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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Leonardo da Vinci created on paper, at least with the first helicopter, and the very first piloted helicopter was invented by Paul Cornu in 1907, however, this design was not successful. Another Frenchman, Etienne Oehmichen built and flew a helicopter 1 kilometer in 1924. An early practical helicopter that flew for a decent distance was the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61 invented by an unknown inventor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Fw_61)
Igor Sikorsky is considered to be the “father” of helicopters not because he invented the first. He is called that because he invented the first successful helicopter, upon which future designs were based. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blhelicoptor.htm
So where when did the RC model helicopter begin? Well I do not know who is credited with the First RC Model Helicopter, but it was in the 70’s that the RC Helicopter revolution really began.
For the most part, they were all Nitro powered, using standard Model Airplane engines (40 and .60 size) and 4-6 channel airplane radios.

Using a 4 channel radio to control the 5 functions of a model helicopter was quit unique in it challenges and results. What they did was used a “Y” connector for the throttle and pitch servo. Then you mechanically set up the throttle and pitch curve on the heli.
In the ’70’s there were 2 basic type of Helis, the teetering head, fixed pitch and soon after came the collective pitch. And just like today, some had direct drive tail rotors systems while other went with belt drive.

The first of these Heli’s where hard to fly, had very poor control and lacked any tail gyros, radio mixing or any of the modern connivances that make today’s Helis fly so well and easy. We even had to mechanically set the lead/lag of the main blades, until we just left off 2 of the 3 bolts on the main blades and let them seek there our lead/lag.
But the RC Model helicopter matured quickly and by the ’80’s the RC Model Helicopter could fly quite nicely, the radio manufacturers started making good Helicopter Radios, the Helicopters themselves had the modern style Bell/Hiller control system, single point Main Blade attachment for self Lead/Lag and gyros became common place. Direct drive or belt drive tail rotors still were used.

In the ’80’s and ’90’s the Far East began to create beautiful Models of all sizes. And the “Ready To Fly” models became common place. The race was one and the things they started doing with the RC helicopter was only limited by ones imagination.
I would think that this century is know as the “Age of Electrics” and today you can get an Electric Helicopter in any size, (small enough to fix it your hand) to 40-60 size.
And can they ever fly, they are competitive with your fuel choppers, only quiet and no smoke, no starting equipment needed and are fully 3D capable.
So if you’re flying interest lean toward the rotary wings birds, check out the new electrics. They make then so simple today that you can buy one, open the box, and charge the batteries and fly, even if you have never flown before!

Bob Robeson
www.globalrcland.com

Bob Robeson was born in southern Cal and had such great weather that he was able to enjoy his RC Hobby. So for 30 years I have been flying Airplanes and Helicopter, plus car and boats. I have taught “How to build” and “How to fly“. Won and hosted my share of contests. And now is the owner of what is quite possibly the world’s largest online hobby shop! http://www.globalrcland.com

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Strange to say but once you have mastered the basics of building a model airplane and have a few spare bits lying around your workshop or garage it becomes very easy to produce your very own design of RC model airplane. Simple Plastic Airplane Design (SPAD) is really cheap and fun alternative to constructing expensive remote controlled model airplanes kits.

The concept of SPAD started in the late 90’s and has evolved into a highly detailed and solid method for building RC model airplanes. While using traditional building materials and techniques can take weeks or months to put an airplane together, applying the SPAD concept can reduce the build time down to days, or even hours.

SPAD materials are widely available and are less expensive than those used in standard balsa model airplane kits. Plans and help for building a SPAD can be found online and are completely free. The best part about flying a SPAD is its survivability when it comes to the inevitable crashes as your enthusiasm gets away from you!

The basic RC model airplane SPAD concept revolves around using inexpensive building materials that can be found at local hardware stores and sign shops - or even picked up for nothing from builders cast-offs. While the materials required for constructing a SPAD vary from one design to another, the basic materials used include; PCV downspout pipe for the fuselage, CoroPlast(corrugated platic) sign material for the wings and controls surfaces, HDPE cutting boards for firewalls and landing gear blocks, and CA (superglue) to hold everything together.

Because of the simplicity involved in putting a SPAD RC model airplane together, even an inexperienced modeler can complete the job in a single weekend. A basic fuselage made from PVC downspout can be made in a matter of minutes, CoroPlast wings and control surfaces in just a few hours, and all the miscellaneous parts to complete the project in just a few hours more. Acquiring the materials needed for a RC model airplane SPAD project may require no more than a trip to the local hardware store and a few phone calls to local sign shops.

Aside from these readily available materials, there are a few other items that you will need; self tapping sheet metal screws, zip ties, a utility knife and a few wood sticks(4mmx27mmx1m Pine lathing/lattice). Other items needed to complete your RC model airplane, such as wheels, landing gear and control arms, will need to be fabricated or purchased from your favorite hobby store.

Plans for building a SPAD RC model airplane are available online, free of charge, from many different sources. SpadToTheBone.com, the original home for the RC model airplane SPAD concept, has plans to suit just about anyone. From the ever popular trainer called the Debonair, to the more sophisticated Coro Edge 540 sport/funfly model. A community has been built around the RC model airplane SPAD concept at SpadWorld.net where model builders from all over the globe help each other learn better and more exciting ways to make SPADs.

One of the greatest benefits to building with the RC model airplane SPAD materials is just how tough they are. Whether you’re trying a new aerobatic maneuver and just can’t seem to pull out of it, or just learning to take off for the first time and cartwheel your airplane down the runway, the chances that your plane will survive are very good. Compared to easily breakable balsa, plastic is a very forgiving material that can survive higher impact speeds without damage - and is easily fixed when broken.

Ease of construction, low cost and survivability all add up to a package that encourages modellers to experiment with design concepts and methods that extend the envelope of their experience and knowledge. Why not give it a go yourself?

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Bruce Bird makes it easy for the beginner to quickly get a grasp of the broad range of exciting activities that make up airplane modeling. To receive his FREE 5 part mini-series visit Model Airplane Secrets.

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