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| Meeting Point (2 min 56 sec) |
Really nice video produced by Noisy Skies of France. When P-A told me he was going to visit, I was stoked to host him. The result is really beautiful, and I think captures the Ellwood flying experience in a nutshell. Super cool
I've been using PicaSim (and SSS prior to that) for over a decade now and it continues to get better and better.
Its modeling of slope soaring is second to none, in my opinion equal to Aerofly and vastly superior than RealFlight and Phoenix (both of which completely ignore gliders for all intents and purposes).
Although the graphics are not as snazzy, the flight modeling is excellent and Danny Chapman, the developer of PicaSim, works very closely with experienced pilots to get things just right (ask me how I know
)
In fact the aerodynamic simulation has gotten so good I am able to successfully practice "Madflight", a style of slope aerobatics wherein the elevator (and sometimes rudder) is capable of 180 degree rotation, allowing a Lomcevak-like flip around the pitch axis.
Here is a quick video I did showing how to replicate a classic move by Benoit Paysant-Le Roux with his Madslide glider.
Bottom line: PicaSim is the best simulator for those interested in slope soaring and especially hardcore slope aerobatics practice, hands down.
OH AND IT'S FREE, TOO
http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim/
Steve
Its modeling of slope soaring is second to none, in my opinion equal to Aerofly and vastly superior than RealFlight and Phoenix (both of which completely ignore gliders for all intents and purposes).
Although the graphics are not as snazzy, the flight modeling is excellent and Danny Chapman, the developer of PicaSim, works very closely with experienced pilots to get things just right (ask me how I know
)In fact the aerodynamic simulation has gotten so good I am able to successfully practice "Madflight", a style of slope aerobatics wherein the elevator (and sometimes rudder) is capable of 180 degree rotation, allowing a Lomcevak-like flip around the pitch axis.
Here is a quick video I did showing how to replicate a classic move by Benoit Paysant-Le Roux with his Madslide glider.
Bottom line: PicaSim is the best simulator for those interested in slope soaring and especially hardcore slope aerobatics practice, hands down.
OH AND IT'S FREE, TOO
http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim/
| Studying the Masters: BPLR's Mad Snap (1 min 15 sec) |
Steve
| Wasabi Precision Aerobatics Practice (3 min 22 sec) |
Fullscreen recommended
When I'm not flying my Le Fish down at the beach, I enjoy flying my Wasabi and Voltij up in the mountains. Getting video of the latter is difficult unless I've got someone along to film, but I tried an experiment - inspired by Ian "Daemon" Frechette - setting my GoPro Hero2 on "Narrow" Field of View.
I'm not totally stoked on the results - we just have to fly too far away up there for this method to work - but it's better than nothing, and considering it's been six years (!!) since my last precision video I decided to share.
Hope you enjoy,
Steve
http://www.LeFish.org/
Dawson Henderson and I have been collaborating on a wiki project meant to help support all the Le Fish builders out there - Le Fishipedia
It's meant to be a one-stop shop where new builders can learn about Le Fish, get guidance on what style/weight of build will best suit them, etc. Basically we're trying to help people avoid having to wade through thousands of pages of forum posts to find this important info. It's still a work in progress... it always will be
So... check it out! And enjoy!
Steve
Flying the ultralight Le Fish through a stock-in-trade Ultrabatics maneuver, the inverted wingtip drag to half roll out.
Next to me is Alex Hewson of New Zealand, reknowned for his DS skills (including DS aerobatics with a modified Le Fish).
Photo by Dave Garwood and sequence composited by yours truly.
Steve
I decided it was time to once and for all provide a concise, to-the-point introduction to VTPR aerobatics flying.
Based on a question posed by grfcon in the Slope forum, I created an info-rich response including a summary of the history and development of VTPR as well as a bunch of videos.
All of this is available via any web browser here: VTPR.info
Ultimately this might develop into its own standalone site, who knows. But at least we've got it all in one place, with one easy to remember name!
Next time you're out at the slope having a go of it, and some asks to learn more, you can just say:
"Check out vtpr.info!"
Steve
Based on a question posed by grfcon in the Slope forum, I created an info-rich response including a summary of the history and development of VTPR as well as a bunch of videos.
All of this is available via any web browser here: VTPR.info
Ultimately this might develop into its own standalone site, who knows. But at least we've got it all in one place, with one easy to remember name!
Next time you're out at the slope having a go of it, and some asks to learn more, you can just say:
"Check out vtpr.info!"
Steve
| UltraBatics California Style (4 min 15 sec) |
Clips from this video were featured on the TV show "right this minute": http://www.rightthisminute.com/video...-gliders-beach
Steve
| Blade mQX at the park (1 min 34 sec) |
I've been bitten by the quadcopter bug hard courtesy the dainty little Blade mQX. Never have a flown an aircraft which has so thoroughly impressed me; it's like a radio controlled hummingbird.
I'm already looking into a "nano" FPV system for it, and am eying a larger quadcopter frame for hardcore FPV rotorizing. This is getting serious, and I LIKE EEET!
Steve
