ron evans

Me too, unbelievably I'm the only mode 1 flier in a 40 odd member club.

I know they say it all depends how you learn, but with no centering springs I would think every flight would be an adventure!

Like James I self taught myself on a slope soarer, and never having seen a slope soarer fly it was quite a thing to throw my precious Impala off a mountain. This was in the late 60s and the radio was a 2nd hand twin stick Fleet Galloping Ghost, although the model survived the radio didn't last long. When I finally got a proper 4ch radio I flew mode 1 on the glider but felt more comfortable with the throttle right back. When I eventually got a power model I ended up mode 1 reversed throttle. Not a problem other than some teasing from club members. As it happens earlier this year I took control of a mode 2 powered glider when its' pilot was struggling with watery eyes,and I managed to steer it around until he recovered, and after another go he even let me land it, wouldn't want to try it with anything hot though.. I wonder if you could class the Wright Flier as mode 1, as pitch and roll control were separated on it?

Hi Stephen, Just picked up your post about the Cutlass, and thought I might try and change your mind about doing one. Although It's been done before many times, It's such a great shape in the air and on the ground, there just can't be too many Cutlasses. My own simplified efforts in foam have given me a lot of fun, and you would have the choice between the -1 prototype, or the -3 with the big bubble canopy and droopy nose, with lots of colourful schemes to choose from. What were your thoughts on size, power, construction ? Retracts might be a bit of a challenge as the full size nose leg was about 8ft long to give a high A.O.A. for carrier takeoffs. I got over the " Its been done before " thing when I found this old film on YouTube. Tap in Chance Vought XF7U-1 Stability Control Test, and it shows a 10th scale cutlass flying under control in the Langley free flight wind tunnel, so I think they did it first, and way back in 1947 ! Ron.       Edited By ron evans on 01/11/2014 14:34:07

This is my cartoon Cutlass, not exactly new (100 flights old ) but my latest build.