Slope Soaring

Although not exactly new for me (I started doing it last summer - you now know "what I did last summer") slope soaring is something I've never written about on the blog. But it is something I should write about because it is quite a unique experience in model aviation.

Slope soaring is dead cheap to get into - you need a two channel radio and a rudder/elevator, aileron/elevator or elevon style model and a steep, tallish hill which gets the full force of a strong breeze. Clearly as we are gliding a throttle channel is unnecessary. But if you are already flying RC models and want to give it a go without converting or getting a special aircraft then if you have a flying wing you can normally have a crack (flying wing includes things like funjets, strykers etc). However, you may find you need to use the cheat stick (throttle) a little, as the extra weight you are carrying (power and motor) do affect how much lift you get.

Now - as you probably know slope soaring relies on the updraft created by the wind coming up and over the mountain. How much wind do you need? Quite a bit. Don't even bother at 10km/hr. At 20km/hr it will be starting to get useful.

Of course, the easiest way will be to hook up with slope soarers in your area and get them to show you the best hills/mountains etc.

One other thing - don't take "nice models" to go slope soaring. Typically the landing areas, well - aren't landing areas. You model will need to be able to survive a toughish landing, so an EPP flying wing or the sort is perfect for the job.

Anyway - in the near future I'll try and write about flying off the slope (it is quite different to normal flying) as well as arranging some pictures from off the top of some of my favourite hills (another nice thing about slope soaring is the views - maybe not so much the walk up the hill but its probably a good thing anyway).