Leprechaun RC Glider sloping

Modified Leprechaun Glider gentle sloping.

[@beegee22]

Marvelous! As though it were choreographed. The "catch and release" and nose-stops are like watching someone work with a well trained pet. Truly special. Thanks for sharing.

[@SammyBFilms]

I love the way you let go, and the glider just sort of, sits in the air for a second. :-)

[@beegee22]

The way you get them to hover for a hand capture makes it look as if the glider is alive and obedient. Lovely.

[@flymrc77]

Maginificent! Thank you for sharing, just what I needed to see as it's pouring with rain outside.

[@theflyinghamster8442]

Beautiful old school build!! I love it!

[@ScoutCrafter]

What a beautiful Old timer design!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

[@cardinaldriver]

Another gorgeous build and flight John. Love what you do with 2 channels. You're a good stick.

[@Bobmox13]

One of the most relaxing sloping videos I have seen! Beautiful plane and the ease of flying superb! I just have to learn to fly now!

[@miniphase]

Superb! It doesn't get more elegantly gravity defying than this!

[@RcAircraft]

That`s a big beautiful plane John.

[@stourglassboy]

Absolutely brilliant, I lusted after this glider when I was a kid in the early 60s but couldn't afford it. Lovely to see it in flight

[@X-OR_]

I used to sloping fly back in the 70s. Your video makes me want to build again !!!

[@Laxxtzor]

This is the best sloping video i've seen, truly amazing pilot and plane. Thank you for posting this :)

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Acuic thank you so much

[@rafaelcalvache8264]

@@SlopeRCGliders hola.me gustaría saber si tienes plano de este glider.me gustaría hacerlo

[@CarlosMoreno-xu5lu]

Beautiful model, beautiful flight, wonderful landscape and great pilot, thanks for sharing

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Carlos Moreno thank you

[@ARCEYE78]

I have not flown a sloper for many years due to my love for freestyle FPV miniquads but this has just reminded me of the pure magic of slope soaring, I will now search for this model as its beautiful, thanks for the sharing the flight :D

[@Dreams-and-Castles]

It has a beautiful "old school" look and reminds me of why I fell in love with flying. Thank you.

[@rodneysmart9774]

Looks and flys like a dream. Nice work.

[@rodneysmart9774]

I've watched this like five times.

[@reefer2917]

Beautiful plane, relaxing to watch :-)

[@davidlentz4618]

Beautiful flight and glider!!!!! I had an Oldtimer rc Privateer an almost I identical color scheme!!!

[@campbellshaw8698]

I knew that with such a wait between vids, it was going to be something great! You guys are excelling yourselves. Thanks.

[@doogle-gf3fi]

So glad to see you’re back! I wondered you were busy at your build board.. Anyway; This is in all ways truly magical- Very well done! Love your ‘touch & release’ moments. Your plane, for me, perfect. A Special Well Done to your videographer on this one: the close-ups are wonderful! 10/10 across the board. TY for sharing.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

doogle1110 Thank you for the kind words!

[@johanbergkvist8834]

That is magical! Please please please consider posting a video where you describe the model close up and point out how this or that was built. Materials, tools, plans, electronics, hints or anything that would help those of us aspiring to build something similar. :)

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Johan Bergkvist will do

[@clearprop]

I second this! :-) I've downloaded the plan but I can see you've made quite a few changes and I'd also like to know how you've achieved a lighter model. Looks better without the polyhedral, too.

[@ARCEYE78]

I third this :D, this is imo the most beautiful sailplane I have seen so far, I love elliptical wings and you have vastly improved the design over the original with much cleaner lines and using a dihedral wing over polyhedral, I'll have to wait till I emigrate to oz before I can take on this build but like the others I would truly appreciate more detail on this build although the great camera work has shown some great detail shots, you live in a beautiful part of the country, I'm an Essex boy and it's very flat here :/

[@robertkibbey1065]

And no pylon either

[@ARCEYE78]

Yes, another great improvement, it would be great if this improved design could be put into CAD or similar so it could be laser cut, even just the really time consuming stuff like wing ribs, I have downloaded the plan and it looks like a great build :)

[@MrBobWareham]

Absolutely lovely looks so good I used to go slope soaring many years ago and loved it seeing your model it brought back memories of the summer evening when I used to go near corf castle in Dorset, thanks for the memory

[@InfoWithheld]

That's ridiculously cool!

[@ronaldmiller6520]

the glider is gorgeous, and you my friend are one good pilot, you play with plane like it is a pet, you bring it to you so slow and hold the nose like a dog, then gently release it, you have good control and feel the of the plane .

[@SlopeRCGliders]

ronald miller thank you, but it’s quite an easy plane to fly. It’s nice and stable.

[@microbuilder]

Fantastic, loved that it just seemed to want to stay aloft...great control for 2 channel.

[@richarddarlington1139]

Now, that's a pretty thing. I'm in the middle of building a Bird of Time as I write this. The variety of designs available is seemingly endless, for anyone who wants to build one of their own. Cheers from Las Vegas, Nevada!

[@doogle-gf3fi]

-RD: The BOT's another beautiful sailplane; good luck with your build! Apologies to all for my tangent to John's Leprechaun post. Just imagine- both of these wheeling about gently overhead. :-)

[@richarddarlington1139]

doogle1110 Yes, I've been a Dave Thornburg fan since I started in this great hobby a lifetime ago. After nearly 40 years, I've finally cleared the bench for this legendary sailplane. Thanks for the reply.

[@edwardhasiak7961]

Richard; is there kits available for this sailplane? I'm looking for a winter build.any information would be appreciated.

[@richarddarlington1139]

edward hasiak The original Leprechaun was a free flight model. John made several changes to convert it to R/C. There is no kit for it that I am aware of. However, you can download free plans for the original design are available through Outerzone. My advice is to not get hung up on one particular design as kits are getting harder to find these days. Maybe a Bird of Time might suit you. Although I would recommend it for experienced builders only.

[@edwardhasiak7961]

Thanks for the reply Richard. It's funny You mention the Bird of Time, I built one twenty five years ago, I believe it was my third sailplane build. Since then I built a few from Ray Hayes kits(Sky Bench Aerotech). But He isn't taking any orders at this time. I never built from plans but will check out Outerzone. Thanks again.

[@davescopes249]

Absolute bliss. And great control. It just sits in the sky like a seagull.

[@jonathansteiner3251]

Just beautiful, I had a smile on my face the hole time. Thank you 🙏🏻.

[@CARoss-wx2yy]

Beautifully constructed model, flown with grace. It came to you as a puppy might, seeking a master's reassuring pat on the nose. Well done, lad, and thank you for posting such a gentle, lovely piece of video.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

C. A. Ross thank you for the kind words

[@larjkok1184]

A dog’s nose is quite sensitive, you shouldn’t pat them.

[@JimZinVT]

:-) I've got to try that "palm stop" sometime when conditions are right.

[@garryperrin2408]

You have a beautiful spot all to yourself! Thanks, makes me smile🤠

[@daveoblivion4753]

Like a beautiful dragonfly. Reminds me of my happy days spent slope soaring RC gliders off Cornish cliffs. Happy daze.

[@josipvrandecic2472]

Thanks John , graciously , also every praise to your cameraman.

[@wowguy3562]

This is the best rc video I've seen on youtube. Great camera work and the pilot is superb. I love the clear coating, thats an elegant sailplane

[@SlopeRCGliders]

WoW Guy thank you ever so much for the kind words!

[@marcinb2369]

piękna klasyczna konstrukcja! Lata fantastycznie ! To się nazywa prawdziwe latanie 😊

[@maxmeister6355]

Wow great plane! Wish i had a spot to go sloping to 😂

[@Wintergatan]

so cool!

[@historypreserved7495]

Wintergatan marble man!

[@rafaelcalvache8264]

Quisiera saber las medidas de tu maravilloso modelo y qué tipo de perfil alar has utilizado.y por supuesto si tienes copia de los planos para yo comprar uno

[@timmy101able]

Coolest thing i saw on the internet today!!

[@karls6802]

Love the "Seat launch" At 0:26 second in, I think she's toying with you, John. Certainly living up to her namesake. Beautiful, I can't get the smile off my face.

[@glebz7294]

Really beautiful glider and awesomr video! Such an amazing balance of wind speed

[@clearwaterhydrofoils4313]

Crazy to see it fly nose down as if there is too much lift

[@fireantsarestrange]

hehehe..... way cool. Late at night when i sleep i have to lay my body on this plane to keep it from flying away... then i realize it is lifting me up and away and there is no sink or despair. Only a calm breeze and my soul floating along like a fish in a stream and a lone seagull high above the ocean cliff.

[@4edward61]

So insanely awesome there are just not enough words to say about it! Way, way, way cool!! Thank you so much for sharing such artistry and elegance together!! Gorgeous plane! Gorgeous place! Gorgeous conditions! Just perfect!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Chris Gresham thank you so much for the kind words!

[@isaaclyonsf1]

That's fantastic! Awesome flyer! It just sits there👍👍👍👍

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

That is stunning

[@ritesh6487]

you should think of making a mini version of this...

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

That would spoil the beauty and functionality of the model. I would love to build one this size and fly it. I just cannot consider any project that takes more than an hour or so as I need to clear the work space (dining table), so something like this that would take several days would need a proper work room so I could work on it in background to my regular projects.

[@sassyrc1901]

Beautiful flight spiritual heart ♪

[@stevejones9815]

That's what life's all about, flying your Glider and having fun. Beautiful!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

steve jones thanks Steve

[@vitale6633]

Gorgeous !!! Great Flying.

[@dicktwomey9457]

Leprachaun was designed by my cousin, when he was still at school around 1950.

[@biko9824]

That’s quite a big flex to flex.

[@philipr.6090]

Very cool -- looks like it performs beautifully. I wonder if anyone still makes the kit.

[@Andres_Suarez]

In more than 30 years flying models this is the most beautiful flight I've ever seen, it's so peaceful, and the plane is so simple, thanks for sharing. Which plane is it? Are plans available?

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Andres Suarez thank you so much! I built it from a Leprechaun plan downloaded from Outerzone website. But the plan is for a freeflight model so I changed quite a bit from the original plan.

[@camarosteve312]

This has to be one of the most beautiful planes to watch floating around!

[@DPSJAVIATION]

*_Nice video. Nice channel. Subscribed today. July 31st of 2018. Proud to be part of your channel._*

[@SlopeRCGliders]

DPSJ AVIATION thank you

[@ImeanFFS]

Might sound weird but kinda reminds me of a guy playing with his pet dog.

[@SmoochyRoo]

A dog with wings, I have the same sense too.

[@Twobarpsi]

A Gentle Lady, on steroids!

[@johnc6919]

Gorgeous glider, beautifully flown.

[@ianashton886]

Great stuff, excellent building and flying skills !

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Ian Ashton thanks Ian

[@luisgbbn]

Where is this clif ?, beautiful place

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Luis Nogueira it’s Perranporth, Cornwall

[@luisgbbn]

I must go there with my planes :)

[@fardeanjoseph8879]

The engine is so quiet...

[@tomglover4211]

fardean joseph ;8

[@MojaveRedRocks]

Beautiful glider, nice video!

[@Timsfpvshow]

brother that is such an awesome glider. great video

[@marktate3431]

Beautiful model and great flying, have been thinking of building a glider and I certainly have no shortage of great spots to fly it :)

[@e36s50b30]

That is one graceful plane and video! Very well done!

[@howardsmith8771]

Oh the Leprechaun caught my eye in a plans handbook I purchased in the playground at school. More flights over 15 minutes than under I seem to recall it stated. Our club had a load of plans donated some years ago including this model. The sheer volume of wood, plus the fact that no DT was shown put me off. However for an RC sloper it looks perfect. Brilliant model and flying.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Howard Smith thank you

[@mreckes9967]

These videos are soooooo addictive, well done that man.

[@the10thleper]

That really is a beautiful glider, Good job. Nice flying location.

[@richardcrowe2965]

Stunning work John love all your designs

[@benhitchcock3057]

There's just something special about a built up wing and translucent film. Lovely!

[@jo2lovid]

Very nice control on the slope. I'll confess I like aileron control for rolls and aerobatricks, but your flying is very smooooooth. Subbed.

[@Friendroid]

You make it look easy! This is the juice of slope soaring...

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

Just beautiful. Nothing else to say. Thank you for another one.

[@wordreet]

WoW man, just WoW! Right now I have to say this is my favourite RC gliding video, from 10+ years watching RC on KZbin. Sorry Franny, your Valkyrie is still my fave balsa built Planes I've seen. But this flight is just wonderful!!!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

wordreet Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@wordreet]

I really haven't got into proper slope soaring yet, but there's inspiration here. The undercamber of your wings says it all. :¬)

[@joshuawfinn]

This is the first time I've ever seen your channel, and wow! You are an excellent pilot and that bird is a true classic. Well done!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

joshuawfinn thank you so much

[@machia0705]

Tried and true design , beautiful . Nice piece of flying .

[@robertz5958]

Beautiful model and it flies as majestically as a Bird of Prey! Brilliant!! Well done!!;; Robert (Tasmania Australia)

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Robert Zygmant thank you

[@sidneyrobinson3258]

Wow! Beautiful - Perfect plane, tuned for the perfect spot.... perfect flying.... even the hawks where watching you crow... Wow! My favorite..... that’s right....

[@awuma]

The most beautiful video of RC soaring I have ever seen! Encourages me to finish my Sunbird :-) This modified Leprechaun looks very nice indeed, with balanced lines. Its stability is very obvious, though no doubt CG position is very important with that huge stab. My very first glider was a "Corsair A/2" of similar vintage and general idea.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

awuma Thank you so much! And yes, it’s a slightly modified Leprechaun.

[@marekprochniak5762]

Klasyka modelarstwa lotniczego. Piękny lot. BRAWO ! GRATULACJE !

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Marek Prochniak Dziękuję Ci

[@homefront3162]

Used to fly Gliders in San Diego for years, damn you now I need to build ome again. 👍🏻

[@mountaindewdude76]

I think "Majestic" says it all. That's too cool!

[@kiwi-eddie]

Bloody brilliant. Looks awesome fun to fly

[@dehweh2297]

This is beautiful. Watched it three times in a row now Thank you!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Dirk Wessels thanks Dirk

[@stacyp4534]

Wow these gliders are awesome. This is my favorite so far. Looks like gos is just holding it up.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Thank you

[@remkojerphanion4686]

Simplicity in form and grace in motion - l love it.

[@nerys71]

god that thing is so pretty. my last stick and cover plane was a gentle lady nearly 20 years ago. watch it fly away on me (no radio contact no idea why fresh batteries all around will never know now) never got up the muster to do another. but this plane. wow. gorgeous colors too. would love to find a place to slope. looks like crazy peaceful fun flying.

[@robertschmid8971]

That is one beautiful glider, and also great workmanship on the construction.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Robert Schmid thank you

[@gregt5996]

Just gorgeous... reminds me of when I used to design and build gliders when I was a kid. I recall having flown one in particular quite a lot...it had a lot of damage and wear, so I patched it as best I could. I trimmed it for free flight and threw it off a peak near my home. I watched it fly off, never to return.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Greg T happy times!

[@gregt5996]

The area looks breathtakingly beautiful...Similar to where I plan on moving to in Oregon in a few more years. I may just have to build myself a glider and fly it there. Its been 40 years, hope I remember how !!

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Greg T I’m lucky that this slope is just a short walk from my house.

[@Dutcharmytent]

Lovely video, exactly what I was looking for and never knew.

[@martingates1]

bugger i want one so much, flying for fifty years....prettiest thing I have seen.

[@jamesgoodwin2450]

A joy to watch,so well balanced

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Perfect conditions! Great stick skills for the pilot.

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Patrick Radcliffe thanks Patrick

[@M-DBarton]

Like a giant Yellow Lab playing fetch with his master. :-)

[@9traktor]

Gentle people also like to play - must be a lucky man. Great!

[@eligaga]

Absolutely amazing👏

[@MrDino1953]

That is an excellent cliff to be gliding on. Such a non-turbulent airstream and a lot of unobstructed area behind you for landing if required. Sites like that are rare where I live.

[@sato4kaiba]

You fly these gliders so gracefully. Nice. xD

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Satobatsu Kaiba thank you.

[@bogdog999]

I use to do that in the 1980s. Brings back memories. it was fun to do touch-and-go's with an unpowered aircraft.

[@jimflc5469]

WOW, that's alote of dihedral! Lovely Glider:)

[@tonyrobinson3744]

I fly all RC but I'd rather fly a glider than anything. My first RC plane was a Great Planes Spirit. Awesome video dude!!!

[@terryforbes4038]

Nice glider. Love your location. I fly in close also... thanks. Terry&thepirates

[@seatroutyt]

just mesmerising very beautiful a great build and flight well done almost like war horse the way it comes to your hand amazing thanks

[@SlopeRCGliders]

Nick Rae thank you