- Radio-controlled glider
A radio-controlled glider is a type of
radio-controlled airplane that normally does not have any form of propulsion. They are able to sustain continuous flight by exploiting the lift produced by slopes andthermal s, controlled remotely from the ground with atransmitter . They can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, polymerfoam s, andcomposites , and can vary inwing loading from very light to relatively heavy, depending on their use.Launching a glider
Hand launch
Hand launching is the simplest way to get a model into the air. All the pilot needs to do is throw it horizontally, giving it sufficient speed. This method is usually combined with
slope soaring , so the glider can gain altitude.Towline launch
In this method another person runs along the ground, pulling a long (50 - 100m) piece of string with the glider attached to the end, while the pilot steers it. It can be performed on any flat piece of terrain, as the glider is given sufficient altitude during the launch.
Bungee launch
This launch is a variant of the towline launch performed alone. The running person is replaced by a piece of elastic band attached to the ground.
'Piggyback' launch
A powerful
radio-controlled airplane tows the model glider into the air, rather like real gliders are launched. Although this method is spectacular, it requires a very experienced pilot to steer the towing airplane.Discus launch
This way of launching can be performed only on a special type of glider - a DLG (
Discus Launch Glider (DLG), Radio Controlled ). To launch the model into the air, the pilot holds the model by the tip of a wing, spins 360°, rotating the model around his/her body and then releases hold of the model allowing it to launch at high speed . Although DLGs are a fairly new type of gliders, they are gaining popularity due to their ease of launching and efficient flight characteristics. DLG models are used in the F3K contest class, as defined by FAI.Forms of flight
lope soaring
Slope soaring uses the lift produced bywind blowing up the face of a steep slope onhill s,mountain s, andcliff s.Dynamic soaring , utilizing the leeward or "backside" of a hill, has recently become very popular.Dynamic soaring
Dynamic soaring is a relatively new style of flying model gliders whereby the
windshear just downwind of certain slopes can be used to create high speeds. It involves gaining altitude, then soaring into a patch of dead air, then back to the lift to gain speed.Thermal soaring
Thermal soaring uses columns of warm, rising air called
thermal s to provide lift for a glider. They are normally launched with abungee cord catapult, awinch , towed by a powered plane. A discus launch glider (DLG) is simply catapulted into the air with a spinning motion much like a discus throw.Discus launching is often combined with slope soaring. Thermals from elsewhere can drift in over the hill to combine with the hill lift or they can be formed by the hill itself, if the slope is angled to the sun causing the slope to heat up faster than in the surrounding areas. The resulting warm air will then flow upwards pulling in air from the valley below, causing a wind up the slope. The lift is thus a combination of ridge lift and thermal. This has produced new term, "slermal", to describe the mixture of both slope lift and thermal activity coming up the hill face.
Activities
Combat
Combat is usually flown with expanded
polypropylene (EPP) [http://RCSkyFlyer.com] ) models due to their impact resistance. Each pilot tries to knock the other's aircraft physically out of the air. A "kill" is scored only when the opponents aircraft hits the ground. If a hit occurs and each aircraft recovers and remains airborne, the hits generally do not count. Often this activity includes extreme manoeuvres andaerobatics .This particular class of slope glider is extremely popular, as novices can learn to fly with a model that is practically indestructible. There is also a wide appeal in owning an inexpensive glider that is also a stand-off scale model, particularly of favourite
World War II fighters, e.g. the Spitfire/Seafire,P-51 Mustang ,P-47 Thunderbolt .As of the time of writing, model EPP Jet Fighter Slope Soarers have become extremely popular, usually either 1950s and some 1960s designs e.g. the
MiG-15 , theP-80 Shooting Star , and theF-86 Sabre , and theNorthrop F-5 and F-20.More ambitious modellers are experimenting with more recent jet fighters such as the F-16, F-15,MiG-29 andSu-27 .Equally popular are models of military trainers, such as the
Pilatus PC-9 ,BAe Hawk , andAermacchi MB 326 andMB 339 .Ridge racing
Ridge racing (or pylon racing where markers are present) is essentially using the slope lift to race along the "lift zone" -- generally parallel to the slope. This can be MoM (man-on-man) racing, in which 2 to 4 planes compete against each other on the same course. Scoring is similar to match racing in the sport of sailing - the first pilot to complete the course receives one point, the second two points and so on. At the end of the competition, the pilot with the fewest points wins. Another form of slope r/c glider racing is called F3F. F3F is one of many competition categories for model and full scale aircraft that are defined by the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). In F3F racing, the pilot is timed on the course for 10 legs of 100 meters for a total distance of 1 kilometer. All pilots fly a timed run for each round. The fastest pilot receives 1000 points for the round and all others are given a percentage which is determined by the ratio of their time to the fast time for the round. At the end of the competition, the pilot with the most points wins.Type
Flying wings
Expanded
polypropylene (EPP) [http://RCSkyFlyer.com] )flying wing s have become very popular recently, primarily due to their strength. TheZagi is a very popular flying wing. They are often used for slope combat, where pilots try to knock other pilots' gliders out of the sky with their own.cale gliders
Scale gliders are models of full size gliders. Scale gliders are generally larger models (2m wingspan or greater) and made from composite materials.
PSS
PSS , or power scale soaring, is all about building and flying scale model gliders of full sized jet, rocket or piston powered aircraft.World War II prop planes such as theP-51 ,Supermarine Spitfire andMe 109 are common subjects for PSS planes, however PSS aircraft produced to date have ranged from the early bi-planes through to modernjet fighter s and even commercialairliner s.The challenge with Power Scale Soaring is to build a model as close to scale as possible whilst at the same time ensuring the model has good flying characteristics.
For more information about Power Scale Soaring and to see examples of
PSS models please visit the [http://www.pssaonline.co.uk Power Scale Soaring Association]Powered gliders
Powered gliders use
electric motor s,internal combustion engine s or evenjet turbine s to provide propulsion for a glider to get in the air. They are normally used to get thermal soarers in the air.Beginners Guide to Radio Controlled Gliding
For an introduction to getting started in this hobby please visit [http://www.rcgliding.co.uk this beginners guide]
Instructional DVDs on R/C Gliding
Expert Paul Naton produces many instructional DVDs on the sport of R/C soaring [http://www.radiocarbonart.com so visit his excellent web site.]
ee also
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Radio-controlled model
*Gliding
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