Is your Le Fish too fast? This might be a solution in your quest of aerobatic slow and low flight we enjoy in VTPR. Chris van Schoor in Ireland has installed some depron speed brakes on his Le Fish ailerons to try and slow her down to enable more controlled acro maneuvering while maintaining good energy. As you can see his experiment appears to do a nice job netting more fun from his transformed glider. Give it a try, you might like it.
The turning point from general aerobatics to VTPR aerobatics came about when my flying partner and I built the Le Fish. After much persuasion Mike finally got me to buy and build a foamie of which I just didn't want to do having more of a craftsman background. The build went fine, not much of a big deal except foam bits and tape have no similarity to balsa dust and ultracoat! It was an un-crafty build but a good learning experience.
Flying the plane was another story. I was very surprised of its versatility and maneuverability. Durability is good and the plane just feels comfortable on the sticks. I admit it opened me up to new possibilities and this video is one of the early turning points realizing I could be more confident and capable of much more aerobatic fun than before. The plane allowed me to get lower and lower to the ground to where I now know where I am with less anxiety as where prior I would bail out. Its almost like entering a state of chaos but being comfortable with it. I have to admit the Le Fish played an important role in my personal VTPR growth.
Another really nice VTPR practice session by "Awesome Dawson" Henderson out of Flagstaff AZ. He's sporting his heavy Le Fish getting low, ground "0" low for you sports fans! Add a few more pounds to her D and you'll be able to make some money digging ditches LOL...
Yvain (aka Le.Frog) is a most interesting and a very talented pilot/performer, one of the best I have seen from France. His video Drawings in the Sand is superb and to this author probably the best representation of true artistic VTPR flying that embodies all the elements necessary to take the gold! The music, the lighting and seascape combined with beautiful flowing lines flying his Le Fish in a small fly box is what is simply called a masterpiece, nothing less! Thank you Yvain for your wonderful VTPR interpretation of Drawings in the Sand, we look forward to more of your artistic works of VTPR beauty...
