Ah, found the SA forum at last!

Drachen · Nov 13, 2006, 03:59 AM

I stumbled on the SA forum by accident, didn't see any regional forum links from the homepage.

I'm flying helis but with the last couple of days of southeaster, I decided I need to make use of this wind so I took up slope soaring. I maidened my Bee yesterday and man, I'm hooked!

I live in the Helderberg area, and the closest good slope I know of is Papegaaiberg in Stellenbosch. It's awesome when the SE blows. Actually I think it should work from any direction. All the plantation trees on Papegaaiberg has been removed so it's wide open. There's some small bushes and treestumps making landing a bit tricky, but hey we need a challenge now and then, right? Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/johan.mo...BeeSlopeSoarer for photos of the slope.

Does anyone know of other good slopes in the Somerset West/Stellenbosch area? I know of the Sir Lowry's Pass one which works in NW, but specifically looking for SE facing slopes. Any help will be welcome!

If anyone lives in or close to Stellenbosch and want to try out Papegaaiberg slope, give me a PM. I'd love to go fly with others, and having the whole slope to myself is not so much fun.

I also want to make a turn at the Hermanus slope on the 28th to see some action. If I just want to fly for fun, do I need to enter (is it purely a competition day) and do I need to have SAMAA membership for slope soaring there?

Thanks guys, and I hope to see some of you on a slope soon!

aragon · Nov 13, 2006, 03:38 PM

Howdy,

I've been eyeing some slopes in that area in the hope of finding a nice SE DS spot. If you find any let me know - if it's good it'd be well worth the trip for me! (from Hout Bay)

I fly helis too. I got hooked on sloping via a Bee just like you. My first few flights were on Hout Bay beach front in a SE.

You should definately come to Hermanus, even if just to watch. There will be ALOT of planes there to see. Yes, you need SAMAA membership to fly there, but you ought to get membership for sloping anyway. Drop them a mail, Bob will probably get you signed up in time for Hermanus. Other than that you can just arrive on the day or register ahead of time on www.atlanticfc.org.za. It lasts the whole weekend and many have organised accomodation nearby. I will probably only go up for Saturday or Sunday.

Do you know any other slopers? I mostly slope with the TOSS crowd here in Cape Town. Red Hill and Signal Hill are probably the most popular spots right now.

What helis do you fly?

Drachen · Nov 13, 2006, 04:27 PM

Hi Aragon
That Papegaaiberg slope is quite good, i'm sure it's not as good as those in Cape Town but quite worth the visit. It doesn't look so wide from the photo, but there's a decent sized slope to fly on. I'll be visiting it often when the SE blows. It looks like it should work in almost any wind direction, have a look at it in Google Earth. It's open all round. 33°56'0.03"S / 18°50'39.55"E

I met one guy here in Somerset West who's got a Zagi, he's also looking for a slope in this area and will join me on the next visit to Papegaaiberg.

I'll definitely visit Signal Hill soon - saw a video clip of flying there, it looks awesome! In what winds does it work there?

I have a Raptor 50, still learning to hover with training gear but eager to learn the rest. Photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/johan.moelich

aragon · Nov 13, 2006, 04:56 PM

Ah, looks pretty good. What is the access like? Looks like there's a road of some sort up there.

Do you know how to get to 34 01'27"S / 18 53'56" E? Now that looks like a possible DS spot.

Do you remember what video clip it was? Might have been the one I made.

I have two modified Corona helis and a TRex (that I haven't finished). Admittedly they don't get as much airtime as they used to.

aragon · Nov 13, 2006, 05:01 PM

Oh, Signal Hill works best in NW and W. I prefer when it's W as the wind comes nicely up the bowl and I think is most condusive to DSing the backside.

Landing at Signal Hill is a piece of pie.

Drachen · Nov 13, 2006, 05:27 PM

I'm very keen to try DS but first need to fly front slope some more, as I'm very new in slope soaring and want to get more comfortable first. Landing at Papegaaiberg can be a bit tricky but it makes it so much more interesting! I did about 10 circuits trying to land, but the Bee just wants to stay up

Looking forward to trying Signal Hill soon.

aragon · Nov 13, 2006, 06:29 PM

Yea, get some good stick time on the front side. When you start to itch for more, download CRRCsim and practise some DS.

Then get a JW and a decent DS slope.

Signal Hill isn't too popular in summer because of the majority SE. Red Hill is pretty THE spot for SE right now. For the occasional SW we have Slangkop lighthouse / Kommetjie Road which has particularly excellent lift, but a tough landing area.

See you on the slope sometime!

Drachen · Nov 14, 2006, 03:49 AM

Ok I'll try Red Hill rather. I looked at the JW and it looks like a nippy one! It seems to be about the same price as the Bee overseas, how does it compare here?

I've got CRRCsim but can't get my Tx to work on it. What's the easiest way to get a JR Tx to work, without needing to build major interface cables? I use a simple audio cable for FMS and it works great with SmartPropoPlus. Doesn't work on CRRC though.

aragon · Nov 14, 2006, 04:03 AM

No one here that I know of sells it. I brought it in from the US for myself. I may get another sometime in future and could let you know...

I have a multiplex evo 9. I use a straight audio cable plugged into my sound card. Seems to work great with CRRCsim...

robertfo · Dec 13, 2008, 09:30 AM

Hi Johan
And so did I stumble:-) But here is a question. I noticed that you sail RC that is a small yacht. Is this a kit or scratch build and how do you control your mainsail by arm servo or by winch.

Sorry for all the questions but I battle with my main sail. I recently abouyt a year ago moved from power rc boats to sail but bought akit. HOwever the main sail winch cable has broken and ever since I replaced it I have problems with tangling cables?

I would appreciate some advice.

Nov 13, 2006, 03:59 AM	#1
Drachen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 13	Ah, found the SA forum at last! I stumbled on the SA forum by accident, didn't see any regional forum links from the homepage. I'm flying helis but with the last couple of days of southeaster, I decided I need to make use of this wind so I took up slope soaring. I maidened my Bee yesterday and man, I'm hooked! I live in the Helderberg area, and the closest good slope I know of is Papegaaiberg in Stellenbosch. It's awesome when the SE blows. Actually I think it should work from any direction. All the plantation trees on Papegaaiberg has been removed so it's wide open. There's some small bushes and treestumps making landing a bit tricky, but hey we need a challenge now and then, right? Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/johan.mo...BeeSlopeSoarer for photos of the slope. Does anyone know of other good slopes in the Somerset West/Stellenbosch area? I know of the Sir Lowry's Pass one which works in NW, but specifically looking for SE facing slopes. Any help will be welcome! If anyone lives in or close to Stellenbosch and want to try out Papegaaiberg slope, give me a PM. I'd love to go fly with others, and having the whole slope to myself is not so much fun. I also want to make a turn at the Hermanus slope on the 28th to see some action. If I just want to fly for fun, do I need to enter (is it purely a competition day) and do I need to have SAMAA membership for slope soaring there? Thanks guys, and I hope to see some of you on a slope soon!

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Nov 13, 2006, 03:38 PM	#2
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	Howdy, I've been eyeing some slopes in that area in the hope of finding a nice SE DS spot. If you find any let me know - if it's good it'd be well worth the trip for me! (from Hout Bay) I fly helis too. I got hooked on sloping via a Bee just like you. My first few flights were on Hout Bay beach front in a SE. You should definately come to Hermanus, even if just to watch. There will be ALOT of planes there to see. Yes, you need SAMAA membership to fly there, but you ought to get membership for sloping anyway. Drop them a mail, Bob will probably get you signed up in time for Hermanus. Other than that you can just arrive on the day or register ahead of time on www.atlanticfc.org.za. It lasts the whole weekend and many have organised accomodation nearby. I will probably only go up for Saturday or Sunday. Do you know any other slopers? I mostly slope with the TOSS crowd here in Cape Town. Red Hill and Signal Hill are probably the most popular spots right now. What helis do you fly?

Nov 13, 2006, 04:27 PM	#3
Drachen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 13	Hi Aragon That Papegaaiberg slope is quite good, i'm sure it's not as good as those in Cape Town but quite worth the visit. It doesn't look so wide from the photo, but there's a decent sized slope to fly on. I'll be visiting it often when the SE blows. It looks like it should work in almost any wind direction, have a look at it in Google Earth. It's open all round. 33°56'0.03"S / 18°50'39.55"E I met one guy here in Somerset West who's got a Zagi, he's also looking for a slope in this area and will join me on the next visit to Papegaaiberg. I'll definitely visit Signal Hill soon - saw a video clip of flying there, it looks awesome! In what winds does it work there? I have a Raptor 50, still learning to hover with training gear but eager to learn the rest. Photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/johan.moelich

Nov 13, 2006, 04:56 PM	#4
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	Ah, looks pretty good. What is the access like? Looks like there's a road of some sort up there. Do you know how to get to 34 01'27"S / 18 53'56" E? Now that looks like a possible DS spot. Do you remember what video clip it was? Might have been the one I made. I have two modified Corona helis and a TRex (that I haven't finished). Admittedly they don't get as much airtime as they used to.

Nov 13, 2006, 05:01 PM	#5
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	Oh, Signal Hill works best in NW and W. I prefer when it's W as the wind comes nicely up the bowl and I think is most condusive to DSing the backside. Landing at Signal Hill is a piece of pie.

Nov 13, 2006, 05:27 PM	#6
Drachen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 13	I'm very keen to try DS but first need to fly front slope some more, as I'm very new in slope soaring and want to get more comfortable first. Landing at Papegaaiberg can be a bit tricky but it makes it so much more interesting! I did about 10 circuits trying to land, but the Bee just wants to stay up Looking forward to trying Signal Hill soon.

Nov 13, 2006, 06:29 PM	#7
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	Yea, get some good stick time on the front side. When you start to itch for more, download CRRCsim and practise some DS. Then get a JW and a decent DS slope. Signal Hill isn't too popular in summer because of the majority SE. Red Hill is pretty THE spot for SE right now. For the occasional SW we have Slangkop lighthouse / Kommetjie Road which has particularly excellent lift, but a tough landing area. See you on the slope sometime!

Nov 14, 2006, 03:49 AM	#8
Drachen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 13	Ok I'll try Red Hill rather. I looked at the JW and it looks like a nippy one! It seems to be about the same price as the Bee overseas, how does it compare here? I've got CRRCsim but can't get my Tx to work on it. What's the easiest way to get a JR Tx to work, without needing to build major interface cables? I use a simple audio cable for FMS and it works great with SmartPropoPlus. Doesn't work on CRRC though.

Nov 14, 2006, 04:03 AM	#9
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	No one here that I know of sells it. I brought it in from the US for myself. I may get another sometime in future and could let you know... I have a multiplex evo 9. I use a straight audio cable plugged into my sound card. Seems to work great with CRRCsim...

Dec 13, 2008, 09:30 AM	#10
robertfo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: JHB, RSA Posts: 4	Hi Johan And so did I stumble:-) But here is a question. I noticed that you sail RC that is a small yacht. Is this a kit or scratch build and how do you control your mainsail by arm servo or by winch. Sorry for all the questions but I battle with my main sail. I recently abouyt a year ago moved from power rc boats to sail but bought akit. HOwever the main sail winch cable has broken and ever since I replaced it I have problems with tangling cables? I would appreciate some advice.