Old Slope Soaring Footage..."You Uses what You Gots"!

So That's what slope soaring is. I had imagined guys throwing them off the side of a mountain. I was wondering how often they lost them. Thanks for converting the old tapes and entertaining us, Kim.

Well, a mountain is certainly preferred...if you have one handy! To quote the Great Dave Thornburg's wonderful 'Old Buzzard's Soaring Book' though..."You can Slope Soar a fresh grave, provided the wind is just right" !

The other requirement, at least for our levee flying, is a fairly flat stretch upwind of the slope to let the air get somewhat stabilized and laminar BEFORE encountering the slope.

This is why shoreline cliffs are considered some of the best locations for this type of flying: Miles of flat surface, with an abrupt rise creating slope lift. I used to pack along a hand launch sailplane (and a compliment of assorted lead ballast packs) whenever I'd travel, and take advantage of any handy spot that seemed inviting.

RknRusty wrote:So That's what slope soaring is. I had imagined guys throwing them off the side of a mountain. I was wondering how often they lost them.

Here's a video of dynamic soaring; these guys are nuts since a hit would be like a blow from a Samuri sword made from carbon fiber. This one is on the edge of a mountain with a huge valley funneling the air up the slope. Clocked a paltry 392 mph; the second one whacked out 468 mph. The plane is so fast that the frame rate of the camera or the photographer is too slow to pick it up --- turn up the volume and you can hear it making passes. Notice in the second video that the folks clocking the speed are packed in behind a rock wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaQB16ZaNI4&noredirect=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfoxjNg-eg0

Nice flying Kim!

I don't think the old BOT would survive the dynamic soaring exercise, but it sure does handle the levies well. That loop would have been a little close for comfort for me.

cribbs74 wrote:Nice flying Kim!

Thanks Ron. We had a lot of fun on our levees. Most of my buds are scattered now. Alan lives in Louisville...think he flies with a club there.

andrew wrote:I don't think the old BOT would survive the dynamic soaring exercise, but it sure does handle the levies well. That loop would have been a little close for comfort for me.

Heck, the B.O.T. wouldn't have survived that launch into 60 mph+ gusts ! It IS a survivor though...14 years and counting ! The poor ole dog is a Swap Meet Glider I found with a busted wing t the meet in Belleville, Illinois in 1998 or so.