Let me start by saying that in Sept. Of last, during one of the last ESL
contests of the year, I was on finale at about 5o ft, and due to a servo
failure, proceeded to saw threw a pine tree. Needless to say that the pine
tree won. I had to retrieve my once beautiful molded Sharon out of two
different trees. Every flying surface was shredded. The fuse was snapped at
the hook. Needless to say that I was heartbroken. I took every precaution to
not have this happen, and it still happened. My "flying budget" is by no
means bottomless. During the winter I pondered my options. I chose not to go
molded for a number of reasons, cost, availability, and whether you could fix
them.
For the last six weeks I have had the honor of testing Phil Barne's Drela
airfoil Mantis wing. I used my repaired Sharon fuse. The fuse weighed in at
32 oz. All up the glider weighed 7o oz. 10 oz lighter than my original
Sharon.
So far I have flown three days. The first the wind was a solid 20 to
25mph. I was very impressed. I was able to go anywhere I wanted to. The
penetration is all that I would ever want, unballasted.
The second day was light and variable, a real gray New York winter day.
With camber dialed in with my old trusty Vision, I was able to work light
lift as good or better than anything I have ever flown, and I don't say this
lightly.
The third day was today, a beautiful winter day, wind light and variable,
and brilliant sunshine. It got boring.
I am no aero dynamic engineer, In fact I never know what airfoil I have
unless it has a cool name. But I do know how to fly. And I do know how to win
contests.
Right know I am thinking about competing in a big way. This wing design is
a killer!
Thank you Mark Drela, and thank
you Phil
John Hauff
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