Hi-Start Gliders at the 2022 Flying Aces Nats in Geneseo, NY

Beautiful flights by many of the scale gliders at the 2022 Flying Aces Nationals in Geneseo, using both Hi-Start & towline. Photos and film by Tom Hallman, John Rood, Charlie Sauter, & Karin Escalante. Music via MotionArray. Filmed with a Canon PowerShot SX20 and various iPhones.
Schweizer TG-2: outerzone.co.u...
Waco CG-13 Cargo Glider: outerzone.co.u...
Schweizer SGU-1-19: outerzone.co.u...
Airspeed Horsa: outerzone.co.u...
Slingsby Prefect kit (laser cut) from Easy Built Models: easybuiltmodel...
Flying Aces Club merchandise: www.cafepress....
Center of Gravity merchandise: www.cafepress....
For more info on free-flight rubber-powered models, check these websites:
brooklyn-balsa...
www.easybuiltmo...
www.volareprodu...
www.flyingacesc...
National Free Flight Society - freeflight.org/
Mike Stuart's Flying Scale Models - www.ffscale.co.uk/
www.freeflight...

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Free flight gliders is the ambient music of aviation. Theres something very naturally calming about it

[@robertrussellmd]

I watch these flights over and over.

[@citicolina]

Amazing, truly a different feeling when you see them floating up there with not even the rubber to power them, just the air.

[@thebalsaboy]

Yeah… it’s crazy just how high 25 feet of 1/16” rubber can launch something.

[@maxfliart]

@@thebalsaboy I agree. Pulling back on the line, you can really feel the tension. Even with only 1/16", I've seen wings fold. All of the models here were under 36" span...the limit for the FAC event.

[@MrMartinRose]

What beautiful aeroplanes, they are flying like birds, how beautiful and unbelievable, as if they have souls ❤

[@mdtidwell6095]

Just when I think I couldn’t be more enthralled the Flying Aces stun me again. I love these gliders and all of your videos. Thanks

[@paulpaulsen7309]

... nothing more to say ... 😊

[@javiersanti4705]

Increíble..... simplemente poesía e el aire. No me canso de verlos ... belleza total ❤

[@harrykeel8557]

Breathless.

[@federicocarrizo8817]

Absolutely beautiful!!! No words!

[@jeffmullinix7916]

From 4:20 to 6:31 ! That was a great flite . Caught a thermal at the right time . I had a rubber powered plane done that and it was lost in it . I watched it keep getting higher and higher until it went out of sight . I never did found the plane . This was in the fall of 1971 . I built the plane from my own drawings .

[@tcary1289]

Thanks! I got quite a thrill watching this. My Dad flew a Waco CG 4A across the Channel to Normandy June 7, 1944 and survived the crash!

[@maxfliart]

That's pretty incredible. The glider crews took quite a hit, simply trying to land. Hope all went well for him after that. Thx for the share.

[@imbok]

The inherent stability in these aircraft is impressive. They're rock solid and balanced for lift. They seem to surf the air at will. Splendid!

[@claudiomenesesc]

Love those free-flight gliders. Thanks for sharing.

[@philipbrailey]

I love watching your glider. Beautiful flight.

[@joelamb3581]

The skeptic in me knows that the Slingsby Prefect's (starting around 4:11) turns to the right are the result of stalls and the right wing dropping first, but I've also flown free flight just enough to have a cautious suspicion about God's attitude toward free flight airplanes. I'm happy you caught this one on film.

[@miguelpaixao1317]

What a flight!! No doubt about it, that's beautiful!! Thanks again.

[@Hallo-Hallo]

Thanks, always beautiful! 👍😃

[@markpedwell1250]

Fantastic skills beautifully flown. Thank you.

[@barkebaat]

It's been a while since I visited this channel ... but I feel a smile creeping across my face as it plays. Good to be back here. It's a good place.

[@mhannan6328]

The flights are magical....the video pure artistry. Thank you.

[@williamrobinson7435]

Well these guys really put the 'art' in 'hi start', and no mistake. What a beautiful flying field! This just shows how it's a different world up there in the blue stuff, an invisible and ever changing landscape of bubbles and columns of moving air, all sorts of thermal interactions. Of course there's always a slice of luck required in getting a ff glider off the hook at the apex of climb, and not spilling too much, but I think this random chance element is part of the charm of this branch of aeromodeling. Really lovely display! Huge thanks to all involved. 👌

[@joebravo5459]

That's awesome I have never seen a high start scale scratch built gliders that size and free flight you all did an amazing jobs not only on the looks and on the way they flew. Thank you for posting this video It was amazing.💪💪💪💯💯💯💯

[@robinboucherwonderfulflight]

All truly amazing. All truly magical and beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing, wow.

[@TheMendipman]

Fascinating and beautiful as always. Noel

[@john_in_boston]

Fabulous, Brother Tom!

[@maxfliart]

Thx for the photos, John. Great to hang with u again at The G.

[@NANNIRC]

You are poets! Thank for your passion and wonderful constructions. When I want relax I buy a Guillow's box and start to tinker. I'm not at your level and my planes fly poorly but they enjoy me so much. I made a video on a Beaver with floaters and it is quite successful. Ciao from Italy, Nanni

[@terryblackman6217]

Some wonderful models, a pleasure to watch.

[@ytdhable]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@willgraves5288]

Spectacular. Just a moving thing to see. The craft of the hand translated to moving through the sky. So beautiful.

[@RosscoeDownunder]

This flying of ff gliders on a high start is a very , very esoteric activity. I sit here in Melbourne, Australia watching this film which fills me with joy. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to explain to anyone why. It was a perfect day’s flying and I can think of no other activity that is comparable. Well done all.

[@hamamatumelon]

Thanks for a great flight.

[@randall4411]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful flying session .

[@TAT660X]

Your videos are so relaxing to watch and the building skills are amazing

[@cjyates07]

Great video and the perfect choice of music.

[@olphartcoastie8719]

Lovely.

[@brookelinford1910]

I also find it amazing how free flight gliders seem to search for thermals. Excellent video!

[@craigwall9536]

Yeah- "seem" is the right word.

[@punkworkschannel]

These look great and fly amazing!

[@lanecobb4150]

My heart has always been with the gliders in both full scale (I own a 1-26E) and in our models. To me something about powerless flight comes close to “magic”…This video totally captures that magic Tom. Thanks so much for creating and posting it.

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Lane. I'm new to gliders this year, but they've really caught my attention. Beautiful simplicity of flight.

[@lanecobb4150]

@@maxfliart In my youth (around 60 years ago) I built and flew Jetex powered sheetwood gliders. 2 types of magic combined! 😃

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Oh the joy of freeflight, great video Tom, cheers 👍

[@maxfliart]

Thx, Cliff. I'm really beginning to enjoy Hi-Start and towline gliders. They're a challenge but so much fun, and beautiful when they hook.

[@joshuawfinn]

Dang. That class has gotten crazy competitive. I'm very impressed with the way those tow up the line and launch well into lift. That's extremely hard to do!

[@martinlagrange8821]

Wonderful - has now made me want to build a few, in that they are going to be far less difficult to trim compared with a powered model. And also giving me ideas about using micro-rc ....

[@richardbrowne3641]

"Nothing, but air!"

[@mattnsim]

That Waco was something I always wanted to build

[@danielkopp9590]

I built one from a plan in a book written by Walter Musciano back when I was in 8th grade. My first scratch built model, I made the wingspan 4 foot. I just didn't realize what wing incidence was at the time. It flew real nice at very slow speeds but took a nose dive one day when its airspeed got too fast due to the lifting forces of the tail surfaces. Build one, you won't regret it! There is also a museum at Ft. Campbell, KY that has a full scale glider in it.

[@mattnsim]

@@danielkopp9590 I’ve lost the motivation to make models mate. I burned out by building perpetually for 7 years. As soon as I’d finish one and fly it, I’d build another straight away. It’s been about 6 years since I put knife to balsa.

[@danielkopp9590]

@@mattnsim I'm sorry to hear that Matthew. I have not built may balsa free-flights in my day but I do enjoy seeing the craftsmanship and skill of some of these seasoned modelers and their aircraft. It's pure joy.

[@Mrfishlou]

That last flight (the WACO, I believe) may be the best example of a perfectly trimmed free flight model airplane of any type that I've ever seen. Beautiful! ALL of these models were beautiful!

[@jmaclaren4147]

Angels at the stick

[@oldaviator]

Very nice! 🛩

[@pperretjr]

Thanks

[@ratride1]

As usual a great video from you. This meeting of stick and tissue aficionados is on my bucket list. Surprised they do so well with the wind blowing. Thanks for the links. Maybe I’ll get the courage to build one.

[@123wordbird321]

I can't believe how long those flew for! So peaceful.

[@jasonb1776]

That was a beautiful, a joy to watch. The models are outstanding.

[@carlnewtonfishing6045]

I love the skill in trimming these models to fly so well. This is true aero modelling. I some times just wish there was a least a rudder RC control so you could at least steer your models back to you.

[@thermalascension]

Nice 👍

[@philipbrailey]

I use to tow with a little parachute at the end. The hook helps to come back to me.

[@walk4718]

Amazing builds and flights; good show 👍

[@jetflyer102]

Great video my friend. I really enjoyed the peaceful music.

[@bobculp2376]

beautiful, great job fellas

[@barkebaat]

4:11 - What a great flight !

[@asdfqwer316]

誰でも一度は夢の中で空を飛ぶ夢を見る ここに見られるモデルはその夢の再現 素晴らしい　正に飛ぶと言う事はこう言う事なのだ。

[@stevedrake1861]

Tom, are you planning on doing more of your HOW-TO videos? They were very informative. I'd especially like to see one on selecting rubber motors for various types and sizes of models, and how to determine the number of turns to use when winding. Thanks for all of the great videos.

[@maxfliart]

Yes, I hope to get back to them later in the autumn / winter. Right now it's all about building, flying, and gaining more content along the way. Geneseo was a blast this year. More to come, since I'm writing the 2022 Geneseo Journal, which will include many photos & films. Muncie will happen in mid September, so there will be a lot of great flying ahead.

[@stevedrake1861]

@@maxfliart Good to hear. I hope that you have a lot of fun. We sure have had a lot of good weather here in Upstate NY this year.

[@EC5ABG]

Muy bueno!!, saludos.👍👏

[@2wings1bird46]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@jdashwhitman]

Nice camera work. What equipment do you use?

[@maxfliart]

Thx. Surprisingly I've found that an older Canon PowerShot SX20 from 2009 works best for capturing FF models. It has a mild image stabilizer, just enough to settle things a bit. The 20X optical zoom is ideal too. Any more than that, and it becomes difficult to hold steady w/o a tripod or monopod.U can find them pretty cheap on sites like Mercari. Downside is that u can't clean the sensor if specks creep in. The stills were taken with an iPhone 11Pro.

[@pcj3405]

Flight! I just don't know what else to say.

[@davidmiller4594]

It takes a lot of guts to histart a ff model. One day I'll get there.

[@titaniumhen]

Sorry about these questions as I know nothing about gliders. I heard and see a "Tow Line". What is it hooked to; how does it work? How do you know where your glider is going to land?

[@maxfliart]

Here's a film that mostly shows towline flights using a reel to pull in the line. It shows Hi-Start flights at the end. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4rcYqSHaceEo7c The wire loop on the end of the line slips off the model's hook, then the glider flies freely, wherever it wants. We don't use RC.

[@titaniumhen]

@@maxfliart Cool video and explanation. It looks like you takeoff into the wind to get lift. I imagine there have been several planes that nosedive into the ground on takeoff. I used to fly U-Control and RC. I recently bought some Guillow's balsa rubber band powered planes to build, wind up and fly. Seeing the gliders looks like fun too. I am going to check my local area (Woodlad or Davis California) to see if anyone does this around here. Thnank you for the explanation and link to the video. I will start following you.

[@stanhauser]

Wonderful. Is there some action here on the ground or does the towline release the plane by itself?

[@maxfliart]

It's all about the streamer, which creates a bit of drag at the apex, causing the ring to slide off the hook. Beautifully simplistic.

[@stanhauser]

@@maxfliart Thanks :-)

[@jakemerchant4414]

how do you make the hi start? is it just a length of rubber with a leader and swivel on the end like fly line?

[@alfred.g7521]

What a shame about the OSS . Not surprising as looking at the clouds there would have been lift about

[@ericboehm9457]

I wish I could figure out how to do this!

[@maxfliart]

ur a fast learner.....I've seen ur models fly. :-D See u at Wawa...come prepared for hi-start or towline!

[@mitchilito99]

Tom, you're dating yourself when you call your videos "films." I still say I'm "taping" when I program tv shows on😅 the DVR

[@maxfliart]

Haha...old habits. I often refer to the television at the tube.

[@dieterdoes9497]

First, also super cool

[@jardaschannel]

Wow, new video by Maxfliart! Nicely done, beautiful gliders and spectacular landscape for launching, I have also new video on my youtube channel, it was flying 30m+ down the hill here in Czechia, near Brno. I can tell you, Balsa is cool material, light and aerodynamical!!😌😌✈️✈️✈️✈️ Greetings, aviation lover Jarda B.

[@paulpaulsen7309]

... well, very nice free flight vid., but, ... I'm not brave enough, I would covertly make sure that I could "steer" in an emergency ...😁

[@maxfliart]

Ha. I think most of us are most concerned with a straight tow. Once u have that, whatever happens, happens. But yeah, the third tow for the Horse was not pretty. Went straight in. Tom Nallen definitely prefers the towline over the hi-start, since u can easily back off, avoiding the nose dive.

[@truth409]

How do you set up the tram for a straight toe but then a right hand circle upon release without a drop off router...

[@maxfliart]

We position the tow hook slightly to the left of center, which allows for a straighter tow.

[@f4udhorn]

DAVE!, How did you get it to do figure 8s? That was an incredible flight!

[@daveniedzielski6716]

I fly the cutting edge of stability. Scale dihedral, responds to any influence mother nature throws at it. My CG was off a bit on this flight but I constantly adjust the CG for wind conditions. That and a little mouse I've trained to pilot it. The air has to be kind of bubbly, not real strong lift. She and her lost sister have done many 5 minute plus flights. Thanks to Vic Nippert and Lee Campbell for their tutoring. It is such a different kind of free flight flying that is just so calming and eloquent.