first rolls!
I flew my easyglider for over an hour today overlooking Wonderland Lake in great slermal conditions, about 45° out and sunny. I flew from a spot somewhat protected from the wind and it was unusual to be soaring but only feeling the lightest breeze on my face. Nice spot for winter flying.
Finally got the nerve up to try a roll - and it worked out! Could have done it long ago but was hoping to get the realflight simulator and do it on the computer first. With the recession getting worse, I gave up hope of buying the software and just went for it. Remembered reading on Karl's website that rolls should be done toward the hill.
They came out beautifully when headed in one direction and always very sloppy (almost like a squashed diagonal loop) when headed the other way. Maybe because the wind was not perfectly perpendicular to the slope? Really loved the way it looked when I could come out of a straight roll carving a turn, wow!
There were some really serene periods when the wind seems to die, even Wonderland Lake became smooth, but the lift remained strong for as much as 10 minutes. Maybe a large thermal parked over the area?
Deer were grazing very close to me the entire time and when I landed, my final turn was right over the herd and they spooked a little, ran 10 feet and stopped to eat again - 23 deer. Discovered that if I land in the high grass, the tips of the grass slow the glider down very quickly, almost catching it like a net. with so many rocks around, it's a very useful technique. What a great afternoon... I really love Colorado.
Finally got the nerve up to try a roll - and it worked out! Could have done it long ago but was hoping to get the realflight simulator and do it on the computer first. With the recession getting worse, I gave up hope of buying the software and just went for it. Remembered reading on Karl's website that rolls should be done toward the hill.
They came out beautifully when headed in one direction and always very sloppy (almost like a squashed diagonal loop) when headed the other way. Maybe because the wind was not perfectly perpendicular to the slope? Really loved the way it looked when I could come out of a straight roll carving a turn, wow!
There were some really serene periods when the wind seems to die, even Wonderland Lake became smooth, but the lift remained strong for as much as 10 minutes. Maybe a large thermal parked over the area?
Deer were grazing very close to me the entire time and when I landed, my final turn was right over the herd and they spooked a little, ran 10 feet and stopped to eat again - 23 deer. Discovered that if I land in the high grass, the tips of the grass slow the glider down very quickly, almost catching it like a net. with so many rocks around, it's a very useful technique. What a great afternoon... I really love Colorado.
Comment
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Comment by Eric on March 16, 2009 at 3:39pm -
Thanks for the tip! it sounds difficult - really wish I had the simulator to practice with. That is quite a fleet you have there... I have a feeling you don't sit around bored very often:)
nice to know that when I can scrape the money together the cularis is waiting for me with a better wing joiner system.
Sorry to hear you lost a glider. I don't like to fly high because I too easily lose track of direction.
-- Eric
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Comment by Dumorian on March 15, 2009 at 8:58pm -
Rudder and elevator.... as you are rolling... lets say you are going to do a roll with left aileron. As the glider reaches 90 degrees, right rudder will help keep the nose up instead of the dive... then at the upside down point, down elevator... then at the 270 point... left rudder. Basically, as the nose tries to fall, correct with rudder and elevator. These inputs actually can be eased on and off as it rolls to help with holding a straight line during the roll... instead of the spiral sort of roll it does using just ailerons.
This is one of the simplest looking maneuvers to those watching... it looks like absolutely nothing special. But, to me, this is one of the most challenging for the pilot. Lots of timing and co-ordination to hit it just right. And then you do a second roll... and then you try to do this while flying a big circle rolling the whole way. To me, it's very hard...
Yeah, E power is sweet. I had an EGE. I gave up on the speed 400, cut the nose, made a firewall and installed a brushless outrunner. One REALLY good day, lift was superb! Then, suddenly it was going higher and heading east. From the time I realized I was in trouble until the time I gave up was about 30 seconds. The winds were too strong up there for me to see how to overcome them and in no time the model was a spec.
I now have a EGPro. Brushless really makes this model come alive. I didn't do a big power system on mine, but I can be to a nice altitude in like 30 seconds. One minute and I'm up to spec out heights.
I have one of those little 'how high' modules. I often times record my altitudes. My record so far is 2210 feet with my Cularis. At that height, you don't dare take your eyes off the model for a second.
The Cularis wing joining system is very sweet. It takes like 10 seconds or less to assemble or disassemble the model. I rarely take the wings off the EG as well. The Cularis is actually a lot easier to transport... unless you take the wings of the EG.
I had the heat problem with the 400 as well. I was on my way to cooking it, which was why I did the brushless mod.
This is a shot of most of our planes at the beginning of last summer. It's going to look a lot different at the beginning of this summer.
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Comment by Eric on March 15, 2009 at 7:56pm
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what is "really good rudder and elevator prep"? I was just trying to make sure that I had enough energy by diving a little first to pick up speed and initiated the rolls just after starting to climb again. I tried both with and without rudder aileron mix on... didn't seem to make much difference to the outcome.
having the electric is really amazing because it allows me to fly on the mountain when conditions are just marginal for long periods of time.
Because the air is thinner here I use a 400 brushless motor - at first, I could climb almost vertical and it took just seconds to reach my top altitude. But then I realized the motor was so hot it was melting the foam! trimmed my propeller and now the motor doesn't overheat but I also can't climb like a rocket anymore.
broke my propeller on Friday so my easyglider is out of action for a while.. previously bent the housing shaft as well - too many rocks hiding in the grass here.
I like the look of Cularis too. what I don't like, is the wing joining system. I never take mine apart because of the hassle.
That's a nice set up to fly from the bottom of the mountain. Have any pictures?
--- Eric
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Comment by Dumorian on March 15, 2009 at 7:11pm
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Eric, The EG is a hoot for playing. Rolls are about the hardest thing to do while making them look clean... Getting that to happen though is really good rudder and elevator prep for rolling circles! Loops are a lot of fun. I was flying with my buddy the other day while he was flying a really lame glider. Full power and it just creeps upward. Anyway, I did a half loop, pulled it out inverted, powered up and flew past him climbing like crazy inverted. He got a real kick out of it. He's actually a much much much better pilot than me and this thing is really just a toy to him... He knew I was just showing him up, which I only very rarely get to do. Suddenly he was asking questions about what size brushless might fit in his glider.
Sounds like you're having a lot of fun. The EG is a great plane. The Cularis is also a great plane. On those days when the winds are high, the Cularis is just right at home. I've been absolutely amazed that I've been able to have really good flights with it even in 25 to 30 mph winds... even landings.
I have been buying all my 3s lipos with a minimum rating of 20c. These work for the Cularis as well. It's nice to share batteries as much as possible.
That's neat having the deer watching your flight. We have a good many deer at around our field as well. But, as these deer are hunted from time to time, they don't feel very secure around humans. We do have almost always buzzards and most of the time some hawks to help us with finding those updrafts. I'm in the mountains. Our field is at the base of a mountain, so most of my gliding is I guess upside down slope soaring. Power up, play off the side and then come down to land. I guess this is really a whimpy way to do it as one can always get down!
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