My first thermal!!

[planepainter]

This morning Larry Vincek and I met a Sagamore Park so I could continue learning the fine art of sailplane flying under his expert tutelage. My Riser 100 was performing very well after having gone through some "tweeks" to work out some post construction bugs. We used my new hi-start and as we completed a couple of flights Larry peered through his sunglasses and said "I think there is some light lift out there today, right about there" and pointed at a spot in the sky above the swing set. I launched again and sure enough, there was lift right where he said. I worked it as the plane signalled and as he coached it just would not come down. I decided to work it with a minimum of fuss and it just hovered there like a big bird. After it started to get higher and went some distance from us, I decided to bring the plane back for a respectable landing and shook his hand. I believe that I could have stayed in that light lift for much longer but as I had left my best glasses at home I could not see the plane well after it went higher and thought I should play it safe and bring it back while I still had positive control. We found lift again in the same area but could not exploit it as the port side wing root on the trailing edge buckled from a weak joint. Easy fix but I had done it! And the really neat thing is that I saw the lift by the way the plane reacted to it. Many thanks to my good friend Larry for his help and great instuction.I look forward to the next time we are out. Don.

[capnkids]

Don,

I enjoyed your Riser build thread and being able to share some pictures of my new Riser. Congratulations on the thermaling. The Riser is a great plane to experience that one of a kind feeling when you see something you have built start to rise instead of fall.

capnkids

[planepainter]

Thanks Capn. I am impressed with the overall strength of the Riser. I have made some bad landings in the course of my training but it has suffered almost no ill effects. I do need to reinforce the wing trailing corners where the rubber bands cross to hook onto the pegs. On my plane that part of the wing just forward of the liteply plates turned out to be a bit weak. I am repairing it as we speak. Don.

[AMBeck]

Congratulations! You are hooked now.

[LVsoaring]

You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

[aussief3b]

Congratulations Don,
There is no better feeling in soaring than vertical upwards glider guiding. I do appreciate your excitement. You might want to check out the League of Silent Flight website for an excellent accomplishment program to help train your thumbs as you go along.
www.silentflight.org
Big Thermals
Gordon

[glidermang]

Don:

Great!

Now, go get another one.

Yours, Greg

[atmosteve]

Congrats PP, there is no end in sight for you now, you are hooked on finding free air time like all of us, its a fine thing isn't it.
You are in good company.

[planepainter]

Thanks to one and all. And yes, I am hooked! Larry has been a great instructor and has brought me along with patience. My next project is going to be a 2M Spirit. It will be my backup plane. I am seriously considering a VikingII after that.I just love woodies! Don.

[KickAce]

And the really neat thing is that I saw the lift by the way the plane reacted to it. Many thanks to my good friend Larry for his help and great instruction. look forward to the next time we are out. Don.

Way to go PP...!!!

Nothing quite like your first thermal...! :D
Good to know that you have someone to show you the ropes... Larry, great thing of you helpin' a new pilot out and taking them under your wing, so-to-speak, kudos to you... :cool:

Here is a link that I think will help you get a good visual thermal flight... Hope you enjoy... :) Looking for LIFT – Thermal Soaring (http://www.rcuvideos.com/video/Looking-for-LIFT-Thermal-Soar/theater#theater_title)

Happy Soaring...!!! :p

[planepainter]

Thanks KickAce!! It was a great thing to see the plane take the lift with ease.It just did not want to come down. Being new, I was afraid I might lose it up there but Larry reassured me that I had control and he was there if I needed to pass over the TX. It just flew. And it was as stable as can be.
BTW,your build thread is what inspired me to get the Viking. PP.

[KickAce]

Thanks KickAce!! It was a great thing to see the plane take the lift with ease.It just did not want to come down. Being new, I was afraid I might lose it up there but Larry reassured me that I had control and he was there if I needed to pass over the TX. It just flew. And it was as stable as can be.
BTW,your build thread is what inspired me to get the Viking. PP.
I bet your adrenalin was flowing PP as you were watching your plane slowly circling as it was rising higher and higher into the open sky...! You'll never forget that 1st thermal and we’re always glad to have another flyer in our midst’s...!!! :D

Good choice on the Viking... Although there is more to do in building mine, I'm workin' on the spoiler set-up now (not done this before - i'm learning) and will post in the build log so keep your eyes open... Not much time to work on it this weekend, as I'll be heading out soon to visit friends... Sorry to say that it isn't to soar... :eek:

Keep up the good work, I did see your build thread and I have a Riser 100" sitting in the box that now is screaming for me to pull it out and put it on the build board... lol... Really, I have to finish the Viking and then get back to the build that I started earlier (thermal queen) and will take me awhile to complete because of all the new building techniques I have needed to learn... Then perhaps the Riser will come out onto the build board... Really, loved your removable tail on yours and the wingtips are just awesome...!!! :p

[planepainter]

Thanks Ace. Of all of the mods I did on my plane, I think the removable tail mod is the most practical. It makes transport a snap and sets up in just a couple of minutes. I would have rather used 4-40 all thread for the mounting posts, but did not think I could get 4-40 nylock nuts. I later found them at MLHS (duh). I hope to be out again this Tuesday. I'll keep ya posted.



PP.