2. Soaring has become quite a pastime of mine in the past several
years. And, like many other enthusiasts, one plane simply leads
to another. A friend took an interest in my glider soaring
several years ago, and now he has some 15 aircraft hanging
from the ceiling of his family room, all planes he built by hand
simply out of admiration of flight.
Technological advances in batteries and micro-controls have
led to a proliferation of hundreds of types of planes and
helicopters and both powered and glider-controlled aircraft.
One has to make key decisions about which aircraft they will
fly and focus on those few. If not, they may become like my
friend, with scores of models and containers of spare parts that
boggle the mind.
3. My preference is soaring. The Radian, a dihedral wing
foam glider, was my first aircraft and remains my
favorite. With a two-meter wingspan with a folding
propeller, it is controlled via rudder and elevators. It is
extremely forgiving to fly, and once control surfaces
are well-known, one can easily maneuver the Radian at
altitudes of a thousand feet, rising on updrafts in the
atmosphere. If anything, the Radian requires the RC
Pilot to maintain concentration lest the aircraft become
lost to the human eye. Soaring remains my fascination,
despite the fact I have a couple of powered smaller
planes. Another three-meter wingspan glider awaits
finalization in my garage for its first flight.
4. About the Author: William McCoy also enjoys
motorcycling, surfing, and sailing.
