An Astonishing Thing . . .
Won Over By Reality
By Tim Bayer
BRIGHTON New York—(Weekly Hubris)—1/21/2013—Last week, in this space, I shared a funny video. This week, I came across something I found . . . astonishing.
I’d not seen a model aircraft competition before, so I was unprepared for the current state of the technology and the pilots’ skill. Thus, I found the flying of this competitor, R. J. Gritter, to be graceful, creative and flat-out amazing. Gritter’s aerial acrobatics appear to defy some of the laws of aerodynamics.
If, like me, you thought you knew what aerobatics were possible using a model airplane, take two minutes to be . . . astonished.
Tim Bayer
Tim Bayer, Webmaster, and Assistant Editor of Weekly Hubris, was born and brought up in Webster, New York. He attended St. Bonaventure University, earning a BS in Computer Science, and then worked in the hi-tech world. In 2002 he turned his creative energies to product development and video production with the release of his first independently produced products. When the demand for web site design and freelance writing increased, he once again switched skill sets . . . to writing and web work. An avid or, to be more accurate, rabid, disc golfer, he may often be found chasing plastic while in pursuit of the perfect round on a disc golf course, or designing and developing disc golf products for Demogrid.com. He says he tries to find the humor hidden in everyday experiences, because, “life is too important to be taken seriously.” (Author photo by Tim Bayer. Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)
2 Comments
Mark Wallace
Incredible ! as if it had forward and Reverse !
tbayer
Yes – that is completely accurate. With the electric motors they can reverse the propeller to make it “push” the plane backwards.
The other physics related factor is that the planes are made of foam and are extremely light. Hence they have amazing Thrust to Weight ratios.
I did some quick research and learned that some of the foam RC planes have Thrust to Weight ratios of 1.5-to-1, 2-to-1 or as high as 2.5-to-1. That is how they can easily climb vertically, hang vertically and even back up in the air.