Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson
Soaring
Radio-controlled soaring is one of my major hobbies. I started flying small electric-powered airplanes in the Spring of 2001 with the aid and tutelage of my buddy David, and soon enough “graduated” to the majestic art of thermal-hunting with radio-controlled sailplanes (né gliders). I have built a number of planes and have also done of number of ancilliary projects related to radio-controlled flight in general. Below you can browse my exploits in this hobby, and for further information on the hobby you can check out my local club's website: LouisvilleSoaring.org, which I designed and developed.
Handlaunch
Planes
Currently in Rotation
Thermal Duration
Big gliders, normally about 10' in wingspan. Meant for thermal hunting!
- JW Onyx - My first molded sailplane!
- EZ Bubble Dancer - The Polecat EZ Bubble Dancer, big brother to the Allegro-Lite
- Aegea Mantis - Mantis with a Phil Barnes Aegea wing
Slope
Heavy, shorter-winged gliders meant for flying off of steep hills. Go fast!
- The Bat - All EPP foam dynamic slope soaring machine.
- CombatWings XR - All EPP foam, all-purpose slope soaring / combat flying wing.
- Polecat Aero Hammerhead - One-design slope racer
Hand Launched Gliders
60’ gliders weighing under 10oz, thrown from the wingtip to about 150' in the air.
- XP-5 - Composite Discus-Launch Glider
- SideWinder II - Polecat Pinko discus launched glider!
- XP-3 - Composite Discus-Launch Glider
In the Rafters
- Red Herring - Micro EPS foam side-arm launched glider.
Met Untimely Deaths
- Allegro-Lite
- Built-up ultra-light ultra-strong 2-meter RES - Majestic - built-up 3-meter RES
Sold or Passed on
- Citation - 120" bagged v-tail ship. Built in Kentucky!
- Spirit Elite - 2-meter ARF, full-house trainer
Projects
- Travel Boxen - Cheap, sturdy boxes to pack your planes.
- Workbench - If you work on models, you need a big, flat work area. These are easy to construct and light on the wallet
- PVC flight stand - All PVC plane stand for a couple of bucks.
- Lost Model Alarm - DIY microprocessor controlled Lost Model Alarm.