1,370 total views, 3 views today
Up early today 5:30 usually have breakfast on the go at this time, however our Guests have been eating breakfast out and Chalet Guests get to cook their own.
I haven’t had the Supra out flying for a while so perhaps today I will get a chance.
It has been changed over to 2,4 GHZ Fasst, so a bit apprehensive as well
There is little to no breeze, but what I can detect is from the North.
I’ll set up my winch on the south end of the field, and get out the Mirage 1st.
I built the Mirage back in January , a scratch build that I am really happy with. I’m using a Aquila Canopy for it, perhaps someday I’ll get or make a more “proper” one If there is such a thing. After 6 launches the best I could achieve was 5 1/2 minutes and all these flights before 7
Later I got out the Topaz a nice RES plane which can take a full pedal FLS launch if you like with no wind. Pop the large spoilers and it comes down. It soon became apparent that this out performs the Mirage.
I suppose that would be logical as it is more modern and has a lot of carbon fiber. 4 rides with the Topaz with a couple 7 minute flights
At some point during the morning I had to move the winch to the north end. The Windguru has advised light southerly breezes and they where showing , perhaps around 9 AM .
Always a chore to do this without winding the line in and keeping both parts of the line from entangling with each other. I have discovered first taking the winch to the other end works well, taking care not to overlap the end of the line from the turnaround out to the chute.
Next I move the turnaround , in this case to the south end of the field once again watching for the other two parts of the line. They will twist together in a big hurry especially If one part of the line gets held up in the grass.
At this point I had also taken the Mirage home and was left with the Topaz at the north end of the field.
The stillness in the air shortly after 9 was similar as earlier, but there was a lot more heat.
I got out with the Topaz, perhaps 400- 500 ft launch, sometimes I can get higher but that’s with a stiffer breeze .
I was gone flew around a bit of probing for lift some figure eights , some left, some right turns and it was quite apparent there was plenty of lift.
The side of the hill was breeding thermals as well as the interface where the field meets the woods.
I was off within minutes, and easily reached over 1000 ft. At that point thermalling is quite effortless and spirals and loops can be performed and altitude regained within minutes. I stick to the wide sweeping spirals and at times loosing altitude , all good
I popped the spoilers a couple times and came back down, it takes a while to get back down from up there , north/ south a few times and back to 500 feet or so
10 Minutes soon turned to 20 and 30 minutes, I no longer heard the 1 minute beeps from the transmitter. Later around 45 minutes I was down to 400 ft or so and felt the lift was no longer like it was earlier. I headed East more over the field and once again spun into a thermal and headed up.
Have discovered that some thermals, well are like a brick wall, you need to go in and set a tight turn, perhaps bank at 45 Deg.
Of course there’s a trade of more bank less ability to use the lift, either way I seemed to have penetrated in and was on my way up again.
My eyes where straining at times and apparently I fly with my mouth open as I could have used a drink.
57 1/2 minutes later I was back on the ground what a flight, and all between 9 and 10 or so.
Later I took the Supra up effortless flying , the Porsche of my fleet without question. A 20 minute ride, like an easy ride in the park. What a plane
Time for a break head home and tell the Gallery of my achievements.
They were interested, well then soon they refocused on something else. :):)
Perhaps later I’ll get out for some more