An Introduction to Slope Soaring...
By Don Hart
My first hands-on experience with R/C aircraft was slope soaring. This was long ago when I was in the Army stationed in Germany. I contacted the model club at Ramstein airbase to find out where people flew. There was a huge concrete runway that was used for power planes on the base, but I was taken to a hilltop soaring site. There were several model gliders in the air, flying along the windward slope of the hill at various altitudes. Now, this was something I wanted to do! One of the pilots motioned me over, gave a quick explanation of what to do, and handed me his transmitter. I was able to keep the plane in the air and not crash - I was hooked.
I had been building control-line models for several years, so I had no problem building a glider. I went to a hobby shop, got a molded nylon glider fuselage, some balsa, spruce, plastic covering, glue, etc. I designed wings and tail surfaces. This glider had a three meter (about 118 inch) wingspan. I ordered a radio from Hobby Lobby. I got the plane built, the radio installed and was ready to fly!
Of course, when I got to the slope soaring hill, there was no one there except another novice pilot. I decided that since I'd had no trouble that first time slope soaring that I could do this. It wasn't long before I managed to turn the wrong way and crash. One wing of the glider and my pride were damaged.
Several days later the glider was repaired and ready for another attempt, but by then the late fall weather had changed to nothing but wind, rain and low clouds. In March I was on my way back to the States to get out of the Army.
Once I was settled back home in Boise, Idaho, I was able to get some training on R/C (mostly power) with the local model club. One of the local club members introduced me to slope soaring at Table Rock near Boise.This is a really great soaring site, and I got LOTS of experience flying.
The plane
Simple and inexpensive – two channel, either rudder/elevator or aileron/elevator
Sig “Ninja”
“Spirit”
“Gentle Lady”
60 inch to two meter is a good size range
smaller is better on small slopes
Take two planes, one for light winds and one for stronger winds
The slope
The ideal slope should face the prevailing wind and be high enough to provide good slope lift and wide enough to give you lots of elbow room. Elbow room is especially important when several gliders are in the air at once.Small slopes can be used with small, maneuverable,light gliders, but these sites require more skill and are very sensitive to wind direction and strength.
Steptoe Butte
Steptoe Butte is probably the best slope soaring site in the immediate vicinity. It is large and cone shaped, giving lots of room to fly and allowing flying when the wind is from most directions. The best wind directions at Steptoe Butte are west, south, and east. Winds from the north and northeast will work, but there is no parking on the north slope once you get above the trees.
The basic technique
Launch into the wind with the nose slightly down
Be ready to push the nose down if the glider zooms
Adjust your trims for a fast glide that holds the same altitude
Fly a figure eight pattern, always turning away from the slope
Once you've gained some experience and confidence,
gain altitude,
dive away from the slope and try a loop or roll
Practice, practice, practice
Landing
Fly up-slope near the ground
As the plane slows, turn back down-slope
If all goes well, the plane will land
If too high, try again
Small, light gliders can be caught in the hand
Flaps or spoilers help control landing and limit damage
Advantages
Quiet - no noise complaints from the neighbors
Fly as long as the wind blows (and your batteries last)
lots of stick-time
No mess - no cleanup - no engine to start - no fuel to buy
Inexpensive