Control: Soaring
AT THE APRIL FAI meeting in Paris, the rescheduling of the R/C Sailplane World Championships was announced for 1977. Originally scheduled for April of 1976, the FAI decided that due to the number of other World Championships that are scheduled for 1976 the rescheduling would lessen the burden on the Aero-Clubs involved in 1976. This gives us-the U.S.A.-another year to decide on a team, and the method of team selection. Rod Smith, President of the National Soaring Society (N.S.S.), has appointed Otto Heithecker as chairman for a committee to design a method of team selection. Ideas to date include a "Masters" type of contest which would include those in the top standings from the N.S.S. championship standings, the S.O.A.R. Nationals, the L.S.F. Tournament(s), the soaring event at the AMA Nationals, and the previous qualifiers for the 1974 AerOlympics at Lakehurst. Plans include a Masters site-possibly Albuquerque-since its field elevation of 5300 feet approximates that of the South African site. Details of a team selection proposal for AMA approval will probably be finalized and announced at the N.S.S. meeting at the S.O.A.R. Nationals in July.
Radio Control: Soaring
Sailplane Distance Record Tentatively Broken. In an attempt to break Jerry Krainock's existing distance record of 27.20 miles, Jack Hiner of Downer's Grove, Ill., flew 32 miles for the straight-line record try. A year ago, over the three-day Memorial Day week-end, Jack set a S.O.A.R. club record for a thermal duration flight of 3 hrs., 7 mins., 52 secs.! It was this flight that urged Jack to plan for the distance record because weather conditions couldn't be more ideal. It should be noted that Springtime in the midwest produces evenings with the temperatures in the forties followed by daytime temperatures in the seventies. The freshly plowed fields that blanket this area become a caldron of thermal activity and if the soaring axiom-for every thermal there is a "downer"-is true, these "downers" probably exist somewhere near the Missouri border! So-with these weather conditions as part of the master plan, Jack made preparations during this past year.
Radio Control: Soaring
HHL/D has earned the reputation of being able to manage some of the finest contests held anywhere. Their annual September contest-held on Harris Hill, the birthplace of full-scale soaring some four and a half decades ago-is a yearly gathering of over a hundred RC sailplane enthusiasts. The contests have always been expertly managed by gentlemen like Ernie Heyworth, Jim Gray, Dick Pike, and Tim Shaddock-to name but a few. The events, while a slight departure from the rule book, have always been innovative and most challenging. So if you're looking for one of the best contests with some of the finest flyers in the country, plan on Elmira in the fall. The scenery alone is worth the price of admission.
1975 League of Silent Flight Tournament
IN 1970 when the first LSFT Tournament was scheduled, the registration mark of 100 seemed to be a milestone for contest attendance. The fact that the LSF membership was just pushing the 100 mark made the contest figure all the more an improbability. This year a limit of 150 had to be placed on pre-registration so that the tournament could remain manageable. The dates: August 30 and 31, 1975; the place: Costa Mesa, Calif.; the site: Mile Square; Co-Contest Directors, John Donelson and Bob Hahn. The tasks: 5-minute duration, 7-minute duration, 10-minute precision-duration, 2-minute precision, 4-lap speed-distance task over a 150-meter course; 10-minute duration.
