Forever pushing the envelope in the quest
for bigger thrills - Simon Cocker has written in to describe
what we believe to be an exciting new aspect to PSS flying,
combining sturdy PSS models with the pursuit for speed via
Dynamic Soaring. PSDS has been born
in the UK!
Simon's
Aermacchi caught at high speed on 'The Dark Side' of Rushup
Edge
“Power Scale
Dynamic Soaring” has just evolved. The Dynamic
Soaring (DS) boys from Leicester recently taught me their
latest slope addiction using Ron Broughtons’ “Ballistic”
flying wing. This is super slippery and good for over
120mph in the DS zone on a good day.
Having by now
developed some basic DS skills I wondered if my Aermacchi
MB-339 would be up to a few DS laps on a less powerful slope
day.
Sure enough the
vintage PSS machine held in the DS groove really well
despite its relative light weight and draggy form. The
Aermacchi looked absolutely stunning coming up from the
bottom of the Edale valley on the back of the slope towards
the dry stone wall, while closely hugging the slope
contours, and on occasion clipping the tall grass on some of
the faster passes.
Aermacchi MB-339 from the Dragon Models kit - 80's
vintage!
Winding up into the DS zone!
It was an
instant hit with the hardened boys on the “Dark
Side” who fly moulded rockets for pure speed and
nothing but the thrill of seeing a personal best top
speed on the radar gun. These guys just loved the
look of this scale jet model grooving so smoothly
and consistently, so different, so cool!
I was addicted
within two or three circuits and was impressed with
the way the DS phenonomen could be used to bring yet
another new dimension to our sport. After nearly
thirty years of slope soaring I really did not
expect to find myself getting this excited about
flying again, but I have to admit that I am like the
members of the DS team now, and I am poised almost
at all times to grab that southerly wind and dash
over to Rushup Edge to ”lap up” an unhealthy dose of
endorphins and adrenalin!!
For PSDS it is
not necessarily just a question of speed; well, it
is not the sole driving factor for me as there could
come a point where the MB-339 could be destroyed by
its own kinetic energy if left unchecked. I have of
course ballasted the model for the next sortie as
the radar gun has shown only 85 mph. I appreciate
that I have contradicted myself already, but
deliberately so, just to illustrate how easily the
addiction of speed can lure you over the edge...as
it were!!
The question
of speed is knowing where to draw the line, and for
me? Well, I am looking to break the 100mph marker
to set the bar for PSDS. At this velocity I expect
that I can execute even bigger circuits and still
maintain energy without pulling too hard in positive
pitch to avoid over stressing the ageing airframe.
The Aermacchi
has a considerably more purposeful, dynamic feel and
look as you might imagine when grooving around the
DS circuit, even though I adopt a very open style
compared to the dedicated speed merchants. For me
this is a relatively safe way forward for PSDS. Not
only does the bigger circuit give me more time and
space for pilot thinking and minor corrections it
looks more realistic; we all love to watch this new
shape in the groove.
Martin
Middleton bravely joined me in the DS loop for a few
circuits with his EPP P-51 Reno Mustang and the two
PSS machines going around together was an awesome
sight. This model, heavier than the Aermacchi
and probably less draggy too - sure had a rapid turn of speed
and I believe it has tremendous potential.
It would seem
that Martin was also bitten by the phenomena of PSDS.
So, you can see it takes just a tiny dabble for PSDS
to get in under your skin and find that a new
flavour of slope adrenalin is coursing through your
veins. Yes, PSDS, and DS is a drug.... that is
official!
Phil Cooke, our PSSA
webmaster, asked me to explain what modifications or
strengthening we may need to consider for our PSS airframes
in order to dabble on the “Dark Side”. I think it defeats
the object of PSDS if we go about rebuilding PSS models.
The nature of PSS
airframes is that they are not designed for all out speed
but are by virtue of the slope side abuse already tough
enough in most cases for both of the disciplines.
I think if you have a
relatively clean, (aerodynamically speaking), PSS model, it
would be fun just to try out PSDS and enjoy the “after
burner” feel that comes with getting in the DS zone. The
model may only lap at 65mph, so what? But the model will
hold that energy in a way you have never experienced before
and you can enjoy up close and personal, like.., the feel of
this new found energy and the look of your scale machine in
a totally different light.
Without a great deal
of weight and therefore speed I do not think we will are
likely to break apart our PSS models in the air in the
rigours of the DS circuit. It is far more likely that the
model will incur the unrelenting persuasion of gravity or
turbulence induced arrivals into the hillside on the back of
the slope. Pilot error is often the reason for re-kitting
airframes and the dry stone wall perched perilously on the
lip of the edge has been known to snatch and grab too. Be
warned therefore, PSDS is not forgiving and will not
tolerate mistakes!
Having said
that, PSDS is not a difficult skill to develop,
infact it is genuinely easy to execute a series of
circuits at first. It is trickier to fly
consistently while tuning into the changing
conditions and the varying positions of the shear
layer on the down side of the slope.
It takes
concentration and a degree of commitment to fly low
down through the shear layer, but not too far, while
keeping the proximity of the ground also firmly
focused in your mind while also thinking about where
and when to pull over the top and positioning the
model for the return trajectory down the back
again.
That sounded
difficult, but in reality, it is not an issue, as we
are not pushing Mach .65 so the relatively sedate
speeds of PSDS provide enough latitude to get your
head in gear, and in time, hopefully..!
Spencer
Lisenby recently achieved a speed of 392mph with a
Kinetic 100 in March this year, which is over half
the speed of sound!
Hence the
bigger sized circuits make it easier to assimilate
these flight components in one’s mind giving
precious thinking time to one’s slow working brain
cell.
Aermacchi in its element!
When you witness the
speed at which our top DS exponents tear around the sky on
Rushup Edge (200mph plus...!) it brings into perspective how
pathetically slow PSDS is in comparison. So equally, try
not to be intimidated either as with a little practice the
thrill and the skill very quickly blend into one.
Going round and round
in big loops or even varying the shape of the circuits after
some time becomes a little repetitive. However this can be
enhanced by flying a figure eight pattern on the back side
which is much more challenging as you have to get over your
“handed” preference! I have noticed I prefer to turn left
on a motorbike at speed, I always put in a left turn first
when I could ski, and I feel more comfortable in a left
circuit in the DS loop. The figure of eight at the back of
the slope is the next challenge and to liven things up a
touch further I want to throw in a roll over the top at the
zenith of the loop each circuit. That should look fairly
cool I would imagine and may even inspire the DS exponents
to think about alternative ideas other than just hacking the
high speed envelope to shreds!!
The action photos seen
here of the Aermacchi MB-339 have been captured by a
trusting antipodean who not too long ago put in over forty
hours of jet time on the full size machine when in the New
Zealand Air Force. Steve Rainbow now flies holiday makers
to and fro from Manchester Airport, but not as low and as
fast as he would like to. Steve is looking to find an
Aermacchi airframe as well as I am, so if there are any
airframes or kits out there that can be spared please get in
touch so we can hopefully have two or three together in the
PSDS groove! Thanks also to Ian Hammerton for recording the
video footage below with a very steady hand which is linked
here from YouTube - Thanks to Rez Manzoori for the editing!!
This is just a taster of things to come from the UK PSDS
scene!
We don’t have to try
to keep up with those Radar Gun addicts to have a blast, as
we are taking the DS phenomena our own way for PSS and this
is just the beginning for us. “Come on up..!” and have a
try you may find you become an addicted addict too. Who
knows what will DS and what will not? I was wondering about
the B-52 next actually. Perhaps even the huge Canberra too
as that model is strong and would have tremendous presence.
Going
Ballistic!! Following the terrain at low level up the
slope!
What have you got
lingering in the hangar that could do with a PSDS workout?
Since this article was written Simon has
also successfully flown PSDS with his trusty Handley Page
Victor - see the video here!
