And I, "Thanks!" for your post, Martin! You have given me more help-hope than I have had in a long time toward getting back to my research and writing project, "A 'Light' History of RCHLG." I have had a couple of significant European leads, one of which I would hope to see come through eventually--you'll find him in the material sited below. I KNOW how RCHLG got started in Europe, the French connection, (the same way it got started in the United States), how it got started in Japan (the same way it got started in the United States), how it got started in England, how it got started in Australia, New Zealand. I am not so interested in FIRSTS, though that's always interesting--especially if it turns out not to be the case; firsts are very elusive--claims end up unearthing earlier progenitors. Have you seen the December issue of Aeroplane and the article on Sir George Cayley (1773-1857)? Sir who? Sir Cayley, the inventor of the aeroplane :-) !!
Indeed! We are talking about the "evolution" of our art form! I am interested in specific development of our creations we fly: the models, the designers, the pilots & personalities behind it all. I am also just as interested in RCHLG's development around the world and this may mean regional development for any given country. In the US there have come to be several hotbeds-seedbeds of evolutionary progress irrespective of Southern California remaining the Mecca, but only because of the great effort of the Torrey Pines Gulls' with their (WORLD'S of RCHLG) The International Hand Launch Glider Festival :-) !! Flown it 3X's and came away with the first Eagle Plaque--the away winner; see you June 5-6, 2004 at Poway for the 11th Annual IHLGF (RCHLG-DHL World Cup Fly) !!
You will find some history at http://www.skybench.com/index.html then go to "LINKS" and then go to "Mark Miller's Dave Thornburg-Old Buzzard's Soaring Contest" (no longer available Mark Miller direct) then to "A 'Light' History of RCHLG" and also to "Model Builder RCHLG Bibliography." Also, from the index 'click' on "R/C Sailplanes" and then 'click' on "HAND LAUNCH" and scroll through the page; next try "Sunbird Classic Report" ! My chapter on the Japanese history was not published by RC Technique for lack of a promising translator. I ask/invite your comments!! As Martin's post is interesting and illustrative of the kind of help I would like in accumulating information from around the world it follows below. Help me help ourselves to a FUN narrative of our RCHLG history; and "Thank You!" for the read! - and the "INFORMATION" you are getting ready to post or send :-) !!
"Shortly after the SAL came here we began experimenting to optimize our existing poly ships we just made molds for, so they would a) be "salable" at all and b) withstand the stress of the new launch technique. At the same time some were adapting F5B wings or the outer panels of F3B wings to create aileron SAL-HLGs.
The latter launched drastically higher right from the beginning. The drawback was their poor hang time, besides they required different flying tactics.
Being able to perform a repeatable, safe launch with a plane . . .
CONTINUED WITH PART THREE
http://www.kcat.zaq.ne.jp/skypilot/ (dated)
SKY PILOT'S HANGAR--RCHLG-DHL AFICIONADO
