Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/254584
EAA Experimenter 31 HOW EA AERS CAN SOAR You've taken a step by reading this article. Follow the links on the following page to learn more about the variety of glid- ers and sailplanes, and do your own searching. The Soaring Society of America (SSA) website has a list of clubs and com- mercial operations where you can get a ride in a sailplane. One of the things you can try if you have access to a light plane that has a low stall speed and good low-speed han- dling characteristics is power-assisted soaring. Set the power a bit above idle and increase it until you have matched a sailplane-like sink speed. Then go find those bumps that you would rather not find in powered cross-country flying, as they are likely thermals, and try to climb in them. There are excellent books available for beginning pilots and for pilots seeking a glider rating. Check the SSA, Cumulus Soaring, and Knoff & Grove book listings. The next step would be to get a glider rating or glider pri- vate certifi cate if you are not already a rated pilot. If your tim- ing is right, the glider rating acts as a fl ight review. Another benefi t of fl ying gliders is the self-certifi cated medical without the "catch-22" of the light-sport aircraft medical. Many clubs are looking for new members and are usually the least expen- sive way for fl ight training and fl ying. Hopefully I have tickled the urge to soar in some of you. Keep- ing a plane up without an engine is a challenge that will keep you engaged, improve your brain, and make you a better pilot. HOMEBUILT GLIDERS AND SAILPL ANES AVAIL ABLE TODAY Let's start at the very light end. In the early days of gliding, people learned to fl y in single-place primary gliders that were the most basic fl ying machines. They consisted of cloth- covered wood wings, tail surfaces, a seat, and a skid to land on…with a minimum of structure to tie them together. Mike Sandlin's "Airchairs" have updated the idea of the primary glider. His designs are cloth-covered aluminum structures that are light enough to car top and fl y from hang glider sites. They are designed for low-cost garage construction. Mike has taken a noncommercial approach; plans are available for free on his website: http://M-Sandlin.info . No one has done more to advance low-cost fl ying than Mike Sandlin. While the late Jim Maupin's designs are no longer mar- keted, Windrose, Woodstock, and Carbon Dragon projects and plans are out there. The Windrose is a composite SLS. Wood- stock is a light, wood sailplane. The Carbon Dragon is cloth- covered wood with selective use of carbon reinforcement. It is an extremely lightweight sailplane that is capable of being foot launched. Its low sink and fl ying speeds have allowed the dis- covery of new types of lift and fl ying techniques such as micro- lift and dynamic soaring. Jim's design partner was Irv Culver, a sailplane designer and key member of the "Skunk Works." Visit www.IHPA.ie/carbon-dragon/ or www.CarbonDragon.us/ to fi nd information for these designs. There are other homebuilt designs that are no longer marketed that have plans or projects which can be found. A beautiful example of the plans-built Woodstock glider designed by Jim Maupin and Irv Culver. A Marske Monarch on fi nal. The most successful fl ying wing and tailless aircraft have been sailplanes. The components of Silent glider kit; it looks like it would go together quickly, especially the unpowered version. E A A E X P _ F e b 1 4 . i n d d 3 1 EAAEXP_Feb14.indd 31 2 / 3 / 1 4 3 : 1 8 P M 2/3/14 3:18 PM