Low & Slow Issue 12 1972

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# 12 SELF·SOAR ASSOCIATION

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Attention: If your enTelope name and address was circled

then this is your last issue of Low & Slow until you reneY.

Cover. Story:

and association is saluted by

.... enthu~iast:if'.~ abJu..l )l.ia flying today as he "'''was.. izit,1925:~~ hia . t'.irst hang glider.

His ,1..,'<!.';,,::1~~?.t1i/"·''I,' . skills are ~1f .,ienlopttd; safety is first t. ,·., priority in h;l,l:;;_,9~,ra.tions. H~ vibes on innovation.

Cover l::!o$1oil.picture wae·a·obance to se& Volmer in ~f~;le he enjoys ••• well in control.

The moment/is ~rt of hie recent 5! minute ·flight at }~rcci~ California. More ~n L&S 1J. Ghostld on,this page is Volmer in hover!

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SELF-SOAR Association is a universal, international, and national organization advancing the. arts, sports, and sciences of self-soaring. It i~ dedicated to the task of giving personally eafe eelf~soaring systems to all who desire .to self-eoar 0 Membership requires only one's signature on'a special application; no dues Yiil. ~Ter be requir~d, yet all official benefit~ shall go tc/membere. The unique application form will.be sent with L&S 1J. Low & Slow , available to non-mem~ra/ i.e the official booklet aeries of Self-SQ&:r< ..· Association.

Every J weeks or sooner r.&S is mailed. It is sold,1 .,...not by the year, but in lumps· of 12 consecutively numbered ieau.ea. Send.$6 for your.. next 12 self-soar booklets. "·,

Self:-Soar··Association · · ·Low & Slow· · 59 Dudley Ave •. · Venice, CA·9029r

Joe Faust, 1972

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DAVE

CRONK

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·• 6 mil. polyethelene.

Wash with TSP before taping.

Do not cut dashed line!!!

Mylar would be neat.

Take your time on this.

Double, triple check.

Practice on paper.

CRONK

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LAYOUT

Dave ?ronk tells 1;1s of his Cronk 3, "As of this writing, I experienced no evil handling characteristics. I have done mild intentional stalls and had no difficulty in recovering. ~~w~:::•i! :~~l:r::t 0 ;ec;m~:nd

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1 :i::du~1!!s~~re study~

See L&S 5.12,et al for an idea on trailing edge and airfoil control on another high aspect ratio sailwing.

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Cronk Kite 3 Span: 38. 6 ft.

Wt, 50 lbs. (Harness and trapeze modified ... 40 lbs.)

Pilot: (Cronk: 170 lbs.)

Area: 262 sq. ft.

Sail loading: 13. 4 oz. /sq.ft.

Dihedral: 8° Sweep: 15°; Included: 150° Wt. gross per span squared: 0. 148 ! !

Tubes: 2024-T3 or 6061-T6 Main tubes: .050" wall by 1 3/4" O.D.

Bolts, eye-bolts,cable sleeve press pliers, thimbles, and turn buckles: by mail from Wa.shingto Hardware.

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Letter # 1: Joe, my high aspect ratio Rogallo is finished.

Today, Terry Voorhees and I took it down to Ave. C, Redondo, CA., for its second day of flying.

The slope there is sandy and ice planted, 75 1 at 45°. The wind measured 10 to 11 mph at the top, on my Dwyer wind gauge. I took a run of 5 feet, as the highway is about 10' behind the edge of the slope. As soon as my feet left the ground I began a rolling turn to the left and began to gain altitude until I topped out at anywhere from 10' to 25 1 cbove the top of the crest.

The main difficulty was to avoid banging my left wingtip on the street lamp poles that run along the sidewalk. The flights along the slope were roughly 200 yards in distance. I believe my flights could extend all the way to Torrance Beach, if it weren't for the lifeguard stations at the base of the hill. This unfortunate circumstance forced me to straighten out as I was paranoid to attempt a flight over the station due to turbulent air. Also I was reluctant to attempt a 180° turn until I knew more about the turning characteristics of the ship.

However, the craft is extremely stable. {(ED:Negative lift and dive recovery characteristics are not light matters!))

The ship turns surely but slowly. My tip draggers are about 3 1/2 sq. ft. each, and I'll increase them to about 6 sq. ft. ( (ED: he hasn't yet.))

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Cockpit of Cronk #3. It is transferable to any of Dave's wings. Note the elbow rests, swing seat, shoulder-pressed levers, cushion, and width for a little C. G. change.

As soon as this system is perfected, I'll make the final version incorporating a dacron sail and perhaps a swing harness; the parallel bars add weight and are uncomfortable for long flights.

In short, I am astounded by this craft's per formance, all things considered. Who needs a flying biplane tailless or skeleton-complex sailwing to soar all day in mild conditions !

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Letter #2 (ED: Some parts of Dave's letters were digested and put into parts of the plan I have drawn up for you on the p~e~edin~ pages. Modified to tethered prone flying, this configuration type will lure many people; but PITCH INSTABILTY AT LOW AND NEGATIVE ANGLES OF ATTACK must be reckoned with before any•ne wisely flies in gusty wi~ds of over 15 mph.

Joe, This letter is in regards to the soaring flights that Terry and I have been getting with my newest Rogallo • •. this ship will not turn by shifting body weight alone. The pitch is quite easy to manipulate due to the short. keel of 13' 6" .

• • . can maintain altitude when top of slo]:f'wi.nd-speeds near 10mph.

FIFTH FLIGHT OF DAY: (See diagram at intro. to Dave Cronk, this issue) .•• until my arms began to get extremely tired of holding on to the .... the archaic hang bar system. • •••• 4 minute flight!

0 00 0 t. 0 1 The higher asi;\~.ct ratio Rogallo still needs study, but the~e are rewards for tho$t willing to seriously study and test and build.

P.S.: Joe, I have been testing models with tethered trailing edge.

Performance very similar to Miller sailwing. (continued ...•

12..8 ((ED: see Dave's letter end and sense the meaning and reality of it:)

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EIPPER·FDBMANCE FLIGHT

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SYSTEMS

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1. Volmer Jens en , our bridge from the past - self soaring sin~e 1925; VJ-11 plans called "So-lo"; shown is the VJ-23 f1:1-lly cantilevered monoplane hang-glider. Rights for mass producing the VJ-23 are available through~' 59 Dudley Ave, Venice, CA 90291; L&S will refer all serious inquiries to Volmer Jensen.

2. Irv Culver, a famous Lockheed designer, has collaborated with Volmer Jensen onthe VJ-23

"Swingwing" shown here.

3. Steve Elliott, faithful help to Taras (4); skilled Icarus flier.

4. Taras Kiceniuk, Jr., author-designer of the Icarus 1 and 2 plans. #2 shown. As seemingly indicated the weight of #2, the 'N'umber of pounds is '55' plus T.K., the weight of the pilot.

5. Katherine Kiceniuk, intrepid picniflying & Rogallo pilot.

6. Tom Dickins on, Icaroid helper, expert homopter, true pterman.

7. Dick Eipper, author of "Flex·i-Flier;, plans; one shown. His Eipper-formance Flight Systems company is serving Self-Soar Association with safe harness and hardware. Dick,president of Southern California Hang-Glider Association, affiliated with the Self-Soar Association.

8. Doug Carmichael, collegian hang-glider champion. Not shown is Bruce Carmichael, a respected ultralight aerodynamicist.

9. Chris Jones, donator of process negatives for this photograph, first to build an Icarus from Taras' plan and fly it (1~ sec.).

His wife, not shown, was the first woman to fly an Icarus. See Chris' ad as he launches a symbol application service.

10. John Havens, respected ground skimmer and safety education man.

11. Bill Liscomb, founder of 'Imperial Engine Works' and leader in the span-wise camber movement on sailwings.

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Frenchy 1 , member of the Imperial Engine Works club.

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13 .. Rose Marie Lie her, best all-around MPA trainee on Earth.

14. Lloyd Licher, loyal leader to th 7 cause of fuellass flig~t.

He has provided needed technical assistance f?r the smooth birth of several California self-soar clubs; he nas introduced selfsoaring to England, France, Germany; he introduced a proposal to his soaring organization that could have, but did not, change the course of the new personal soaring movement. We thank him for hundreds of good works that have brought us to the capability of having our Self-Soar·.

Association that will serve the very special universal needs of the experimental winged-man.

In respect for his competence, L&S er:collrages fueled-tow enthusiasts, non-self-launchers, fueled motor-driven sailplane enthusiasts, and all non-pilot-carryable-Lau;1clrn.ble enthusiasts to join the Soaring Society of America, which recently declared to itself that it "did not know enough about the hang-gliding movement to now oal-::e decisions." "Her" 1 so,,' , the new Self-Soar Association, 59 iludley Ave, Venice, CA 90291, will independently care for non-fueled towed, non-fueledpowered wings, self-pilotlaunching self-soaring and gliding and master kiting systems as well as man-powered combinations and purities; the aesthetic of experimental winged Homo sapienpterons, a universally available concept -for all men desiring-, will be the root of Self-Soar Association, It appears that there need be no conflict between the two organizations, because each will serve in different directions, one for the universal flight availability and one for limited .and more conservative flight availability with resulting differences in flight system para,neters that will make the two organizations non-competitive with each other. The new organization will serve hundreds of thousands of private, quiet, lightly burdened joyous free-flight aeronauts extreme, yet these self-soarers will only socially organize locally as they see fit or notl yet all will still receive the universal, international, and national benefits needed, if needed, for near-home fliking, self-supersoaring, and sporting.

15. Taras Kiceniuk, Sr.,

the fantastic fellow to son Taras, and an unforgettable sharer of low and slow aerodynamic savy to all who come in contact with him. Famliflying is his specialty.

16. Barbeau, Jr., age 15, thr.ee-axis control biplane h.g.erl

17. Jack Lambie, "Hang Loose" plan famed sho·11::1 he:·e with one 18.

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wing up and the other in his pocket. He ::ias popuL,rized the the modern biplane hang-gliding, yet he ccrntinues to experiment with other systeos.

Ed Barbeau, main builder of nearly hidden controlled: tailed biplane. Ed is a leader in the testing of l&s fasteners.

Steve Lewis 20. Tom Valentine, These two along with a third partner formed a team to build and complete and fly a Wright-brother type biplane as a high school project. Their successful flight at the local meet near their home remains for us a symbol of the hundreds of similar projects completed in 1971 throughout the world because of the self-launch movement.

Frank Colver, featuring his 60 11 :iodel the shown halfcovered full size 11 Skysail" self-soari:1g ptcro.,oan' s wing. He subsequently finished the wing and took his first flight at his club's 20-ship-at tended Great Lea~ Year ?arty, 1972.

22. Richard Miller, holding a self.,.-1fopersoaring model of his most fresh 'Thistledown', a precursor ·of ultimates in selfsoaring, a surpassing system over his 'Conduit Condo:'• Richard Miller, modern salf-soaring's contemplative hero,

12..,s mystique aura popularizer, writer, and so far undisputed sailwing champion. (Although, see Crank's letter this issue.)

L&S sees a fundamental technological breakthrough happening as Grant Smith's pseudo-ornithoptering (SEE SOON in L&S coming) combines with Richard Miller's wing-tip vibration notions and Dr. Lissaman 1 s wing designs. Grant Smith knows he has something very special in his own non-jointed ornithopter system; Richard Miller's strongest aerodynamic feelings point directly at reduction of induced drag via tip vibrations of some sort; and Dr. Lissaman aches for a chance to really do something most special in wings for the winged-man aesthetic. The studies and sacrifices of these men combining with the total enthusiasm of the self-soaring movement will possibly open hidden doors for a man-powered self-launcher that will truly be practical; the tip vibration energy will come from a combination of direct man-power energy and indirect manpower energy (related to energy input to the total pseudo-ornithoptering non-joint-Grant Smith wing). This system will be capable of calm air climbing flight without assist from thermals and capable of greater-than-Kremer-course non-thermal assisted distances.

At the will of the pilot, wing-camber, span-camber, wing area, and more will be greatly variable in flight. We will not have this system today ~or tomorrow, but someday.

23. Joe Faust, holding a notecard full of aharings for Low & Slow.

He encourages you to use the empty pages L&S 12.9 and 12.12 for noting how in 'Leap Year' you are going to keep editor smiling.

Some suggestions: 1. RENEW NOW 2. Have your reading friend get his own copy 3.0pen a self-soaring notebook 4. Share little and big ideas.

Not shown is the cameraman, Doug Morgan, who gave of his talents that we might have this unique portrait. Thanks.

Difficult to see in the photograph are the lighthearted spirits of the thousands of aeronauts extreme who in 1971 helped to launch the most wonderful and universal chapter of the Age of Flight .

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HANG-GLIDER SLIDE LIBRARY TRANSNOW AVAILABLE - 35...,...

COLOR

COLOR PARENCIES Of HANG-GLIDING .ltCT\VITIES. \ITTRODUC.TOR'l' SET \NCLVt>ES 2-+ COLORSL\DES ANO A SCRIPT FOR EACH SHOT.1 ALL FOR SIB.OD. - - --MORE SLIDE SETS TO COME-ALL SLIDES SOLO IN A. SET, EXCEPT FOR

0~J~~~~~~roR$,.sa ~i:c?~}I~t~G (SE.E. CENTER f"OLO IN. THIS bSUE).

VPDN. R.[QUE.ST WILL MAIL "THE SUOE "TITLES ANd E,RlEf DESCRIP-

T\Ot,l OF THE INTRODUCTORY SET AND PRICE LIST ANO FURTHER !NfbRtv\AT\ON ON FUTURE SETS.

PLEASE WRrTE. -

ODUGLAS MORGAN

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8950 t\\"TT'fHAWKAVE. LOS A.NG[LES CALIF. 9001-5

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Sliding at Kittyhawk Thank you, Douglas Morgan, for shooting our centerfold, "Year One Aeronauts Extreme". Never can such an historical self-soar sitting sit!( See ad above for its availability in slide format.)

Your editor helped Doug select a powerful, exciting, and instructive slide set. Story tellers will delight in its variety. Viewers will be moved to respect the quality and safety of the movement. Encourage your school, club, or business to invest in a set. Loan out your set. It is fair to rent the set, but not copy it, Doug tells me.

For your editor's effort in these matters, Doug has given to the Self-Soar Association two things: 1. Archive set 2. A chance to give set buyers one free slide depicting our new winged-man logo, name, address, and the free-life-membership offer.

A full script will accompany the slide set, but inquirers will get an abbreviated list of title phrases something like those given below:

Sl: Jib-sailed Tension Tetrahedral Sail wing,, Twiljgh (continued ...

SZ: Vol.r:oc:1" Jensen VJ-11 t1S0-lo 11 ing, 1941 11 S3: Fullv Cantilevered 1972 V J-23 11 Swingwing ing S4: Richard Miller self-soaring in 11 Conduit Condor" (photo by George Uveges) S5: ''Hang Loose" flight (Photo by George Uveges) S6: Self-Soar Association's Catalytic Faust testpiloting Eipper-forr:nance Flexi-Flier & harness.

S7: (This is free)

Self-Soar

Association 1 s Logo

S8: Famliflying ! Man, wife, child in a picniflying afternoon waxing the feathers on an Icarus.

Flight Sequence of Icarus #2 S9: Aggressive launch in no wind conditions.

SlO: Study. Straight glide. Turn initiated.

S 11: High bank turn. Return initiated.

S 12: Streamlining. Entrance to landing operations.

S 13: Hot entrance to ground effecting to touch-down.

S 14: Weight back, inches before too.ching Earth.

S15: Dacroned Flexi-Flier, barefooted Eipper-pilot.

S 16: Structure study; prone-launch study;Fleci.-Flier.

S17: Detail of giant view of the nose of the most popular type of hang-glider: 90° Rogallo Nose!

S18: Age 5 aeronaut, Rogallo downsloping.

S19: 11 Self-supersoaring 11 Dave Cronk 1 s winning high aspect ratio I-day super-Rogallo;study.

S20: Cronk hand-launching his unpiloted wing over the seashore telling us of our future in light wind soaring, over-water low-altitude convective air current extended self-soaring.

S2l: 11 Skysai1 11 model held for study by Frank Colver.

S22: 11 That we may experi:ment 1 ' . • • an artistic view of a substructure of Colver's full-size wing.

S23: Full-size 11 Skysail 11 planform, controls 1 position; 11 That we may be beautifully winged!"

11 S24: Directions 11 Personal. Richard Miller pointing the way to the ultimates of light-wind selfsupersoaring systems. A treasure shot.

S25: 11 The Challenge 11 1 We will share enough to self-soar as nature beckons and seems to be permitting. 1 Cronk - wing up-hill study .

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WELCOME CHRIS TALBOT-JONES His service to the movement did not start with his below-see offering of putting our new universal manflight symbol on T-shirts. Let us review. He and Vicky, his wife, have shown us one way of building and flying an Icarus wing, "A heavy experience, especially with no wind; its really down-to-earth. " He is secretary of the S. C.H. G. A. ;he worked all day as field controller at the 1971 Turkey Fly in his lrrne state.

Chris I professional training is in the arts of communication; but by his progress in his work he got away from the hand work he loves. Now, to our benefit he is again able to serve people while doing the manual arts he so much enjoys doing well.

He introduces himself in this issue by having donated the process color separations that were required for printing our fine center fold this is sue.

If you want a flying shirt or field shirt with the universal winged - man symbol which will tell people that you believe in eco-flight as well as in the future of truly personal soaring wings, then write to Chris.

The neat appearing shirt-emblem combination deserves respect by the eco-flier.

In an age of air, you can stand out among your associates as one who Hand printed T-Shirts is determined to to preserve the goodness of Earth while flying about. § § Offerings in the § § offing from Chris § § are bumper signs § § and club shoulder patches. Send him Light Blue Shirt, Dark Blue Emblem your ideas and § § desires in these § Send $ 3.50 to Chris Talbot-Jones § regards. § 134 Paseo De La Concha 'F' § Do you have a § Redondo Beach,CA '102'/'1 saying that should be a bumper sign?

State Size; Smoll,- Mecfwm o~ Lorge

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Aflo- two weeks for delivery

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ATTENTION HANG-GLIDER BUILDERS: Mail-order parts: (Not tube, foam)

Washingto,, Hardwa,·e Company 2240 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90018 Telephone: (213) 731-1176 Open: M-Sat: a:30 to 5:30 for 3¢/ft • Turnbuckles (show~) •• @25¢ 1,la 11 '5¢/ft.

Heavy duty crimping tool $2.50 Al 1 aircraft flex Tape: All are 60 yd. rolls: Fiberglass reinforced tape at 3/4" ..• $1.25 We have been the main store at 1" ••.• $1.50 for members of the S.C.H.G.A. Dark Green 11 2 wide cloth,very gummy for only $2.50 Washington White linen tape of 2",3",4" for $1.50,$2.50, and $3.50 respectively.

Santa Monica Frwy.

Nylon webbing, 2 11 wide, 6000 lbs. test, 25¢/yd.

Brass, Aluminum, Steel bolts for $1.50 lb.

Stop nuts: $2/100 #10 Aluminum tubing: $1/lb. $3/100 1/4" 2024-T3 6061-T6 $4/100 5/16" Foam sheets: 39"x79",1" $5/100 3/8" for $1.95 Travelers: Do plan to spend a full day. Plan ahead!

MAIL ORDER: Minimum $10.

Over 100 million parts for Specify. Add 10% for fitting your skywing ideal shipping costs. Excess money over 50¢ refunded.

(Editorial: If you come from No tubing nor foam out of state or upstate, do plan ahead. You will not be We have been the main disappointed.

Plan to spend supplier for members of a full day. Bring notebook!) the local chapters of the Hang Glider Association.

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§rruing This eyebolt below for 15¢

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/Z.l.0 Join the new sport in a Volmer VJ-11 "So-Lo" LEARN TO FLY ~ "First fully controlled . ~· · * Standard Aircraft controls

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-r-·.-,-,--,,-,,,_.., . *Make cost, about $100 ~tt1;t"'.t-;!1,;;~~!Jr:i!Sf2:£:f.l:J_';::/;,1±J~ifliJ.~ Send $2 for literature and specifications, 3 views, and photographs. (213-8428753) VOLMER AIRCRAFT Dept. LS 104 East Providencia Ave. Burbank, CA 91502

''BUILDlNG Tl\£ ICARUS ll" TAat.s KICEWIU\( JQ. 2s1, HIC.HVIEW

.t.LTAt>ENA., CA. C\1001

Last Minute Specials

~want Tyvek or join a local MICHIGAN CLUB? Grant Smith,5201 Grand Blvd. in Clarklake, Mich. 49234. He '11 mail Tyvek,c,.t c.os.t. *NEW FOOT LAUNCH FROM LAND ALTITUDE DROP (almost as fast as a rock)RiCORO 5,757 feet by Bill Bennett off Dante's Peak above Death Valley.

Friday, Feb. 18, 1972. 11 min., 47 seconds. Sink: 81 ft/sec.!

Path effected was along an airpath of 5.68 to 1; he probably got some thermal or ground effect help in his Delta Kite (Rogallo).

Mike Markowski hopefully will join Self-Soar· Association while he continues to write and develop his local Massachusetts club. We have some fine articles upcoming by Mike.

NO MORE FREE l!DS IN LOW & SLOW. All ads shall be paid for from l&S 13 forward at the following rate: Full page $50; Half$25; ip.$15.

No display ad smaller than i page will be accepted.

CONTESTS ONGOING IN SELF-SOAR ASSOCIATION: . . *The First to show photographic sequence of a flight that dupl1the Montgomery #1 glider:... More in coming issue. Prize! *ROGALLO AND SAILWING DIVE RECOVERY CONTEST •••• design contest.

Fine prize~ !~Lo'lvejoy for winner of this. More soon.

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Renew N•,)W.

See inside for details