Saw just chillin'

Yesterday I went to Syosset to fly my radio glider at Stillwell Woods park. It was a fine day to do it, and there were others from the Long Island Silent Flyers club with the same idea.

The park is so beautiful and spacious, it is difficult to remember that I am only a 40 minute drive from the urban landscape of the New York City boroughs. Different from Central Park. This is like a secret hideout in comparison. Central Park is packed with people and idiot children.

The RC glider is just like an RC plane, except, as you might imagine, it has no means of propulsion and requires an initial launch. I used what is called a hi-start which is essentially a giant sling-shot pegged into the ground. I was able to fly and trim out the glider with plenty of help and advice from the club members. The soar has an added element of challenge and that is staying aloft using only patches of warm air called thermals. These are not visible, believe it or not. You have to hunt and feel around for them.