Hot action in the slopes

Model Airplane News, May 2003 by Loud, Richard

EXTREME SOARING

Monday's trip to Francis Peak was a great success. This awe-inspiring site is 5,000 feet above the valley floor, 10,000 feet above sea level and offers pilots spectacular views of the valley below and the Great Salt Lake. Those who made the trip were rewarded with clear blue skies and plenty of wind blowing right up the mountain from the valley below. A few pilots took advantage of the steep back side of the mountain to show their skills at dynamic soaring. By taking advantage of the separa tion layer at the crest and the shadow zone on the downwind side of the mountain, they accelerated their planes to phenomenal speeds before pulling into seemingly endless vertical climbs. This was extreme soaring at its best.

Soar Utah 2002 was a fine example of what slope soaring-and model airplanes in general-are all about. It challenges pilots to design, show and fly planes that no one has built before and to fly maneuvers that no one has flown before while providing a chance to meet up with old flying buddies at some of the best slopes in the United States, See you in 2004!

If you would like more information on Soar Utah or the InterMountain Silent Flyers, check out the website at www.silentflyer.com.