Author and Aviator
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Slope soaring has something for everyone. You may enjoy watching your model “hang” in the air like a falcon hovering over its prey, or you may love the excitement of fast and furious aerobatics or air combat.
The type of slope soaring you do depends entirely on the available slope and the wind conditions. In the mountains you can use RC gliders with large wingspans, but at narrow slopes with small or rough landing areas, slope soaring with a wingspan below 2 meters is advisable.
If you look at the radio control models I built, you can already guess that the slope I’m flying at is tight and narrow. Hence you will see mostly “small” RC gliders, which are very maneuverable and can fly in a strong breeze - with some exceptions.
I built most of my models in balsa wood construction, as landing in strong and gusty winds, and on small and rough patches, can be hazardous. This type of construction makes repairs easier.
Having said so, EPP foam models, such as the Canterbury Eraser of Jazz Extreme, are almost indestructible, but I find the taping and strapping of the wings makes them less aerodynamic.
“Fly like an eagle” is not just a throw-away line in this case, as it actually happens.
A family of wedge tailed eagles shares the slope with the models and, occasionally, mistakes them as a food source. Fortunately, a slope soaring eagle is not very agile in the air.