These are my radio gliders. I've been flying since 1976. I fly a mixture of slope soaring and flat-field, and occasionally enter competitions. I'm interested in designing my own gliders, and have had some success. My party tricks are -
- taking off from the bottom of the hill and flying up it,
- thermalling up to about 2000' then staying there all afternoon, and
- catching the glider in one hand when it comes down to land.
I have witnesses.
Skylark
My favourite glider. Rudder and elevator control. Built in 1977 and repaired a few times, although most of it is still pre-1980. Originally built from a plan, but I spliced an extra six inches into the centre section so the span is now 150". The fin was extended to preserve rudder authority.
Super Skylark
As above, but with a glass fibre fuselage, modified elevators, different aerofoil section, polyhedal, and other changes. In other words, almost entirely different.
Albatross
My own design, although I copied the general proportions from another glider. Carbon/glass tail boom (wound round a broom handle), built up wings with 1/64" ply skins, rudder/aileron/elevator. The two-piece wings are held on by a large solid aluminium bar, which seems to be the most damaged part as it gets bent on a heavy landing. Built in 1984. 129" span. It's a bit tricky to land - spoilers would help, but I have a cunning plan involving a microcontroller...
Sabre
Built from a semi-scale kit. 42" wing span, aileron and elevator. Good at rolls and spins, but not so good at loops. Confuses people who can't work out how it's powered.
Aerial Photo
This picture was taken with a cheap 35mm compact camera with motor drive, installed in the fuselage of the Skylark. A servo operated the shutter release by pulling a lever with a piece of thread running through eyelets. I took several pictures one afternoon, but was a little disappointed with the picture quality. I have a plan to put my toy digital camera in the Skylark and try again.
I'm one of the tiny black spots standing at the edge of the runway. And by the way, my gliders usually get much higher than this.