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Event Review: CVRC Visalia Fall Aerotow 2009
By Michael Heer
Oct 29, 2009, 04:41 PM
Introduction
In the soaring community, Visalia is best known for the Annual Fall Soaring Festival held there the first weekend in October. It is the biggest thermal soaring competition held in the United States. It is less known that they hold a wonderful aerotow event every spring and fall. This year I attended to document and capture the first flight of a scratchbuilt scale glider made by two friends of mine from the Modesto area. I questioned my own sanity as I drove south towards Visalia in the first heavy fog of the year. The highway signs kept saying, "Slow Down! Heavy Fog Ahead." Thinking I might be the only person at the field, I kept driving, and as I pulled into the field's entrance road I was rewarded with the first ray of sunshine. There was a nice size group of pilots and planes already there ahead of me and more arrived later. Within an hour of my arrival the fog had burned off enough that gliders starting getting towed up for flights.
Towing
The gliders were towed up to elevation by a variety of gas powered tow planes. The tow planes pull a tow line that connects to a remotely controlled release mechanism in the nose of the gliders. When the gliders get to altitude, the glider pilot activates the remote release, and the glider is free to soar. If thermals are found, it can soar for an hour or more. If no thermals are found, the glider will be back down on the field in less then ten minutes. The tow planes have an emergency release for the tow line in case something happens to the glider and the tow plane must get free of it. This release is seldom used. After the glider releases, the tow plane dives back down to the field, lands and sets up for the next tow. Multiple tow planes and pilots share the towing of the assorted gliders. Towing can get the gliders up to a nice altitude with less stress on the gliders than with a winch launching system. The glider pilot turns and follows the tow plane, so the tow plane doesn't fly too fast for the glider he is towing.
Take a ride in Wayne Niederjohn's Habicht.
Wayne was nice enough to make a special video during flights from his beautiful red and white Habicht.
Gliders
Scale gliders are most frequently flown at aerotow events, and they are normally large gliders. A flying wing was towed up at the event. and it towed and flew well but scale planes are the norm. I have obtained some information for the gliders captured in the videos below, but if you have specific questions about a plane, post them following the review. The owner of the plane or someone else from the event my jump in and answer your questions.
Photo Gallery
The fog that was very heavy in the morning never completely went away, and it effected the color of the sky and the quality of the aerial shots. It showed up more in the pictures than i noticed in person at the event.
Maiden Flight of the Bowlus Super Albatross
Fellow Modesto Radio Control Club members, Dave Alchin and John Raley have worked together for two years to make two Super Albatross Bowlus gliders. Dave Alchin supplied information he got from the last private owner of one of the two Super Albatross gliders. John Raley turned that information into plans. Two years of work led up to this maiden flight of Dave Alchin's plane. John's plane was almost ready to fly but due to a severe storm he was not able to work on it the week before this event, so it's maiden flight will be in the future. The video below shows Dave's plane's first flight. John's son shot the in-flight video as I took still shots. Dennis Brandt was recruited at the event for the honors of being the pilot for the maiden flight.
Video Gallery
Conclusion
It was good to see old friends including Brian Chan and Chris Pratt at the event. It was nice to see some beautiful gliders in tow and flying RC. It was special to see the first flight of Dave's scratchbuilt Super Albatross. I look forward to seeing John's in the air soon. CVRC holds the big aerotow event every spring and fall and monthly aerotow events most months, weather permitting, the rest of the year. Whether flying or just watching it is a great way to spend a day! Last edited by Angela H; Oct 29, 2009 at 04:41 PM.. |
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Oct 29, 2009, 05:06 PM
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#2 |
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"Fly"Fisherman
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Guntersville, AL
Posts: 161
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Michael,
Very nice report with the videos. Thanks for taking the time to cover and share this well known event. I Hope to make it out that way in the future. I have a few friends there I'd like to fly with on their home turf. Asher |
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Oct 29, 2009, 06:53 PM
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#3 |
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y chucu, chucu, chuuuu...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 427
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ohh, so many elegant sailplanes, I want to own all of them.
Great pictures! |
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Oct 30, 2009, 02:59 PM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 616
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That's really cool you guys!!!
Nice job on all of it. |
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Oct 30, 2009, 03:50 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 408
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Really nice work, Michael. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Fantastic photos and video.
Mike |
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Oct 30, 2009, 05:56 PM
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#6 |
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≡LSF 8067≡
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bedford, TX
Posts: 1,091
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Very nice guys, thanks for sharing these beautiful models with us.
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Oct 30, 2009, 10:54 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so. cal.
Posts: 1,030
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A minor correction, the model that is called an ASW-24 is actually a Nimbus 4, there was an ASW-24 there but it isn't in any pics.
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Oct 31, 2009, 01:01 PM
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#8 |
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Where's the lift?
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Snohomish WA USA
Posts: 1,729
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Who owns this Minimoa?
Looks like a 4.8m Lanyu 'Moa from the pics. I want to cop this color scheme for my 5.6m version. |
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Oct 31, 2009, 04:25 PM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so. cal.
Posts: 1,030
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Don, Mike Gore bought the Mini from Mike Lance who bought it from Dan Troxel who got it from EMS, you can get the same model through LET now.
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Oct 31, 2009, 04:28 PM
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#10 |
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Where's the lift?
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Snohomish WA USA
Posts: 1,729
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Thanks, Dennis!
So that IS Mike Gore in that photo-- thought I recognized him. He's a local up here in Seattle, so I can ask him about it directly, and snag a few pics for my reference. I'm familiar with the LET Minimoa; didn't realize this one was a LET (formerly EMS). I also didn't know it comes in the brick-red livery, with a red nose scheme (see attached pic of German-version LET Minimoa). |
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Oct 31, 2009, 08:39 PM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: so. cal.
Posts: 1,030
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Don, Mike had it painted that way, and when it was EMS, they didn't come covered, so you did whatever your heart felt like.
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Nov 01, 2009, 09:39 AM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 53
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Hi to all, great report......I live in Nashville Tn,,and plan on building a tug/towplane. After looking at all of the pic's of towplanes on this thread I would like to ask some questions....
1) How did the Wilga tow, and what size engine was on it? 2) What was the heaviest glider that was towed at this event? 3) As a glider pilot what makes a great towplane? 4) Is the red and yellow plane in the pic's a Pegasus? I think that I have my choices down to the Wilga or Pegasus.....but where do you get a Pegasus from???? Icare sells the Wilga, but it doesn't say the max that it will tow with a 80cc engine??? Any help would be great, and ALL of the towplane at this event are head turners......great work to all.....and happy flying... Kenny Peek Eng30 |
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Nov 01, 2009, 04:05 PM
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: McLean, VA
Posts: 251
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Michael,
Very nice to see so many scale ships well photographed. The haze seems to actually enhance the images of the planes by softening the background. Well done. I am especially interested in the plane in pictures #10 and #21.....any details? Thank you, Jim Blanchfield |
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Nov 02, 2009, 03:12 PM
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Posts: 183
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Kenny -
The Wilga is a 3.5 Fisch kit and has a DA 100. It flies very well. The orange and blue one is a Pegasus (slightly modified). It also has a DA 100. The red/yellow tug is a scratch built Porter with an Evolution 116. Very nice plane. Pegasai are no longer available and are only being built from plans currently. I believe that the heaviest plane to fly that weekend was John Elias' big Grunau. I think it is around 45#. For more info on tow planes I suggest you search this forum. There have been several long discussions. |
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Nov 02, 2009, 08:42 PM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: California
Posts: 4
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Lanyu Scale Gliders
Michael:
Very nice reporting job...!!!...Congrats!! I've been importing the Lanyu line of Scale Gliders for quite some time. Among them: Both Minimoa's 1:3 & 1:4 scale, Kirby Kite, Grunau Baby, and soon to arrive the new Reiher1:3 and the SGCII-33 Plus Reichard Modellsport: Alsema Sagita, DG-300 Elan Acro, Club Libelle, Glasflugel Hornet, Grob G103C, Fox Long Nose Hope to be able to attend the 2010 Spring Event, best regards to all, Alberto www.hobbyclub.com |
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