Bummer, I wasted a wish cuz I come to find out that there are so many good
things to say about the Stratos (From ShredAir) that it will easily fill the
RC Soaring Digest article.
This is a truly competiton designed sailplane. While it looks like just
another Euro-Clone V tailed Moldy that seems priced a little too high for
what looks as pretty as some of the others at about $200 ish less, close
examination starts you realizing that this bird is different.
Without trying it comes out closer to 65ozs than 70. (Some weight concious
guys report 65 by watching what it eats during radio installations.)
But to heck with the weight myths, holding the plane up to the sun, the
innards start your realizations about the thought process behind its wing
layups. Looking down the fuse innards show carefully placed carbon (carbon
is used on purpose as opposed to impress prospective buyers) and explains why
the fuse is so stiff.
The wing sits on the 'Conn tower" of its nuclear submarine shaped fuse
providing you with a great grip for hard throws on the winch or for
handtossing to practice landings.
The flaps and ailerons and ruddervators show the same unusual sparing but
again on purpose (with concern for stiffness and weight) of carbon , which
should help resist the heat warping seen on some other moldies...and keeping
them light...in fact so light that lots of guys are using Volz Zips for
ailerons and ruddervators (previously to super micros, Zips were THE servo
for HLGs) and Micro Maxx only on flaps.
The 'kit' is lacking in some tiny stuff and its clear that the plane is made
by flyers not kit people.
The Stratos has been the king of the air in Canada for the last few years and
showed it could win in Arizona this year inspite of a guy with little regard
for V's.
I got a call from Dan D out of Bristol Tn today. He got his finished and in
the air and didn't put it away till after about 7 hours of flying. He used
Arend Borst's set ups
(thanks Arend for sharing your set ups, and yes it will be in the kit and in
the article)
Dan and I waited about 4 months for ours, and initially got sort of when we
saw what came in the box, but as our brains got in gear,, we's grinning now
:-) Yep if you are interested, you better get some cash down for the next
shippment!
Anyway, back to finishing up mine.
Gordy
hot in Louisville this weekend
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