Radio-controlled glider
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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 and thermals, controlled remotely from the ground with a transmitter.
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[edit] Forms of flight
[edit] Slope soaring
Slope soaring uses the lift produced by wind blowing up the face of a steep slope on hills, mountains, and cliffs. Dynamic soaring, ultilizing the leeward or "backside" of a hill, has recently become very popular.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Thermal soaring
Thermal soaring uses columns of warm, rising air called thermals to provide lift for a glider. They are normally launched with a bungee cord catapult, a winch, towed by a powered plane. A Discus Launch Glider is simply catapulted into the air with a twirling motion much like a discus throw.
This 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.
[edit] Activities
[edit] Combat
Combat is usually flown with expanded polypropylene (EPP) 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 airborn, the hits generally do not count. Often this activity includes extreme maneuvers and aerobatics.
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, the P-80 Shooting Star, and the F-86 Sabre, and the Northrop F-5 and F-20. More ambitious modelers are experimenting with more recent jet fighters such as the F-16, F-15, MiG-29 and Su-27.
Equally popular are models of military trainers, such as the Pilatus PC-9, BAe Hawk, and Aermacchi MB 326 and MB 339.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Type
[edit] Flying wings
Expanded polypropylene (EPP) flying wings have become very popular recently, primarily due to their strength. The Zagi 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.
[edit] Scale gliders
Scale gliders are models of full size gliders. Scale gliders are generally larger models (2m wingspan or greater) and made from composite materials.
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[edit] PSS
PSS, or power scale soarer, are scale gliders of full size powered aircraft. World War II prop planes such as the P-51, Supermarine Spitfire and Me 109 are common subjects for PSS planes. However, modern jet fighters or even commercial airliners have been recreated as PSS planes.
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[edit] Powered gliders
Powered gliders use electric motors, internal combustion engines or even jet turbines to provide propulsion for a glider to get in the air. They are normally used to get thermal soarers in the air.
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[edit] See also
- Where to find EPP Foam ( Expanded Polypropylene ) RCSkyFlyer.com[[1]]
