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aeajr
477 Posts |
 Posted - 03/19/2009 : 8:32:17 PM
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Eastern Soaring League Newsletter – Spring 2009
2009 OFFICERS AND STAFF
President – Ed Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer – David Beach
Scorekeeper – Luis Bustamante & Anker Berg-Sonne
Contest Coordinator - Jose Bruzual
Web Master and Publisher – Jose Bruzual
Quartermaster – Steve Lucke
Newsletter Editor – Ed Anderson
ESL Historian - Anker Berg
Hand Launch Director – Doug Harnish
FROM THE PRESIDENT – Ed Anderson
Friday March 20th is the first day of spring, so that will be the theme of this newsletter. Spring, a time for awakening, a time for renewal and growth. And it is time to pull out your planes and get them ready for the 2009 ESL season. It’s spring!
I want to say a big thank you to Jose Bruzual, our contest coordinator, for the time spent with the CDs arranging the schedule and working out conflicts. The first ESL contest of the season is May 2. Note that we have added a second EOS, end of season contest so that there will be a TD end of season and a hand launched end of season. ESL meetings will be held at each EOS so the respective divisions can express their ideas.
Spring is the time to plan your contest list. We have 34 contest days scheduled. Gas prices are down and many of the motels are hurting for business so shop around for bargains. And don’t forget the room and ride share discussions on the ESL web site. Have more fun, travel with a friend.
This is also a great time to start to talk up the ESL at your club meetings. You might assume that everyone knows about the ESL, but there may be new members or those who have not participated in the past, who could use an update. Invite them to join us so they have time to get ready. We would not want them to miss out on the fun.
Spring is here! It is going to be a great season for the ESL. I can hear the winches humming and the sound of a discus launch. I hope to see you all on the flying field!
THE ESL CALENDAR -
http://www.flyesl.org/calendar.asp
HAND LAUNCHED
05/02 - 05/03 BASS (HLG) - Baltimore, MD
06/13 - 06/14 Polecat Challenge (HLG) - Bloserville, PA
07/11 - 07/12 CRRC Hand Launch Classic (HLG) - Sudbury, MA
08/01 - 08/02 Long Island Hand Launch Classic - LISF - Syosset, NY
08/15 - 08/16 CASA (HLG) - Rockville, MD
09/12 - 09/13 SKSS Hand Launch (HLG) - Newark, DE
09/25 - 09/27 East Coast HLG Festival (HLG) - Wilson, NC
10/17 - 10/18 SJSF: ESL HLG EOS (HLG) - Marlton, NJ
THERMAL DURATION – UNLIMITED SAILPLANE
05/16 - 05/17 TMSS - Isle of Wight, VA
06/06 - 06/07 SKSS 1 - Newark, DE
06/27 - 06/28 LISF 1 - Syosset, Long Island, NY
07/11 - 07/12 DBSF - Reading, PA
08/08 - 08/09 CRRC Soar-In - Sudbury, MA
08/22 - 08/23 ESL Mid-season @ DBSF - Reading, PA
09/12 - 09/13 CASA Open - Warrenton, VA (corrected)
09/19 - 09/20 LISF 2 - Syosset, Long Island, NY
10/03 - 10/04 Reading ESL TD EOS - Reading, PA
ROOM AND RIDE SHARE
Just a reminder that we now have a ride and room share section in the ESL forums. Some people have also posted information on local motels.
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=17
RC SOARING DIGEST IS AVAILABLE - FREE
RC Soaring Digest is a must read for anyone who loves soaring. Bill & Bunny Kuhlman do a terrific job of publishing it each month for our enjoyment. RC Soaring Digest is free. All you have to do is download the file.
http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com
SUPPORT THE F3B TEAM
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=350
After a long wait, your 2009 US F3B team is now ready to sell you raffle tickets for chances to win one or more of an already great pool of prizes. The money raised will be used to help defray the team’s expenses as they represent us at the competition.
Visit www.teamusaf3b.com and go to the raffle page. You can pay via paypal, or by check.
Your 2009 US F3B team
Mike Smith Tom Kiesling
Mike Lachowski Kyle Paulson
Craig Greening Fred Sena
Don Barker
GETTING THEM TO TRY GLIDERS
By Ed Anderson
A recurring theme you will hear from me is that many parkflyers are really electric gliders in disguise. And many parkflyer pilots can be introduced to soaring if you do it gently. Talk about VERY long flights and you will get their attention. Help them get that parkflyer into a thermal and you will REALLY get their attention.
If they express interest in soaring but seem put off by hi-starts and winches, bring them over to e-gliders first. The lure of long flights appeals to many parkflyer pilots. And once you get them into their first thermal, they will be hooked. Here are some good starter e-gliders that will appeal to the parkflyer crowd.
ParkZone Radian - ParkZone is a big name in the parkflyer market. The Radian is a 2M R/E electric glider that is available RTF or receiver ready. So, for the non-builders, it is an easy plane to own. They are hard to break and easy to fix, which is always attractive.
We now have 4 Radians in our club and the universal response is that they thermal very well. Full throttle will take the glider into an 70 degree climb that gets you to soaring height in seconds.
The RTF comes with a 2.4 GHz Spektrum radio, so there are no channel conflict issues. If they are flying on 72 MHz, then direct them to the PNP or receiver ready package.
LISF has a new pilot who purchased a Radian as his first plane. His second solo flight, after 1 hour of help, was a 20-second climb followed by a 14-minute thermal ride. I think he will be flying a pure glider off the winch by the end of the season.
Radian
www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4700" target="_blank">http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4700
www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4775" target="_blank">http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4775
Easy Glider – There is a new version called the Easy Glider Pro. This is a foam kit that can be built as a pure or electric glider. The key benefit is that the nose is set up to easily accept a brushless outrunner motor for electric launch. There is also a packaged motor available so the guesswork has been taken out of the mix. The Multiplex name has become well known and respected within the parkflyer community.
www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU214226" target="_blank">http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU214226
www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU993226" target="_blank">http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU993226
www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU998226" target="_blank">http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=MPU998226
Both the Radian and the Easy Glider receive a lot of attention in the parkflyer and electric beginner forums. The pilots like that the foam is hard to break and easy to fix. They can take some serious abuse and they thermal very well.
I have found this be a good path to bring parkflyer pilots over to soaring. You can push the Gentle Lady or similar planes, but if they balk, offer these. You may find you have a successful thermal hunter on your hands before you know it. Once they start finding and riding thermals, they will be back to you to talk about pure gliders.
Good luck!
THE NOVICE PROGRAM
As a direct link to the discussion above, I want to talk up the ESL Novice program because I see it as a great way to bring new people into the League. If you have pilots in your clubs who are hesitant to fly in competition, invite them to fly Novice. It’s FREE at most of the contests. Everyone likes FREE!
I have attended a number of contests where there were 2 to 6 people flying Novice. These guys were nervous as could be. No way they were going to fly in a “real” competition class. But, by the end of the day, they were hooked. At one contest a pilot flew Novice on Saturday and upgraded to Sportsman on Sunday. #61514;
Some were absolute newbies flying Easy Gliders, Spirits and the like. Others were experienced pilots flying 3M planes, but who were concerned about “cut throat” competition idea. Again, after one day, they saw what I saw at my first contest, ESL contests are fun and a great place to learn.
So, talk to that e-glider pilot who is getting good at thermaling and tell him/her about the Novice program. Maybe you can get them into a pure glider. Or maybe you just tape a hook on that Easy Glider Electric and take off the propeller blades. (yes, that works )
Tell them about the Novice program. If they don’t have a good time, we will refund their entry fee. #61514; You may find this discussion of ESL classes helpful.
www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=263" target="_blank">http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=263
Sometimes all it takes is an invitation and a friendly hand to help them prepare. You could be that friendly hand. Give it a try.
FOUND ON THE WEB
CROSS COUNTRY SOARING EVENT IN NORTH CAROLINA
It is rare that you hear of a cross country soaring event on the East coast, but there will be one held in Wilson NC April 4 & 5.
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996014&page=2#post11636076" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996014&page=2#post11636076
Not only would it be great fun, but also it would be an excellent way to make your LSF 4 and 5 level goal and return tasks. It’s not too late to get in!
DR. MARK DRELA HONORED
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1004224" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1004224
BUILDING BAGGED WINGS
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=842345" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=842345
This discussion outlines how Anker developed the production method he is using to create bagged Supra wings. You might find it interesting and a low cost way to have a Supra for this season.
LAUNCH SETTINGS
Launch-Meister by Daryl Perkins
http://nesail.com/articledetail.php?articleID=2
Maximizing Your Launch Potential by Joe Wurts
http://nesail.com/articledetail.php?articleID=24
DLG TIPS
www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/dlg-not-so-secrets" target="_blank">http://www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/dlg-not-so-secrets
www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/whats-wrong-with-my-dlg" target="_blank">http://www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/whats-wrong-with-my-dlg
www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/bruces-dlg-clinic" target="_blank">http://www.polecataero.com/handlaunchu/bruces-dlg-clinic
FAI SOARING RULES
www.fai.org/aeromodelling/rcsoaring/synopsis" target="_blank">http://www.fai.org/aeromodelling/rcsoaring/synopsis
The rules we follow in the ESL are based on AMA rules, which are sometimes referred to as American Thermal Duration Contest or Hand Launch contest rules. However we often read about F3J contest and F3B and the like. The link above can take you to the rules that fully describe the international events.
HITEC ANNOUNCES 2.4 GHz (about time!)
www.hitecrcd.com/transmitters/show?name=Aurora+9" target="_blank">http://www.hitecrcd.com/transmitters/show?name=Aurora+9
WOODY BUILD THREAD
This discussion started in May 2008 and is now over 800 posts long and going strong. If you like building wood sailplanes or want to learn about it, you might find this discussion interesting. In addition to the content, if you were to post a question you would have the eyes of a lot of builders looking at your question.
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861944" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861944
PERHAPS A BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL TO ESL CONTESTS
www.terrafugia.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.terrafugia.com/index.html
WHERE TO FIND USED AIRPLANES AND GLIDERS?
It is spring, so you may feel it is time expand the fleet or upgrade your radio. However budget may suggest that you buy used. Where do you find them?
First, ask around the club and around the ESL. However there are on-line markets for used planes and electronics that are very active. Here are a few that I have used. Some allow you to subscribe and list key words. Then, when something posts that meets your watch list, you will receive an e-mail.
www.rcgroups.com/for-sale-wanted-201/" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/for-sale-wanted-201/
www.rcuniverse.com/market/" target="_blank">http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/
www.ebay.com (I have found some good used stuff on e-bay)
HERE TO SERVE YOU
I hope you have enjoyed the ESL Newsletter. If you have ideas or input for the next Newsletter, please feel free to let me know.
Perhaps you have a quick tip to share. These little gems can make a big difference in competition. Why not pass them on. Extended length articles are always welcome and I would love to include your photos.
Send your notes, photos, compliments or complaints to Ed Anderson, ESL Newsletter Editor, at aeajr@optonline.net |
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
Long Island Silent Flyers
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Edited by - aeajr on 05/02/2009 11:56:22 AM |
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aeajr
477 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2009 : 8:34:07 PM
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Since I haven’t had any pictures submitted, I will add some shots from the very first ESL contest I ever attended, June 2003. I didn’t fly, but I did get to meet many of you. I hope you enjoy the retrospective.
Happy Spring!
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Best regards,
Ed Anderson
Long Island Silent Flyers
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Edited by - aeajr on 03/19/2009 8:39:30 PM |
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mikel
106 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2009 : 4:14:33 PM
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Ed,
The contest calendar in the newsletter is incorrect. The correct CASA Open dates are on the contest calendar. |
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aeajr
477 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2009 : 7:44:16 PM
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Thanks Mike,
I must have copied form an old list that was not corrected. fortunately I listed the link to the correct dates so people will see them when they go to register.
I fixed it above. Correct dates of 9-12 and 9-13 now appear in the newsletter posted above.
I will note this for future newsletters. |
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
Long Island Silent Flyers
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Edited by - aeajr on 03/22/2009 7:48:02 PM |
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ESL Newsletter - SPRING 2009
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