Hi all Bedok regulars,
Most of you will know me more for flying powered crafts like plane and heli, only very recently thanks to some poisoning that I took sloping a bit more seriously. Thanks to Birdtime from Joe & mentoring from Ghostfit. I found I actually like it lol much to my surprise after getting stuck for an hour when most can't sustain because of lacklustre condition.
I would like to find out more about sloping but more in local context particularly our only sloping place Bedok Reservoir. I see main 4 types of crafts as follows:
- Flying wings
- Gliders (dihedral with rudder only)
- Composites (spoilerons, Ailerons and Rudder)
- Scale composites (usually the real hugh stuff with mind boggling wingspan)
I know from the gatherings there that the gliders like my Bird of time can stay afloat really well, even to the point of stalling it facing the wind in lacklustre condition. I learnt from my exercise (picking up wing) last year that flying wing needs more pronounced differential in the elevons for slope flying etc. If the experts can contribute their experience here, will be great thread for people like me wanting to get started in this. Loads of questions below, any help appreciated.
Characteristics/ Questions
Bedok Reservoir general flying tips:
Some of which I gathered from others, Fly figure of 8 always turning out to the wind (never inward downwind unless you want to climb trees). Try to keep the craft moving and not stall face the wind etc. Venture more to the right side above the treeline if you can, you get the most lift there when turning back usually, Pang what is the block numbers again to be above at? These simple tips got me flying for an hour first timer on a proper glider. Anymore to add for this area?
Flying wings - (For combat only?)
Need for elevon differential, how much and CG/Mac? Is that applicable for all? I see these crafts mostly restricted to close area flying usually zooming about for fun and combat. Do they go any further?
Gliders - (Goal is to thermal as high?)
for Gliders like Bird of Time, the recommended rudder throw was a disaster for BR, learnt the hard way you need more and dun even think about point the nose beyond perpendicular to wind direction, you will lose rudder authority and kiss the tree. Landing for this craft is a bit tricky too, no flaps or spoilerons, the bigger the craft the crazier it gets. Tips I get from most people is to get the plane low to the right side of BR, turn it around without gaining height, bring it in for a landing from the right coming in low up the slope. This is pretty tough, I struggle with rudder authority all the time setting up for landing.
Composites -
This one got my attention most, seen a few F3X videos that has our local pilots participating. What is the trick in this? To always keep it moving fast turning kinetic energy to heights? Casting nose weight - I saw Dennis's helpful thread about casting your own weight, Where do we buy those material, does any shop in SG sell precasted weight for select models? Also, same thing applies to ballast, where to get started in machining these slugs? Brass material?
- Scale composites
I seen a few with really huge wingspan, in excess of 4m. What is the reason for such sizes? Do they thermal better? Are they restricted to the coastline only flying or have the capability to climb much higher and further if the conditions allow?
Most of you will know me more for flying powered crafts like plane and heli, only very recently thanks to some poisoning that I took sloping a bit more seriously. Thanks to Birdtime from Joe & mentoring from Ghostfit. I found I actually like it lol much to my surprise after getting stuck for an hour when most can't sustain because of lacklustre condition.
I would like to find out more about sloping but more in local context particularly our only sloping place Bedok Reservoir. I see main 4 types of crafts as follows:
- Flying wings
- Gliders (dihedral with rudder only)
- Composites (spoilerons, Ailerons and Rudder)
- Scale composites (usually the real hugh stuff with mind boggling wingspan)
I know from the gatherings there that the gliders like my Bird of time can stay afloat really well, even to the point of stalling it facing the wind in lacklustre condition. I learnt from my exercise (picking up wing) last year that flying wing needs more pronounced differential in the elevons for slope flying etc. If the experts can contribute their experience here, will be great thread for people like me wanting to get started in this. Loads of questions below, any help appreciated.
Characteristics/ Questions
Bedok Reservoir general flying tips:
Some of which I gathered from others, Fly figure of 8 always turning out to the wind (never inward downwind unless you want to climb trees). Try to keep the craft moving and not stall face the wind etc. Venture more to the right side above the treeline if you can, you get the most lift there when turning back usually, Pang what is the block numbers again to be above at? These simple tips got me flying for an hour first timer on a proper glider. Anymore to add for this area?
Flying wings - (For combat only?)
Need for elevon differential, how much and CG/Mac? Is that applicable for all? I see these crafts mostly restricted to close area flying usually zooming about for fun and combat. Do they go any further?
Gliders - (Goal is to thermal as high?)
for Gliders like Bird of Time, the recommended rudder throw was a disaster for BR, learnt the hard way you need more and dun even think about point the nose beyond perpendicular to wind direction, you will lose rudder authority and kiss the tree. Landing for this craft is a bit tricky too, no flaps or spoilerons, the bigger the craft the crazier it gets. Tips I get from most people is to get the plane low to the right side of BR, turn it around without gaining height, bring it in for a landing from the right coming in low up the slope. This is pretty tough, I struggle with rudder authority all the time setting up for landing.
Composites -
This one got my attention most, seen a few F3X videos that has our local pilots participating. What is the trick in this? To always keep it moving fast turning kinetic energy to heights? Casting nose weight - I saw Dennis's helpful thread about casting your own weight, Where do we buy those material, does any shop in SG sell precasted weight for select models? Also, same thing applies to ballast, where to get started in machining these slugs? Brass material?
- Scale composites
I seen a few with really huge wingspan, in excess of 4m. What is the reason for such sizes? Do they thermal better? Are they restricted to the coastline only flying or have the capability to climb much higher and further if the conditions allow?
Comment