VTPR 'Instant Scoring Contest' format

I am pleased to announce a new approach to VTPR Aerobatic contests on the slope and online video format. Its (fair), its (objectively simple) and it will promote enjoyment, excellent VTPR flying and camaraderie. Its (unique and fresh) in that your running score is almost instantaneous and made accountable to all who participate, including spectators on the slope and viewers online.

This newly formatted contest is called 'The Slope VTPR Instant Scoring Contest'. A similar criteria will apply to that of Aresti disciplines which have been successful for decades. I say similar as VTPR aerobatics has its own unique artistic culture that allows for certain Aresti imperfections in a pass yet is able to retain a certain artistic flavor. This is very exciting!

I invite pilots out there who really enjoy flying low to the ground and viewers who are becoming interested in this small yet great form of slope flying, to come onboard. If you will periodically check in we will be posting the format series in the 'Pages' section for your convenience. Part 1 of 7 is posted.

Thanks for your attention as this unfolds. New slope VTPR contests at your local slope and new video contests online will benefit with this format if you like to compete in a more relaxed and fair system such as this.

Video preview samples of the online format. Stay tuned for ALL the details.

"You are invited to judge and score these sample videos to what you think they deserve in a contest". I have and it is easy and informative. Give it a try...EJ

Le Fish with Air Brakes

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.

 

 

 



 

Air-100h progress

Things are moving slower than I expected but we finally have the wing joiner materials to get back onto the fuselage and wing construction. After a 4 week delay it turned out the CF receiver tube was undersize on the ID by 0.010". The best remedy was to turn the 10mm solid rod on a lathe and carefully sand the OD to size. Everything worked out perfectly!

Stay tuned... Eric

Le Sonic in VTPR & Totale

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A new video of Mike Ball and his rare Sonic 2.5m glider which he love's to fly. He demonstrates some very nice low French VTPR and some clean and fun aerobatics in Totale here. Did you notice the inverted tip and tail drags? Very awesome and true to the VTPR rule of "low" as it should be performed. And with an expensive cruchy bird to boot. This is what it means to take a "real risk" performing VTPR aerobatics putting it all on the line. Stay tuned for more Sonic VTPR coming from Southern California, USA.

Super-Jig Sport & VTPR flying

This is a converted Gigolo to a Super-Jig version with a 1.8m wingspan. It has a large rudder, larger full span ailerons, extra elevator throws and a mid wing mount. Nose moment is increased 50mm. I developed this version for the specific purpose to lower the wing loading and lowering its speed range for more maneuverability and response while lower to the ground. The plane flies much smoother and cleaner than the stock faster Gig. VTPR can now be had with this woodie. The conversion thread can be seen here.

Crunchy VTPR Rocks!

LQQK at this awesome shot of Le Sonic in total VTPR mode taken recently from a new video I filmed at Glider Point slope for the 2012 Slope Aerobatics contest. With the help of "video capture" techniques the Sonic and its pilot Mike Ball are displayed really doing it to it crunchy VTPR style!

As you are probably already aware we here at VTPR Aerobatics promote the really risky side of Slope VTPR perfectly willing to put our prized Sonic's and other crunchy ships in the danger zone for maximum thrill. We enjoy some of the foamy version models and they have served well training us towards this goal of crunchy VTPR. But the foamies just dont cut all of the mustard when it comes to beautiful, clean and risky VTPR. The payback is virtually no comparison. And thanks go to a handful of French pilots that have inspired myself and Mike to persue this dangerous yet fun style of RC aerobatics. There's no turning back...

See the video... Eric





STICTION "PSP" wooden VTPR Fun!

The STICTION 1.7m "PSP" is the second in the line of this size of wooden VTPR model. I'm very happy with its performance and durability. Weighing in at 25 ounces she has a 7.3 ounce wing loading on a SB96V/VS airfoil. We are finding the more we fly them they are great fun with no worries of breakage. This is good news for a woody now days and the stigma of crunchy fragility is pretty much gone! Larger than normal flight surfaces and its low mass construction are nice attributes allowing the pilot to fly worry free performing close to the ground aerobatics or fun fly with all kinds of control to the extreme. Like the prototype ZEPPELIN these aren't fast flyers but are highly maneuverable and inexpensive to construct. Give a woody PSP a try, you'll like it...

Good Lift...

LEROYER Flys Again!

Giullaume (William) Leroyer is one of the worlds top Voltige Totale and VTPR pilots. There are other videos of his masterful flying on this blog. I have had the priveledge of knowing him and his dad Michel through email while building my personal SONIC 2.5 glider. And I have grown to have great admiration for their flying and modeling skills but also their kind hearts and willingness to freely help me and others in modeling.

This is a brand new video Michel took of his son while on vacation in June flying some classic French VTPR on the coast of northern France after a 2 year layoff from flying anything RC. Here are his comments:

"After 2 years expatriated in CANADA for work, I've never touch a RC gliders, For my first return in town I was really excited to fly again with my old Sonic 2.50m, just to know if I lose my level in VTPR, Finally, with my father, we were near to the Menez-Hom in Bretagne and the weather was perfect for the spot called "Le chateau d'eau." All the feelings were there... RC gliders is like bicycle, you can't forget it... Sorry for the bad quality of the movie, I'm going to do my best in two years..."

As you can see this is some fantastic stuff in the higher air speed realms which Guillaume loves so much and he didnt miss a beat! We often talk about "slow and low" VTPR which we also see beautifully done by other great French pilots on the Menez-Hom slope. Guillaumes style is a little bit different utilizing the full speed range of his trusty blue-flame SONIC. He has admitted to me that he loves the faster elements of VTPR as it is more dangerous and allows more precise flight paths low to the ground with a composite model. Another way he puts it - "I like speed, I like to fly on the edge and touch the grass and to do that faster as possible because it will improve the challenges and reflexes..." To him and this author this style of VTPR is the ultimate in thrill, danger and satisfaction.

     

Hybrid AIR-100h progress

   

 

  

The new 3m hybrid project is underway again. Received the new wing and feather cores. They are EPS styrofoam. Wing root will be 10.5", tip 4.5" chord respectively. Single servo wing panels with 1/16" balsa skins. The decision is also made for the tail feather servos to be installed forward of the virticle fin within the tail boom. This will be especially challenging to balancing this glider with minimal nose weight. Final wing and joiner rod placement will be determined by the balance point when fully mocked up on the bench. Fun times are ahead!

3.5m Foam AIR-100

A great video of Ludo's large 3.5m Air-100 in EPP being flown in Brest France. Here are some of his notes to me recently about the fabrication. This model looks like a lot of fun with its gentle and majestic flight characteristics making it perfect for low & slow VTPR. The roll rate is very good and is able to fly in a very small box. Very durable making a nice recipe for ultimate fun in a BIG way.

Caractéristiques :

envergure : 350 cm (environ)
longueur : 180 cm
profils : SB 98 VR/VS
masse : 3500g

Each wing half is 183 cm long (2 times the length of the loaves of EPP at GTI) and two 8mm carbon tube spars of D4 in to reinforce the intrados and the extrados. The trailing edge is cut so that its thickness is 3mm => just stick to it a flat carbon 3x1mm to stiffen the BDF and the fin. The whole is coated with liquid adhesive neoprene tape and taped to armed (roll width 400 mm: as you say he should not be missed when installing the tape ...)

The fuselage is also full EPP / carbon => 20kg/m3 density well enough given the present volume. The general form is made ​​with hot wire and then rounding are made with a cutter and coarse sanding block. Finally, a key wing carbon rod of 12 mm can be mounted quickly and easily all (not even the wings restraint, nipples centering at the trailing edge returning to strength ...