My JW Classic has done so well and been so much fun that I thought I would build another JW, a Pro, and pay finer attention to detail and drag producing building irregularities. It is going slow because Goop takes so long to cure when it is cold. On my first build I taped too soon and the Goop took way too long. Santa's work shop is pretty busy now, so things may be slower than usual.

Finally some progress and success.

Free style Dynamic Soaring at Goat Rock (4 min 55 sec)

Tough little bird.

JW 60 crash and recovery at Goat Rock (0 min 5 sec)

Not quite Dynamic soaring (0 min 11 sec)

I flew Goat Rock with a JW60. First time back on a slope in too many years. Just a little light fun on the front side, mostly, getting to know the JW and the hill. Only 70 mph so far. Woo Hoo!

FrontSideGoatRockFun (8 min 54 sec)

My latest 3Drankin build and some mild crash testing (last 60 sec of video) RTF weight with Eflite 150mAh 45C batt 40.5 grams Wingspan 16.5 in. Gusty 5MPH turbulent winds.

3D Free Style Foamy Fun (4 min 54 sec)

The NanoQX has been so effective helping me retrain my thumbs that I bought a really used AS3Xtra at a swap meet. It was so beat that I gave it a new body from Ebay seller 3drankin205
http://www.ebay.com/itm/replacement-...-/261382360497
New type of construction to me but it went well and flies amazing. A real blast to fly. Holding up well. I used a Sharpie marker to color it. RTF weight with 150mAh battery is 43g. I need to use less glue next time. I have a long way to go but am looking forward to improving my flying skills.

While at an indoor fun fly I saw the Blade Nano QX quad copter. I saw impressive crash survivability and stability and maneuverability. Now that will fly in any room in the house! So I got one and am flying most every day. It is a fantastic little quad. Learning to fly a whole new way and to solder SMD components so I can put navigation lights on it. GREAT little quad.

First navigation light lay out on body. Fine for small indoor space but too close together for outside flying. Gets too small too quickly. Next set of lights will be out on the arm ends.

UPDATE: Finished the new LED arrangement, out on the arms, and it is much easier to stay oriented.

Nano QX jumps over the moon (0 min 54 sec)

Indoor flying has become my new focus. A foot injury has prevented me from climbing the hills and soaring with my bird buddies and the lack of flying was starting get me bent out of shape. I ran across some videos of the Mini Vapor and thought I could probably fly one in my living room. I can. "Landing out" now means crossing the room instead of hiking the hills so it is possible. The Mini Vapor is a blast to fly and high alpha flight is fun and new.

After a while I wanted more so I put a J3 motor in it an love the results. Plenty of power to get into and out off trouble. Unlimited vertical (except by the ceiling)! But then I wanted more control so I made a 4channel Mini Vapor with elevons and the J3 motor. I am still learning and it needs more room than my living room at my present skill level, but it has similar crash survivability as the MV and I am learning full 3 axis control on the cheap. The video below is of one of my first flights with the 4ch Mini Vapor, Trying high alpha and hover. Not too impressive a demo but I am getting better. The video is of the biplane version but I use the mono wing version because it is simpler to fly and the biplane wing does not seem to add the lift I expected.

Mini Vapor 4CH Biplane (0 min 53 sec)

Now I have a Lazy Hawk ornithopter and using the motor does not bother the big thermal riders in the least and I do not have to worry about injuring them with a prop.

RC Turkey Vulture ornithopter soars with live Turkey Vultures (6 min 0 sec)

Next step is improved glide so I don't have to flap so much to keep up

I was amazed by how tolerant the local vultures were. They would open up a place in the circle and fly with me as if I was just another bird. But even they occasionally flap and I would often take a wrong turn by mistake and lose the lift. So I tried adding an electric motor but that increased my sink rate and speed when gliding and using the prop alarmed them. But I was able to get up to the good air more consistently and at altitude trading a little sink rate for better glide slope made more sense.

Allegro E Lite - Black Vulture 25 sec Dance (0 min 26 sec)

Soaring with the buzzards/vultures has long been my stated goal and favorite RC activity. Pure gliders (no motor) were what I primarily used since that is what got me respect from the birds. Really. The locals would watch me from their perches as I would hand launch repeatedly. When I finally caught some lift, they would follow and fly with me for a bit and them out climb me. When my skills and sailplanes improved enough I was able to stay with them.

Allegro lite thermals with vulture (2 min 21 sec)