Steve, you missed the Woodcrafters contest not too far from you near Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's low key and a lot of fun. And, it's coming up soon. See this post in Sailplane Events:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1652407

Define Woody. Is fiberglass fuselages legal? How about the Bubble Dancer with it's carbon fiber spars. I have not used a wood fuselage since 1974.

Wood Crafters
Dedicated to those that build and fly wood R/C Sailplanes

Wood Crafters is dedicated to perpetuating the model builder, not the model buyer.

Woody Rules by Ray Hayes LSF 803

If you didn't build it, you can't fly it, with the following exceptions:

A one off you purchased that was built in the continental USA by a USA citizen.

Construction rule:

1. Wing and Stab are built up from wood.
2. No restriction on spar construction or materials.
3. No Molded D-Tube leading edge construction.
4. Fuselage can be wood, glassed wood or molded Fiberglass including the fin.
5. Carbon reinforcement can be used on any part of the structure.

Ray,

I'm sure you have said it somewhere, but why did you stop having your contest?

Also, thanks for the positive inputs from Joe and yourself on the rules change proposal, it means a lot coming from a couple of guys that have been around the block once or twice.
On a side note, the P970 arrived the other day looks outstanding as always, will have a MO in the mail shortly for another order, Paragon wing is 75%, taken a little longer than I thought, went with some carbon lam on the spars.

Rich

Burn out got the best of me.

I appreciate your patience waiting for your orders to arrive, I know some guys don't understand why I don't have a supply of the kits (approx. 30 ) I offer on the shelf ready to be shipped.

Ray
Sky Bench ... Woodys Forever
http://www.skybench.com

Originally Posted by Jim Deck

Steve, you missed the Woodcrafters contest not too far from you near Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's low key and a lot of fun. And, it's coming up soon. See this post in Sailplane Events:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1652407

The Muncie club has a woody at the AMA field Sept 15 - 16, it's on the AMA field calender.

Ray
Sky Bench ... Woodys Forever
http://www.skybench.com

Originally Posted by Thermaler

Otto Heithcker's Challenger, some say the challenge is in the building. There are a lot of pieces but they produce a beautiful sailplane. A kit is avialible from Skybench. Yes, a shameless plug.
Dan Pruss covers the 1975 LSF Tournament.

Joe

It looks like thermal sniffers were pretty standard in competition in the mid 70s. Funny how trends come and go. They still seem like a good idea to me.

I used a thermal sensor in 1975 though 1976 but found that I could do as well without it. The thermal senor helped a lot when flying overhead and at extreme visual rang but actually hurt in between where I could clearly see what the model was doing. If I was concentrating on listening to the thermal sensor, I missed the little visual clued like a wing dip. After 1976, I only used the thermal sensor for cross country events where it was essential.

I can see it at least helping during the learning process. Its just one more source of input for your brain. You may choose to disregard it and you may outgrow it. In my case, a whole minute could go by before I realize, "You know, my sailplane is getting smaller. I bet its rising."

When I use a vario, I find that I end up turning off my visual sense for lift. The vario may be a good training tool for some, I find that it works best for this if I turn off the vario sound and just query for altitude occasionally to do a confirmation of what I am seeing. A vario does help to sort out very light air when there is a bit of wind, a condition where sometimes the eyes get deceived due to the varying angles due to the downwind drift.

I'd recommend using the vario as a tool to validate what you are seeing with your eyes rather than using it as the primary source of climb rate information. At present, I an using an altimeter in my plane to do the confirmation process, I occasionally glance down at my tx to see the altitude to see how well I have done to validate what my eyes are telling me.

A vario is too much input for most beginners. You need to be able to pilot the aircraft smoothly without inducing all kinds of errors into the vario ... and the total energy probe most use for XC and giant scale sailplanes likely won't make it into a TD model.

Get good solid skills flying at extreme range FIRST, then engage the vario for the additional data (if you need it).

By the time you are ready to play with a vario, you likely won't want it.

What TK said...

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by Joe W

.........At present, I an using an altimeter in my plane to do the confirmation process, I occasionally glance down at my tx to see the altitude to see how well I have done to validate what my eyes are telling me.

I like the altimeter idea.

Originally Posted by Joe W

When I use a vario, I find that I end up turning off my visual sense for lift. The vario may be a good training tool for some, I find that it works best for this if I turn off the vario sound and just query for altitude occasionally to do a confirmation of what I am seeing. A vario does help to sort out very light air when there is a bit of wind, a condition where sometimes the eyes get deceived due to the varying angles due to the downwind drift.

I'd recommend using the vario as a tool to validate what you are seeing with your eyes rather than using it as the primary source of climb rate information. At present, I an using an altimeter in my plane to do the confirmation process, I occasionally glance down at my tx to see the altitude to see how well I have done to validate what my eyes are telling me.

Joe,

Which set up are you using?

Rich

Somebody felt I was in violation of a copyright.
I am sorry if I infringe on some ones property.
Please let me know if I have/do it and I will remove the post.
No need to get the moderators invovled.

Joe


"Hi Joe,
Posting articles published by AMA in Model Aviation magazine prior to 1990 is fine. We appreciate the acknowledgement and credit.
Dave


Dave Mathewson
Executive Director
Academy of Model Aeronautics
765.287.1256 x 201
765.286.3300 Fax
315.727.4275 Cell
davem@modelaircraft.org
www.modelaircraft.org "


Thank You Dave.