| R/C Sailplanes |
The Johnson family has had an affinity with flight since the early 1920's when a young JACK FRYE came to California to find his dream, and ended up
becoming TWA's (Trans World Airlines) first President in 1939. My Dad used to tell us stories about Jack and his close relationship with Howard Hughes
and later Donald Douglas working out the then new and revolutionary DC-3 aircraft. Jack was the test pilot on the first generation DC-1. Second cousin
Emily Nevada Smith later became Jacks spouse until an unfortunate auto accident took his life while driving to work one sunny morning on the way to
developing a new transport plane. I guess air flight is kind of in our blood as I did a tour in the US Navy Plane Captaining the A-6 Intruder jet aircraft. I
have always had a core interest in flying the skies since a young boy when my cousin Don took my new Christmas present, a gas powered warbird control
line flyer right into the ground on its second lap! I vividly remember that horrible demolition of such a cool little plane i knew would open up my young
world, but it never happened until later in life. 1990 became that year in which I decided to finally experience radio controlled flight but this time without an
engine. The day my radio controlled life changed was on a clear morning in the summer of 1990 in West Covina, Calif.
Ok, a short story and I'll wrap this up. Way back when I was a rookie high starting a 2 meter Sophisticated Lady at the local High School football field,
this guy shows up with a magnificent looking 3 meter super-sleek model. Now everybody there is a member of the local flying club except me, and they
use what they call "Winch Pull" devices to launch the models up into the sky around 500ft before they release and soar the skies. This guys name by the
way was Daryl Perkins, whom I found out was one of the four currently active pilots on the US Soaring team in the F3B class. Daryl steps up and launches
his plane way beyond any other pilot up to this point and at the end of his pull he whips the model nose down about 50ft then suddenly redirects it
straight up towards the sun and gains another 100ft in altitude. We're talking 6 to 700 ft elevation now! I'm completely moved to the point that plane and
pilot have my undivided attention.
I watched the plane go almost out of sight and down-field about three quarters of a mile and I can't figure out how he can see it. He ends up thermaling
for a good thirty minutes and then suddenly someone says "keep your eyes on the plane and clear the field, he's coming through". The rookie that I was,
I'm not sure what to do so I kind of brace myself and finally find a slight glimmer in the sky off in the distance. The next thing, Daryl is pointing the plane
down at about a 70deg incline and picking up speed, rapidly! I wonder when he's going to pull up and level off, but he keeps coming in as the bystander
said. Boy oh boy, he's not letting up, and then all of a sudden we could hear a horrible cutting sound resonate the field. That plane is doing I would say at
least 150 mph, maybe 180 as he finally levels off just above the tree tops and continues across the field at a blistering speed. Then about 100 yards
down field he pulls the craft up and the thing just keeps on climbing as he does a couple rolls and then he's out of sight again. WOW, what happened?
Can you believe what we just witnessed?
Daryl then casually brings the plane in and lands it perfectly on a baseball cap and picks it up. Mind you, this is all performed without an engine. This
scene made a permanent impression on me so much so that I vowed one day I would be able to do experience flying model sailplanes in a similar fashion!
Below is a collection of RC Sailplanes I have assembled and flown since 1990. Stick planes, Foam core planes and Composite planes.
becoming TWA's (Trans World Airlines) first President in 1939. My Dad used to tell us stories about Jack and his close relationship with Howard Hughes
and later Donald Douglas working out the then new and revolutionary DC-3 aircraft. Jack was the test pilot on the first generation DC-1. Second cousin
Emily Nevada Smith later became Jacks spouse until an unfortunate auto accident took his life while driving to work one sunny morning on the way to
developing a new transport plane. I guess air flight is kind of in our blood as I did a tour in the US Navy Plane Captaining the A-6 Intruder jet aircraft. I
have always had a core interest in flying the skies since a young boy when my cousin Don took my new Christmas present, a gas powered warbird control
line flyer right into the ground on its second lap! I vividly remember that horrible demolition of such a cool little plane i knew would open up my young
world, but it never happened until later in life. 1990 became that year in which I decided to finally experience radio controlled flight but this time without an
engine. The day my radio controlled life changed was on a clear morning in the summer of 1990 in West Covina, Calif.
Ok, a short story and I'll wrap this up. Way back when I was a rookie high starting a 2 meter Sophisticated Lady at the local High School football field,
this guy shows up with a magnificent looking 3 meter super-sleek model. Now everybody there is a member of the local flying club except me, and they
use what they call "Winch Pull" devices to launch the models up into the sky around 500ft before they release and soar the skies. This guys name by the
way was Daryl Perkins, whom I found out was one of the four currently active pilots on the US Soaring team in the F3B class. Daryl steps up and launches
his plane way beyond any other pilot up to this point and at the end of his pull he whips the model nose down about 50ft then suddenly redirects it
straight up towards the sun and gains another 100ft in altitude. We're talking 6 to 700 ft elevation now! I'm completely moved to the point that plane and
pilot have my undivided attention.
I watched the plane go almost out of sight and down-field about three quarters of a mile and I can't figure out how he can see it. He ends up thermaling
for a good thirty minutes and then suddenly someone says "keep your eyes on the plane and clear the field, he's coming through". The rookie that I was,
I'm not sure what to do so I kind of brace myself and finally find a slight glimmer in the sky off in the distance. The next thing, Daryl is pointing the plane
down at about a 70deg incline and picking up speed, rapidly! I wonder when he's going to pull up and level off, but he keeps coming in as the bystander
said. Boy oh boy, he's not letting up, and then all of a sudden we could hear a horrible cutting sound resonate the field. That plane is doing I would say at
least 150 mph, maybe 180 as he finally levels off just above the tree tops and continues across the field at a blistering speed. Then about 100 yards
down field he pulls the craft up and the thing just keeps on climbing as he does a couple rolls and then he's out of sight again. WOW, what happened?
Can you believe what we just witnessed?
Daryl then casually brings the plane in and lands it perfectly on a baseball cap and picks it up. Mind you, this is all performed without an engine. This
scene made a permanent impression on me so much so that I vowed one day I would be able to do experience flying model sailplanes in a similar fashion!
Below is a collection of RC Sailplanes I have assembled and flown since 1990. Stick planes, Foam core planes and Composite planes.
| Carl Goldberg SOPHISTICATED LADY. An all wood open bay wing construction, 2 meter entry level plane. 2 channel Elevator-Rudder controls. A very doscile and great plane to learn sailplane dynamics and principles of flight. |
| Carl Goldberg GENTLE LADY. An all wood open bay wing construction generally the same as its sister plane above. A classic worth building and flying. This one was left to me from my fathers collection, |
| Hobby Shack RIDGE-RUNT. This is an entry level 2 channel aileron-rudder model. Open bay construction, all wood model. A decent training step towards more maneuverable models. |
| This is a Bob Martin Models COYOTE slope flyer. 70" swept winspan 2 channel aerobatic ship that requires new and improved flying skills. A challenging step but a fun one when flying in strong slope lift conditions. This plane also advances one's building skills. |
| Now we're moving into combat flyng and tight maneuverability as well as durability. The Cheetah Models SUPER-CHEETAH is a great aileron trainer, fun flyer that can be a very serious contender in the skies. This plane is about the most durable and survivable plane in my quiver. A classic worth seeking in any condition and restoring. VIDEO |
| This is an original "scratch built" GIGOLO designed by Dale Winder and later distributed by Hobby Shack. A very aerobatic pattern plane with symmetrical airfoil. 60" span and a real handful until you get happy with its responsiveness. It can perform any and all trick maneuvers as much as you can feed it. VIDEO |
| My second scratch built plane called the STELETTO. A little sleeker and a bit more quick equally maneuverable as the GIGOLO. |
| CR Aircraft CLIMAX 60" hand launch plane. Only 14oz in total weight and loves to catch thermal lift in most any school yard field. |
| By 1992 the need for speed kicked in and we developed the EXCELORATOR, 80" wooden missile test bed. Patterned after the famous V-Max this heavy plane is reserved for those heavy slope lift days when you want to fly big aerobatics or just want to speed around. VIDEO |
| The RAPTOR was next developed as a 6 channel full-house ship. Aileron, flaps, rudder and elevator flight controls allows one to fly the full spectrum of the hobby. This is a 80" version with a E374 airfoil. A very smooth and precise ship. |
The Mark Allan F3B-EAGLE above in 1993 was one of the worlds leading competition planes for the
championship caliber pilot. My flying buddy and I built one together to explore the ultimate RC sailplane
experience. 109" RG-15 airfoil full house ship weighing 83oz. The plane can be configured to carry another
64oz of lead ballast for extended kinetic energy retention. This is a multi-task composite plane that is a
dream to fly. It can literally be flown vertical to the earth at very high altitudes and withstand a quick 90
degree level off over 100mph without failure!
My NEED 4 SPEED was finally met with the Eagle!
championship caliber pilot. My flying buddy and I built one together to explore the ultimate RC sailplane
experience. 109" RG-15 airfoil full house ship weighing 83oz. The plane can be configured to carry another
64oz of lead ballast for extended kinetic energy retention. This is a multi-task composite plane that is a
dream to fly. It can literally be flown vertical to the earth at very high altitudes and withstand a quick 90
degree level off over 100mph without failure!
My NEED 4 SPEED was finally met with the Eagle!
This is my scratchbuilt FOILER 60
slope racer. RG14 airfoil, 60" span
and a carbon reinforced fiberglass
fuselage. Is a 3 channel flaperon
mixed flight control system, very simple
and reliable. Wing loading is 13oz/ft
dry with ability to ballest up.
Maiden flight VIDEO
slope racer. RG14 airfoil, 60" span
and a carbon reinforced fiberglass
fuselage. Is a 3 channel flaperon
mixed flight control system, very simple
and reliable. Wing loading is 13oz/ft
dry with ability to ballest up.
Maiden flight VIDEO
Where does it stand today (Aug 2009)? I was absent from the sport
since 1997 and have returned invigorated to pick up where I left off but
in a new direction. Currently I am re-introducing a classic all wood ship
called the GRYPHON. This is a highly aerobatic 71" wing that I have
always wanted but was unable to source back in the day. I have the
written approval rights to reproduce this model from its owner, Bob
Martin. Here are a couple photos and videos of the build for your viewing
pleasure. For more info go to the build log on RCGroups.com here.
since 1997 and have returned invigorated to pick up where I left off but
in a new direction. Currently I am re-introducing a classic all wood ship
called the GRYPHON. This is a highly aerobatic 71" wing that I have
always wanted but was unable to source back in the day. I have the
written approval rights to reproduce this model from its owner, Bob
Martin. Here are a couple photos and videos of the build for your viewing
pleasure. For more info go to the build log on RCGroups.com here.
First "foamie" build in my life and
thankfully since I'm in training doing
strictly aerobatics, LE FISH has turned
out to be worth the building effort. Its a
fantastic acro ship at 66" span and
35oz AUW. Has a wide speed range
and enjoys hovering in strong winds.
Very responsive and challenging.
VIDEO
thankfully since I'm in training doing
strictly aerobatics, LE FISH has turned
out to be worth the building effort. Its a
fantastic acro ship at 66" span and
35oz AUW. Has a wide speed range
and enjoys hovering in strong winds.
Very responsive and challenging.
VIDEO
| Click for the 393mph World Speed record with a 100" radio controlled sailplane. Thats right, NO MOTOR! Also, my "Slope VTPR Aerobatics" website here I hope you have enjoyed this RC Sailplane collection, more will be coming...EJ |
New/Old rebuild of a Gigolo into a 72"
VTPR woodie I call the Super-JIG. I
wanted to try some ideas such as the
center mount wing, a longer fuse and
wingspan and larger tail feathers in an
effort to fly the ship "low and slow".
Well she turned out real nice and is
now refreshed to new life and a new
purpose. Full house controls and
gobbs of throw, she's a Cadillac!
Maiden flight VIDEO
VTPR woodie I call the Super-JIG. I
wanted to try some ideas such as the
center mount wing, a longer fuse and
wingspan and larger tail feathers in an
effort to fly the ship "low and slow".
Well she turned out real nice and is
now refreshed to new life and a new
purpose. Full house controls and
gobbs of throw, she's a Cadillac!
Maiden flight VIDEO