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aeajr
477 Posts |
 Posted - 10/26/2007 : 10:01:44 AM
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Eastern Soaring League Newsletter - October 2007
2007 OFFICERS AND STAFF
Tony Guide - President
David Beach - Secretary/Treasurer
Tom Kiesling - Contest Coordinator
Anker Berg-Sonne - Scoring Systems Coordinator
Jeff Steifel - Public Relations Coordinator
John Hauff - Clinic Coordinator
Phil Barnes ¡V Winch Conditioning
Jose Bruzual ¡V Web Master and Publisher
Ed Anderson ¡V Web Site and Newsletter Content Editor
FROM THE EDITOR - Ed Anderson
As the winter moves in, many people put their planes away for a long nap. Of course parts of our league have much milder winter, so the idea of a winter break may not apply.
In any case, this is building season or maintenance season for many. Maybe this is when you start to knock down some of those ¡§honey-do¡¨ items your spouse has been patiently waiting for you to address.
For others, like myself, winter is just another part of the flying season, but my flying focus shifts somewhat. If the winds are low, I continue to fly thermal duration at the local field. Setting up a winch in the snow is not that big a deal and thermals are active all year round. However if the winds are up, and from the North, then it is off to the slope for several hours of fun flying in endless lift. I purchased several larger transmitter packs just for this reason, as well as a thermal hood and a bunch of hand warmer packs.
How about you, what do you do over the winter? Here is a link to a discussion on this topic.
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=304
Why not post your plans and let¡¦s get a discussion going. If your flying changes with the season, share what you do. If this is the time to pull out those treasured kits and start sanding and gluing, tell us what you are building. If you have a build underway, then start a build thread on the ESL site. Someone may wish to build the same plane and build along with you.
Whatever you do at this time of year, let¡¦s stay in touch and share the fun.
THE 50-FOOT POLE!
About a month ago, there was a very active discussion about the ESL 50¡¦ pole and who had it. I can tell you that I was very happy that it made it to the LISF2 contest in September. It helped reunite several planes with their owners.
I decided to do some research on where such poles could be purchased and how much they cost. The one the ESL has was purchased over 10 years ago. The pole is sold as a measuring stick and is made by Hastings Fiberglass Products.
At the time the ESL purchased it, I believe it cost around $550. However the cost has come down quite a bit. The new, improved version sells for $437 with about $25 in shipping.
Perhaps your club would like to have a pole like this for the benefit of your members. LISF, of which I am a member, has decided to buy one. We are running a raffle with an airplane as the prize. The money raised will be used to offset the cost of the new pole. With a little luck, there will be minimal impact on the club treasury.
If you are interested, here is where it can be ordered from Hastings Fiberglass Products. The new improved model number is E-50. Price $436.75 + shipping 2 week lead-time. They accept Visa or Master Card.
http://www.hfgp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductNumber=E-50
Or, you can contact Missy London mlondon@hfgp.com at Hastings Fiberglass Products.
Tel: 269-945-9541 Fax: 269-945-4623
CONTEST REPORTS
Daniel Boone and the East Coast HLG Festival were a big success.
The last two contests of the season went over big, really big. There were lots of flyers at both.
The End of Season contest for winch launched thermal duration had a very large turn out. The report can be read here. http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=301 with two reports posted. If you took pictures at the contest, please post some of them. I know I had a great time.
The East Coast HLG Festival was held last weekend. I have been holding this issue in order to get some feedback on the event. During an LISF club meeting Dan Siegel offered a verbal review of the event. In summary he said it was fantastic! It was three days of flying and an amazing dining experience as well. Apparently there was a large turn out with some of the top names in the field attending. Some traveled from other countries to attend this event. Dan encouraged the growing numbers of club members who fly DLGs to consider attending next year.
If you attended the contest, please post a contest report in the forums so others can learn about and be encouraged to attend next year. Why keep all the fun to yourself?
Anyone can post a contest report in the ESL forums. If you were there, let us know how it went.
Photos are welcome too! Visit here to read and post contest reports. http://www.flyesl.org/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=15
The end of season standings in winch and hand launched can be found here:
http://www.flyesl.org/scores/default.asp
WINCH LAUNCHING
Anker Berg-Sonne wrote a great article a few years back about winch launching. I thought it was so good that it should be published again. I invite you to take a look. There is gold in them their posts! ļ
http://www.flyesl.org/News-y-Articles/featured_article.asp?FORUM_ID=7&TOPIC_ID=112
POP OFF PROBLEMS?
Perhaps this post in the Novice Lounge will be helpful. Please feel free to add your comments, questions and tips.
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=305
ESL LOGO ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE
Maria¡¦s Gift shop in Syosset NY has been the supplier of the embroidered ESL labeled merchandise this year. As a result of sales, Maria will be making a $30 donation to the ESL. This was accumulated as part of each purchase that was made.
Visit the ESL Store
http://www.flyesl.org/store/
RC SOARING DIGEST NOW AVAILABLE
The November 2007 issue now available
Posted by: "Bill & Bunny Kuhlman" rcsdigest@themacisp.net
We're pleased to announce the November 2007 issue of RC Soaring Digest is now available for downloading from the RCSD web site <http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com>. The issue highlights are now
available at <http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com/highlights.html>.
This is an exciting issue, with 84 pages and a large number of color images. The PDF is approximately 19.8 MB in size.
If you are using a dial-up connection and desire a smaller RCSD PDF, consider downloading the highly compressed version of this issue (two parts, 3.7 MB and 2.7 MB) from the RCSoaringDigest Yahoo! groups Files section. The image quality is reduced, but download time is significantly less. You must be a member of the RCSoaringDigest Yahoo! Group to download these compressed PDFs.
CUTTING AIRPLANE PARTS FROM FOAM
If you have ever thought of cutting your own wing cores, or parts, you might find these interesting.
Hot Wire Cut process using positive templates on Foam for RC
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JfUKWTtpdi8
Homemade CNC hot wire cutting machine
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q7uvq4RlhHM&mode=related&search=
Or maybe you like lasers better
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BmBQZBZ-yj8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_wU9R9_i3ZU&mode=related&search=Homemade%20CNC%20hot%20wire%20cutting%20machine
HERE TO SERVE YOU
I hope you have found value in the ESL Newsletter. Perhaps there was a piece of useful information that helped you this season. If you have ideas or input for the next Newsletter, please feel free to write. Perhaps you have a quick tip to share. These little gems can make a big difference in competition. Why not pass them on.
Send your notes, comments, photos or complaints to Ed Anderson, ESL Newsletter and Web Site Content Editor, at aeajr@optonline.net
Since the ESL season has officially ended, I think I will put the newsletter to bed for a while. The next issue will come in the spring, just before the new season begins, unless I accumulate so much stuff that a mid winter edition is in order. I leave you with this as a parting thought:
THE JOY OF THE HUNT
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=225
When you go to a true glider, no motor to fall back on, you commit to the extra work that comes with true soaring. It is like going into the forest for a week with nothing but your knife and your brain. You know that you are going to starve at times but when you find that rabbit, or that blackberry patch, it will taste oh so good.
I have spent many days launching and landing my sailplanes and not caught any lift at all. I might pull out a small electric for a while and take a break, then come back to soaring later. Often that dead quiet period of no lift will pass and launches start finding lift everywhere.
There have even been days when I was pretty sure there was no lift out there but 20 or 30 launches later I am still enjoying the hunt. THEN - oh baby, was that a waggle on the wing?.... turn gently, you don't want to scare the thermal .... ooooh I think I am holding altitude ... quiet, don't breath ..... looooking .... testing ... where did it go? ..... Ahhhhh, got it!
Climb baby climb! You have been working hard for me today. Drink it in; take your fill as you rise into the sky. It has been a long day, but ohhhh the joy, the excitement, the satisfaction of the hunt that ends in a full measure. (Good thing I switched to that big receiver pack! )
Gently, don't take too much. Don't let it get down wind toooooooo far or you are going to need those poles to get it out of the trees as you fall short of the field. You only have the energy you take from the sky so be smart about it.
Time to turn for home baby so come on around.
I would swear that plane is smiling at me. Was that a wink, or just a flash off the monokote.
Those power guys will just never understand. They will never truly know the joy of flying, really flying, as it was meant to be.
Oh, is that another bump? ........ Wonderful!
Its just me, and my sailplane, and God's own blue sky. There¡¦s not a sound, 'cept the pounding in my ears.... I got another one!
Oh, the joy of the hunt!
CLEAR SKIES AND SAFE FLYING TO EVERYONE!
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
ESL Content Editor
aeajr on the forums |
Edited by - aeajr on 10/26/2007 10:05:08 AM |
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ESL Newsletter - October 2007
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