Pike Perfection, Fosa Lift etc.

[eschlitzkus]

I'm sure Bob's CMS -- or whatever the back end is for a shopping cart -- showed that once again Stupid Steve was wasting bandwidth fantasizing on his website. All click, no check-out. That's me.

I'm still leaning Perfection, although what I've been reading about the Aspire is really good. Even if I bought the latest and greatest, there is something new on the market before UPS picks up the package.

Erich: yes, life got so busy I stopped at least going to to the contests nearby -- Charles River and LISF. Although I did bail on Charles River after winning it, so it's good to go out on top. I have the crystal CCRC beer mug to prove it! (finally a trophy that's useful!) I want to get back next year and see if I can stand a whole day of landing contest to be able to fly six times. There is nothing like the contest environment to drive focus on reading air and making every second count. Besides, like Dennis, it's kind of stupid that every time I walk into the shop I go past a perfectly good Rahm winch that's gathering dust. I love tow, but that's easier to go!

I think you would like the Aspire better. Just looks so damn good with the spread tow black.

[Steve P]

Erich -- I'd think the full carbon Aspire would be a bit more durable all around an especially for heavy pedal launches or wind versus the spread tow ST version.

Anybody know the weight penalty? What are your thoughts one versus the other? I hopefully nabbed Craig's so I'm in either way.

Thanks!

[Dennis]

So Steve, it looks like you have an Aspire ST coming your way. You will not be sorry, flew mine last Sunday at a different field and the locals were amazed at the legs it has, and the ability to circle in hand launch type low level thermals, and mine isn't an ST (spread tow).

[Steve P]

Hi Dennis. Yes, fool and his money in action. I actually just shot Larry Jolly a note asking him the differences between the full carbon and ST. I'm going to campaign it at some ESL contests so I want to be sure I don't blow it up on launch.

Any recon or rumors you have are appreciated. It will be a while as Craig and I have to figure out how to get it from Champaign to Norwalk.

[Steve P]

The Spread Tow carbon Aspire arrived this evening. OMG -- pure composite sailplane sex! I cannot believe how incredibly lightweight yet solid the airframe is! Superb finish. Mine is red/white on top with the gloss st carbon tips and full black st carbon bottoms. If it looks 1% as good in the air as it does on the bench, I'll be overjoyed. I didn't have a chance to shoot photos, but I'll add some soon.

Craig did a fantastic job with the install, but forgot to toss the tip joiners in the shipping box. Fortunately he left the carbon fuse DSMX receiver and battery in place, so I plugged in a couple square carbon joiners from another F3J ship and had it programmed on my 11X with a basic launch, thermal, normal set of flight modes in no time. Craig's set-up is so tight that most surfaces have single digit or no subtrims whatsoever in the base program. I went with 2:1 differential and a bit of snap flaps on up elevator. Should be perfect for the first few "get to know you" flights. I can already tell that the flaps are going to stop this thing in a heartbeat.

Dennis -- if you have any guidance or suggestions on set-up, use of camber/reflex on these Herrig airfoils, landing mode or general flying, I'm open to hearing / learning anything and everything you have to share.

[Mark Popov-Dadiani]

"Pure composite sailplane sex!" Steve, I'm begining to wonder about you.

[Dennis]

Steve, Craig or anyone familiar with the Aspire would be good to help on the finer points of setup, I am no expert when it comes to these models. And to add to my Aspire appreciation, Larry announced he is taking orders for the next shipment of them, I was flying the model last Sunday and told Larry that I might be interested in getting an ST on that next order, he asked if I liked the one I have right now (color scheme), and I said it's my favorite, he just happened to have a brand new ST in my colors that he was holding onto (someone must have changed their mind) so guess what I got a few days ago?
You will be shocked at how well the model handles, it will do hand launch thermals, and it has very long legs much as a large scale ship, if you need the CG let me know, it is much further back than you would anticipate.

[yyz]

"Pure composite sailplane sex!" Steve, I'm begining to wonder about you.

Agreed. Dude needs to get out more....

[yyz]

So is the trick to bleach the 5 dollar bills, wash them and THEN print the money or is there some other thing you do????

so guess what I got a few days ago?

[Steve P]

"Pure composite sailplane sex!" Steve, I'm begining to wonder about you.

Actually, the fact you would question that statement has me wondering about YOU!