Conference vmszoo::rc

    This month's Model Aviation has an article about using a power
    plane to tow a glider aloft. If that's what you mean, there
    may be some info in the article - I just scanned it and wasn't
    looking at the details.

    Dave

    R/C Soaring Digest February 1991 pg 2, Jer's Workbench, has a
    discussion on towing with a power plane --- *lots* of info.

    OK, I don't think I was dreaming this, but I can't find it...  Can
    anyone give me a specific reference to the article (I think it was in
    Model Aviation) that described piggy-backing gliders??
    
    I picked up an old Kadet that is just begging for a purpose to live..
    And with a K&B 45 with a pipe on it, it should be just perfect for
    carrying HLGs and 2-meter planes..
    
    Has anyone tried this??
    
    Thanks!
    jeff
    

    Jeff,
    
    I can forward an article on a launch mechanism for a piggy-back
    glider tug. I will dig it up and mail it.
    
    Regards,
    
    Eric.

    Eric H., Charlie Watt and Dan Snow have a mechanism set up that they
    were going to try late last season but I don't think they ever actually
    flew it. Dave Walter challenged Dan to tow his Flinger up and then try
    to mid-air him on the way down. Part of this is what got the Jaqnuaryu
    Skunkworks going with disposable-style planes and RC combat designs.

    Well, I found the article in the July '90 Model Aviation...  Not nearly
    what I remembered nor was looking for (ie no tips on how to build it
    and few tips on flying piggyback..).
    
    So, I guess I will home brew it!
    
    Eric, Charlie or Dan, do you want to tell us about your setup??
    
    thanks!
    jeff
    

                               Hi Glider Pilots!


  I would like to tell you how we glide here in Belgium. As you know, Belgium
is the second most populated country in the world after The Netherlands. So 
there is not a lot of free space to fly. On top of this the country is almost
flat and when there is a little hill, it is covered by forest. So the slope fly 
is almost impossible with big gliders. When you find a suitable slope be sure 
it is COVERED with cows or horses!

  That's the reason why we do almost only thermal soaring.
The way we get airborne is a little bit special. To bring our birds in
altitude, we use an airplane (a 2 meter Big Lift with a 35 cc engine). The
glider is attached ON the airplane (the glider ABOVE the plane). Piggy-bagged
you say? 

The wings of the glider are tided to the plane with 'triggerable' elastic bands
made of 8 mm � round rubber. They lift off together and it is up to the
glider's pilot to man�uvre this strange machine. The pilot of the plane is only
responsible for the elevator of his machine as well as for the throttle. The 
glider does the rest (ailerons and rudder).

  When the desired altitude is reached (200 meter in the contests) the onboard
altimeter cuts the throttle of the plane and the plane's pilot triggers the 
elastic bands so that the glider is now free. For lighter gliders (less than 2
kilos) we manually pull the glider with a .8 mm � nylon cable of 300 meter long.
 In some contests, it is mandatory to use a plane pulling the glider with a 20 
meter nylon cable. This way of getting airborne is safer for both the glider and
the airplane. Here, it is up to the glider's pilot to disengage the cable.
Almost the same way as the real gliders.

   If you give me your address, it will be a pleasure for me to send you some
photographs of my birds. I have also some pictures of take off's showing a 4
meter glider attached to a Big Lift. And I also would like to see yours.


     Have a good flight. See you later.



                                          Philippe
                                       The Highest Flyer

P.S.

My address is

Philippe CLEMENT

Avenue des Acacias 126

B-5101   ERPENT

BELGIUM  Europe