1st Nov

Will tugs be redundant?

This extract from a full-size forum

Ever heared of winch launches up to 5200 ft (1590m)? in the forum of www.segelflug.de I read the following. It might be of interest for you
(short form translation):

During a glider acrobatic meeting in Fuerstenfeldbruck (Germany/Bavaria), pilots from Bavaria and Austria had the possibility to try a new launch method. Mostly double seaters were launched up to 5200 ft. (1590m).

Acro pilots were enthusiastic after 29 launches, because they could fly their full program out of the winch after only 90 seconds.

This was made possible by the winch manufacturer Tost (Assling, Germany). They supplied a specially modified winch. Karl Hoeck from Friedberg/Germany did the technical calculations and the design of the drum of the winch. This drum had to withstand a pressure of 3 million lb (1400 metric tons) from the 9842 ft (3000m) of Dyneema rope with 0.18 inches diameter (4.5mm).

With headwinds between aprox. 6 and 11 knots (10 - 20 km/h) following altitudes have been reached: ASK 21 and ASK 13 double seated: 5216 ft (1590m) FOX double seated: 4594 ft (1400m) Mue 28 single seated: 3937 ft (1200m)

Well, don't get too excited as they needed a 3000 meter runway to achieve this

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9th Nov

Buy Big

Fancy a full size instead? Here is a ka-6 for sale on ebay

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12th Nov

Fabric Covering

From Rob Bridson comes this fascinating pdf document describing the methods used to fabric cover full scale aircraft. Many ideas can be translated to the scale world.
This document will also be available in the 'Articles' section of this site

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12th Nov

Cumulus Glider Rescue

This is a new group of enthusiasts operating at Shoreham Airfield, Brighton, interested in preserving old gliders and sailplanes for display in museums. Their website has an interesting Gallery of some old abandoned gliders. Maybe if you live in the area you may wish to help.

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15th Nov

Revell do it again

Following the success with their plastic kit of their ASK-21, Revell will be releasing a model of the LS-8 in January

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17th Nov

Catch the pidgeon...err Toucan !!!!

This is a witty, whacky flying animation. Highly recommended viewing.

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17th Nov

Texas Classical

Don Turner sends in this link to a neat YouTube video from the Texas Soaring Assosciation

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17th Nov

Rumour Mill

HF Model are about to release a 5 meter version of the popular new glider, ASG 29.

"It'll come with a fully finished interior, a nice retract, and the usual things that come with the big scale gliders of HF.
I don't have any more details appart from the fact it should already be out, but my guess is Target Dates are rarely met on this type of product"

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23rd Nov

Free R/C Scale Calendar

This calendar is available from the Retroplane website in several languages and includes holiday dates for 2007

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23rd Nov

YouTube again...

This time a full scale Pilatus doing aerobatics and finishing with a low level inverted pass

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.....and again

From Jez Billington comes this link to another soaring scene with interesting low-level flying

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1st Nov

Motor Glider aeros

Here is a nice short video from YouTube describing techniques on flying RF4 motorgliders in formation aerobatics

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2nd Nov

Straight Bananas

Do you have problems building straight fuselages? Then a new page has been added to the 'Hints and Tips" section on this site from Ian Davis explaining a technique for helping you build straight.

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2nd Nov

Zeppelin Drop

From the British Pathe Archive comes this trailer of Grunau Baby gliders being launched from a Zeppelin

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3rd Nov

B u n g e e Launching

This nice sparkly topless Ka8 appears in a set of images on this Austrian site where they are launching full size gliders again with a Bungee

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9th Nov

Retroplane Bonanza - again

This time with a PhotoPak zip file of the popular Schleicher two seater, the ASK 13. Bravo Vincent!

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9th Nov

British Pathe again

From the British Pathe Archive comes this trailer of an EoN Olympia in flight in 1968

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9th Nov

Addendum to High Winching

Take a ride in the back seat of a Fox whilst it is winched to 1500 meters (4900 feet) and then goes through a stomach churning aerobatic routine begins with a vicious outside snap-roll with a half-outside loop recovery. During the routine the glider pulls +6/-6G

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14th Nov

History for Sale

Books, photographs and other memorabilia of the estate of the late Peter Riedel, a Godfather in the history of gliding, is up for sale on eBay with more to follow. Here you can read about it, whilst an album list of items is here

To see what is currently on offer on eBay go here

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17th Nov

A Christmas present offer......

..from one of our UK modellers, Etienne Dodane.

"Not a glider item but have a look this old photo of mine and check the valuable master piece of watch out at
www.DODANE1857.com
It has been my family business since 1857 and EVERY single French, German, and in general most of the European Air-forces have been equipped with this authentic pilot watch you can now find available in the UK, either at
WWW.pilotswatches.co.uk
or simply through myself directly, I will give the Scale-Soaring members a price reduction of 17% on presentation of the BMFA licence.
This is the ONLY remaining watch maker still owned and run by its family members in the World.
A great life-time gift and companion for Christmas?.

Etienne Dodane
Dodane 1857"

Contact: etienne.dodane2@btinternet.com
or 07796 314 803

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22nd Nov

New User Links

From Elliot Howells :-

Delro ModellTechnik

Very cheap wooden tug props amongst other stuff. They also appear to have a fox

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From Evert Böhrer :-

Grupp-Modellbau

I haven't come across this German manufacturer before, but the Duo Discus he produces looks very nice.

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Thanks guys

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