Feeling down? Petrol prices, mortgage and credit card payments all going up? Get a lift back up in the air. Get an eco-friendly model sailplane.

Sailplanes, also called gliders, fly atop rising air. There is no engine noise, only the sound of your heartbeat as you watch your model sailplane become a speck in the sky. How do you get your model sailplane back? How did you get it up there in the first place? What sort of things can you do with your model sailplane when it is in the air?

A model sailplane, just like the real thing, is constantly flying downwards through the air. It must do so to maintain airspeed to provide lift for the wings and airflow over the control surfaces to give the pilot control. But when the air is rising faster than the sailplane is falling then the sailplane can also rise, riding atop the rising air.

Rising air occurs either through thermal lift or slope lift. Thermal lift involves heat. Even in the winter months, there are occasions when the ground warms to temperatures higher than the air above. As you know with a hot-air balloon, warm air rises. These pockets of air make perfect elevators for a model sailplane to rise on. But such rising columns of air are invisible. So the art of thermal soaring is to find a strong thermal, and then to stay in it to rise as far as you can. If you are flying ‘point to point’ then to leave that thermal to fly in the direction you want to go while at the same time seeking out your next thermal to lift you up again before the prevailing force of gravity brings your model sailplane inevitably back to earth.

Slope lift, by contrast, relies on the wind and a hill. The hill forces the approaching wind upwards, along with your plane. Great slope soaring sites are invariably found where there is a prevailing wind and a long ridge to create a smooth and constant upward wave of air.

Without thermal lift or slope lift, a model sailplane will fall inexorably back to earth. The radio controls allow you to guide your plane to seek out lift and if you are flying from point to point, to move from one source of lift to another in the direction you want to go. And eventually, of course, to bring your sky warrior down to a smooth landing.

There are several methods of launching a model sailplane for a ride on air. The most basic and obvious method is to simply throw the plane with either a javelin or discus style launch. The plane gains about 50 feet of altitude from the momentum of the throw - then you have to hope like crazy that you are going to find lift before gravity brings it inevitably earthward again. This is where slope soaring has a major advantage because as you launch your model sailplane off the slope you know the lift is there from the oncoming breeze.

Bungee, or hi-start, launching sends a model sailplane skywards like an arrow. The plane is attached to a line connected to elastic tubing that is secured to the ground, or to a winch. Pull the plane back, let it zoom into the air, and grab the radio control. Better, of course to have two people involved so you have control at all times.

Another launch method which emulates full size gliders involves a second powered model airplane to tow the sailplane up and away. This is a nice way of combining a number of modelling and flying disciplines with the towline released by a separate servo actuation.

And yes, though some view it as cheating, there are model sailplanes that feature an electric motor for initial launching and for regaining altitude whenever required. The motor has folding propeller blades that fold back when the motor is not running to remove the propeller blades from the airflow where they would otherwise contribute nothing but drag.

Though it is quite thrilling to watch your model sailplane soar ever upwards, and to remain there due to your skill in seeking out new thermals, there is still more your model sailplane can show you. Slope soaring off a hill usually involves a constant wind and lift, so flyers are not so concerned about losing altitude in a hurry. So diving from altitude makes for speeds up to 100 mph. Then that competitive edge creeps in again and the slope is where most gliders compete.

Racing is either done “F3F” style where your plane’s flight is timed, or man-on-man style where you actually race another plane. Sailplane combat, (SSC), is something else again where your objective is to knock your opponent out of the sky and score a ‘kill’. Because they obviously crash often, combat sailplanes are made out of foam for easy rebuilds and will literally bounce off the ground due to their forgiving and robust construction.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics, (AMA), features several Special Interest Groups to assist the silent flier. The League of Silent Flight (LSF) provides rules for racing, aerobatics, and a series of thermal tasks. The RCCA offers combat guidance and events. The NEAC offers guidance for electric-powered sailplanes.

(LSF) League of Silent Flight: http://www.silentflight.org
(RCCA) Radio Control Combat Association, http://www.rccombat.com
(NEAC) National Electric Aircraft Council, http://www.electricaircraft.org

So there you have it, beautiful, elegant, thermal soaring model sailplanes or robust, knock ‘em down combat kills with cheap, quick to build foamies. Model sailplane soaring is just as exciting as powered flight. So get yourself a model sailplane and get out there and give it a go.

Bruce Bird makes it easy for the beginner to quickly grasp the broad range of exciting activities that make up airplane modeling. To receive his
FREE 5 part mini-series visit his website for more about model sailplanes.

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Las Vegas is much more than loud slot machines, and
noisy casinos. Seriously, there is so much more to do than
gamble and eat from block-long food tables. Las Vegas is
home to the some of the finest entertainment, attractions,
shopping, and golf courses in the world.

Your entertainment options are unlimited in this city
known as “America’s Playground”. There are thrilling
roller coasters, dolphin and magic shows, and street shows
such as Treasure Island’s life-like pirate battle. You can
even tour Egypt in a simulated ride. There are places to
bowl, enjoy a leisurely spa, shop ’til you drop, and even
get married. The possibilities are almost overwhelming, so
make sure to plan, or have some sort of idea what you
would like to see and do while you are there.

You will definitely want to put a trip to Fremont Street
on your schedule. Fremont Street is a short walk from
downtown Las Vegas and is a brief stroll from many of the
hotels or you can ride the public transportation which is
extremely clean and passenger friendly. Look overhead as
you walk the 4 block long Fremont Street Experience and
you will be amazed by the over 2.1 million lights and the
state-of-the-art sound system in the canopy built 90
feet above street level.

If you are vacationing and wanting to spoil yourself, then
you have come to the perfect place. Many of the spas offer
fitness centers. In addition you can treat yourself to
facials, massages, body wraps, saunas, heated whirlpools,
steam rooms and other treatments, including tanning.

Don’t dare forget the fountains at Bellagio. It is one of
the most memorable and spectacular sights in Vegas or
maybe even the world! You will be hypnoized as the water
takes on a life all it’s own and shows off in perfect
synchronization to opera and broadway favorites and
everything thing else in between. Best of all this show is
no charge as it can be experienced from the open sidewalk.

When you are there at Bellagio, make time to tour their
gardens. You will begin to relax, even as you enter this
tranquil oasis. With over 85,000 square foot of space the
conservatory has 1,200 exotic plants and flowers such as
lilies and orchids. Every month, the fragrant displays are
changed to keep everything fresh.

On May 15, 2005, Las Vegas will be celebrating its 100th
Birthday! It’s an historic event that has events to
offer everyone. The Centennial Celebration Committee has
committed to commemorate the 100th birthday by hosting a
birthday party that~s brighter and bigger than the neon
lights on the Las Vegas Strip! The party actually started
on December 31, 2004 and will last the whole year.

With all the resorts competing for your dollars, you will
be able to find cheap or at least heavy discounts on meals
and rooms. Seniors and students can find special airfare
and accomodations to please their budgets. Las Vegas is a
resort whereby you can spend as little or as much as you
want and have a great time.

Daytime or nightime, Las Vegas is a super place to
bring the whole family to vacation or just get away with
a special someone. And with the BIG party planned,
what better time than the present?

Elizabeth Ann Wares is founder of Airfare X an
excellent resource site dedicated to information on Airfare

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Who else wants to find the best cheap airfares or at least great discount airfares for the vacation of a lifetime? See if this scenario matches anyone you know!

Another busy day. You have to be in the office in 10 minutes but you are caught up in heavy traffic. You’re late. A note on top of your desk from your boss says, “See me when you arrive!” is waiting for you. The phone rings. The clients come in. You start to do the paper works and forget about the time. You stop for a minute only to realize that it’s time for you to go home. Another busy day. Again.

Try to sit back and relax. Imagine crystal springs and beaches. Think of the topography, a variety of breathtaking landscapes or coral islands all waiting for you. Dream of the combination of balmy weather, pristine beaches, and luxurious resorts equipped with all the frills of modern living. Isn’t a beach vacation a great idea?

Everybody needs a vacation. That’s a fact. No matter what kind of job you havebe it in the corporate industry, or in the comforts of your own home businessyou still need a vacation to ease the tension. When you feel that you are being stressed out because of the complexities you have to go through everyday, what would be better than to pack your things and go somewhere your boss can’t find you?

But, just when you think that your dream of a tropical island is coming to life, you go down to reality, with a bang. Your concern? Just how much one vacation will cost you!

The first problem to consider when you decide to go on a vacation in or out of the country, is your airfare.

Thanks to the advent of technology and really tough competition, airlines have offered various promos and airfare programs that will hopefully fit your budget.

Unlike before, when it would have to cost years of solitude just to cross the Atlantic, cheap airfare makes it possible now for the average person to go almost anywhere in the world.

It is advisable to surf the net when looking for cheap airfares. The World Wide Web provides easy access to sites that offer airfare discounts. It is also quite convenient because you can find the cheapest airfare you can ever find and not worry about booking tickets since it is available 24/7.

By surfing the net, you can also get notifications when airfare deals are being offered. There are actually sites that constantly monitor the lowest airfares there are going to a particular city. This airfare watch is as equally crucial when you decide to embark on international flights. Just make sure that you are updated with the airfare rates for that specific country. Who knows, you may even get unimaginably cheap airfares for your vacation?

Aside from regularly monitoring the airfare rates in a specific website, you can also check out other airfare sites for that great airfare bargain. It is advisable to do this because you can compare the best and cheapest airfare rates online. You can also join the mailing lists of some airlines. Through this, you will be constantly informed of new promos each airline develops.

Since discounted airfares are hard to find, you may want to try looking into courier companies that sell cheap airfares in exchange for using your checked luggage allotment. Lastly, you should consider being flexible with your travel dates in order to get cheap airfare. You can really save more in airfares when you buy the tickets earlier.

Your dream vacation may be just a few keystrokes away!

David Arnold Livingston enjoys vacations as much as
anyone else and loves to find great airfares while
he is at it. He suggests: Best Airfare

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