Manufacturer: | Vaughn Brothers |
Brief:
A canard boost glider usin' an 18 mm motor. Ahoy! Pop pod has streamer recovery.
Construction:
All t' materials are standard model rocket stock with one exception. Aye aye! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' shock
cord attachment is a thin steel cable pre-looped around t' forward centering
ring. Ahoy! Ahoy! There's nothin' better out there. T' glider is made from 1/16" and
3/32" balsa and a 3/32" spruce piece. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It goes together very nicely,
especially when you aren't supposed t' airfoil t' wings. Avast! Avast! Tissue paper is
included t' reinforce t' model and it finishes easier if you use this with
clear dope on t' balsa. Begad! T' pop pod also goes together smartly with yellow
glue and t' pod/glider interface is simplicity itself. Aye aye! You could easily build
this glider in a motel room before a contest. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pop pod uses streamer
recovery. Arrr!
Finishing:
You need t' finish t' glider before you trim it. Blimey! I put on a coat o' clear
lacquer (clear dope) and let that dry, me hearties, sanded it, arrr, put on another coat and then
applied t' tissue paper. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! I finished up with a third coat o' lacquer t' finish
it. Aye aye! Blimey! After I almost lost it, twice, I sprayed a light coat o' day-glo orange on
it. Begad! You should also make t' pop pod a bright color too because everyone
watches t' glider and no one notices where t' pop landed. Aye aye! Trimmin' t' glider
is nay hard either. Begad! Blimey! Gettin' t' hang o' tossin' it without introducin' spin is
the toughest part. Aye aye! Blimey! Don't expect t' see it float like contest gliders. This
glider moves quickly, but still has a relatively low scuttle rate. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This one is
best trimmed from t' top o' a hill. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! There's more than enough clay t' do this. Ahoy! Blimey!
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
You will need t' remember t' make a tape standoff t' hold t' glider above the
pad. T' boost is really straight and tends t' spiral up. I've never had it
fail t' separate and transition. T' A8-3 flight is good for trimming. Begad! Avast! T' B6-4
flight is pretty high and t' C6-5 gets it way up there. Arrr! Arrr!
Recovery:
Usin' A8-3 motors I consistently get 20 t' 30 second glides. With t' B6-4
motor it's always around 60 seconds. Begad! Begad! I've nay timed t' C6-5 motor flight yet.
It's a very consistent performer, me hearties, nay overly disturbed by turbulence. Avast! It would
take tornadic thermal t' make this glider float, me hearties, but it's fun t' watch. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It
glides very smartly through t' air, like a jet fighter. Begad! T' pop pod drops like
a rock, which it good. If no one tracked t' pod, me bucko, matey, just remember which way the
rocket took off and walk that way. Avast! T' pod will be just about directly below
where t' glider and pod separated. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
It's nay a contest winner, shiver me timbers, but for most NARRRRR contests, arrr, you will want a
dependable, shiver me timbers, matey, "I'm sure t' get it back" glider in your stable. Begad! This is
a good candidate. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! As a sport glider, me bucko, it's a great crowd pleaser. Ahoy!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5