Sizing The Pilot / Figuring Out The Scale
by Len Buffinton
Even the sizing of a pilot has become easier over the years. Now, pilots are scaled to closely match the market. If you have a 1/3 scale sailplane, getting a 1/3 scale pilot is a simple process. Even with sailplanes getting larger and larger, getting the appropriate size pilot not longer is an issue. Whether its 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 scale, and all the sizes in between, the pilots are available if you are willing to go through the effort to get one, or two.
What if you are not sure what size or scale the model is? Use this simple method to determine the scale of the plane.
1) You need to know the wingspan of the full-size plane your model was “modeled” after.
An Example would be, if you had a model of a Duo Discus and did not know the scale but you Google the name and found the wingspan of the full-scale plane is 20 meters.
Your model has a 5 meter wingspan. Just divide the model wingspan into the full size 5 divided into 20 = 4
Add the factor of 1 over the top to turn it into a fraction, 1/4 and you see the model is 1/4 scale, or 25% scale
Take that a little further and say the model is a 6 meter span. Divide 6 into 20 and get 3.33
Add the factor of 1 over the top to turn it into a fraction,1/3.33 or rounded to 1/3 scale, or 33% scale
One more example,
Say the plane is 8 meters, divide 8 into 20 and get 2.5
Add the factor of 1 to get 1/2.5 otherwise known as 1/2 point 5 scale, or 40% scale.
Most manufacturers will scale the model closely to a common size, so typically, the scale is figured to a round number.
Now you know what scale plane you have, why not get a pilot ordered and complete your project.
