Stardate 2012-02-24 This is starting out as a log of the experiences of searching for flyable slopes in an area where there is little R/C sailplane activity. Who know where it will end up? Ironically, the local R/C field is within a mile of the headquarters of the Soaring Society of America in Hobbs, New Mexico. Warning: I may ramble on with extraneous detail. I hope it will be informative and entertaining.

My first R/C airplane was an Olympic II. The next was a powered plane, way before electric flight was viable. I have had many more sailplanes since. The first Oly II was sold. My second sailplane was an Oly 650, a Christmas gift in 1981. It is still in my hangar, needing new covering but it' still a good airplane. I don't think I've ever had to make a crash repair on the Oly 650. I can't say the same for some of the other planes I've had along the way.

Hobbs is not known for its rugged terrain- for good reason. The immediate area is rolling plains. Those who go on about how flat it is around Hobbs have apparently not experienced the Gulf Coast where the land can change elevation 'as much as' a foot per mile for many miles. To the west the terrain becomes progressively more hilly and about 40 miles to the west and northwest it gets pretty rugged with the outcropping of the Caprock rises roughly 300 feet above the terrain to its west near the small New Mexico community of Maljamar which is about 45 miles by highway northwest of Hobbs. The Caprock at...Continue Reading