I’ve gotten a bunch of requests about the plane in the intro section of this site which is currently Carl Mass’s Aerostream flying at Soar Utah. Dan Sampson is the guy who is fulfilling the kit orders for the Slope/Aerostream as well as several other Slope Scale designs by Brian Laird. Check out his site at:
Also check out RC Groups for information on our ISR’s newest project, the F-84. Dan is starting to roll out some short kits which are available for sale. In addition, he is also working on a Lancair. Slope version! The prototype is about 90% complete. Can’t wait!
http://www.rcgroups.com/inland-slope-rebels-221/
Wing Span: 36 in Wing Area: 375 sq in Weight: 11.5 ounces
Controls: Elevons Minimum radio requirements: Elevon mixing with dual rates and/or ATV (Adjustable Throw Volume) Installed Radio: Hitec Electron 6 receiver, HS-81MG servos and 270 mah NimH battery. JR 8103 transmitter.
The Weasel is a breeze to build. It took me about 4 hours. I think I could have shaved a good hour off that but I used UltraCote (Oracover) to cover it. The tape method is faster although I much prefer the finish of the Ultracote. If you have built a foam wing in the past this plane will present no problems. If this is your first EPP plane then the instructions are some of the best I have seen. You can preview the plans on the flyweasel.com website.
What’s it made of?
The Weasel wing is made from 1.3 lb per sq/ft density EPP foam The wing set has the servo bays and spar notches pre-cut even the hotwire residue has been removed!
The nose pod is made from 1.9 lb per sq/ft density EPP foam with factory-cut battery and receiver compartments.
The balsa elevons are delivered pre-beveled for hinging.
The kit also includes, wood spars, a CoroplastTM fin, a hardware package and a very thorough construction manual (also available on line at www.flyweasel.com this came in handy when I took the kit on vacation and forgot the instructions)!
As noted on the Weasel website: In order for the Weasel to maintain the flight characteristics, micro size radio equipment is required to keep the weight down. The Weasel is a very pitch sensitive aircraft and therefore requires dual rates or ATV (Adjustable Throw Volume) on at least the elevator channel (channel #2 in most cases). Most computer radios have this function. Unfortunately, the inexpensive 2 and 3 channel radios with just v-tail mixing do not have these sensitivity adjustments, making it difficult to fly the Weasel with them. So please invest in a radio with dual rates and/or ATVs. If you already have a Hitec Focus III and are determined to use it, there is a modification that you can make that will cut down the control throws on the elevator.
Flying the Weasel
Bottom line for the Weasel is does it perform? Yes! Michael Richter designed the Weasel as a lightweight flying wing that is extremely maneuverable, yet forgiving. The Weasel’s design features give it a wide speed range, great hands-off stability, and agility.
I have flown the Weasel in winds conditions ranging from about 4 to 25 mph. One addition I still plan to do is make provisions for ballast. I have flown it on a lot of hills from 15 foot high “speed bumps” to 500 foot pristine slopes in South Dakota and it handles them all well.
The Weasel is very aerobatic in the hands of an accomplished pilot. Inverted flight is excellent, roll rate is fast loops are great both inside and outside. This is a super plane! With the control sensitivities turned down, and the CG moved forward, it can be great for beginners as well. It lets me fly when I otherwise could not and at slopes that are not suitable for any other plane. All this in a 36-inch span glider that stows anywhere!
While this review is a couple of years old I felt it still needs a place on the site. Note that the release of the New Weasel EVO is coming very soon! Happy Days!
If you read these pages at all you’ll know that the Richter Design Weasel is among my favorite RC slope planes. Every RC pilot ought to own at least one. I now have two with the recent completion of my Weasel Pro.
I picked up my Weasel Pro on the way through Santa Barbara last year when I stopped by at Michael’s then shop in the garage of his family’s home. Recently Michael built a standalone shop to improve production and to keep us all in Weasels!
Michael updated the original Weasel design a while back bringing us the Weasel Pro. He uses new materials and construction methods to make this little sloper even better. Some re-working of the original Weasel design seems to have improved both the axial roll and the inverted flight characteristics when compared to my original Weasel.
Good wind and a reasonably warm weekend for this time of the year brought out 6 Milwaukee area slopers for only the second get together of the year. While a few of us have had some individual flights, having a good group of guys together makes it more fun to fly!
Dave and Ben started out at Concordia but the wind was more north than predicted so the call was made to meet at Big Bay Park. Greg, Michael, Mirko and Russ met the early crew there.
It was a day for Weasels and wings. Maybe in anticipation of the upcoming MidWest Weasel (Whatever) Fest! There were at least 3 Weasels, a Moth a couple of Bees, a Slope Monkey and a Mini Conmbat Wing.
Greg Mirko and Russ
Russ made it out after a hiatus of sorts. We haven’t seen much of him at the slope recently. Must be those Ducattis taking up valuable flying time. Russ had his well traveled Moth and I think the flying may have rekindled his interest. As a side note, check out Russ’s website that may be of interest if you are in the Milwaukee area. The Putt Putt Boat.
The event was held the weekend of April 25th and 26th in and around Milwaukee, WI mostly at the AstroWings Omega Hills, Germantown Slope.
We a GREAT Pilots Raffle with domations including:
Jack Cooper of Leading Edge Gliders kicked of the “Generous Donation” portion of the 2009 MWWF pilot raffle prize list. After initially offering a size SMALL 2007 LEG Slopefest shirt, we beat him up and he is now graciously donating a 48-Inch Fat Albert! Thanks, Jack!
$79 value with shipping!
The good folks at Off The Edge – makers of the Zipper, Scorpion, etc.- have donated a Wasp kit.
$80 value with shipping!
AstroWings of Wisconsin is donating an LEG Prairie Dog Combat Wing.
$49.00 value with shipping!
Plus more, probably!
Wyoming Wind Works – Slope Monkey Kit!
$61.95 value with shipping!
slopeflyer.com and LEG – 4 disc DVD set – “EPP Building Clinic”
$59.95 value with shipping!
Bad Brad Graphics – $50 Gift Certificate for Vinyl cutting
$57.00 value with shipping!
Paul Naton / Radio Carbon Art – 2 Slope Soaring Videos!
$50 Plus value with shipping!
We are in the middle of moving the shop…all the way next door. It is something of a sashay more than a move as I have to get the other tenant to move half their stuff out, paint and prep the first half of the new space, move my stuff in and then get the second half of their stuff out. What fun!
In the end we will have a more useful space that will allow me to combine a couple of projects and have a good-sized common area that can expand or contract depending on the work.
Stephen form the West Sydney Slope Soarers sent in this note about an event in Austrailia.
I’m the President of the WSSS and just wanted to get the word out about that the WSSS have secured the use of Mt Borah near Tamworth NSW for Manilla Slope Fest 09 September 20th to the 28th. Site information can be found here http://www.flymanilla.com/Home/tabid/139/Default.aspx.
This will be the inaugural event and we plan on making it an annual get together. We already have 1 huge event In January at Camperdown in Victoria but having to wait 12 months for a get together of slope flyers we thought we would do a little research and came up with this site. It’s actually a Parra and Hang glider site where they do there record attempts for cross country and they held the 2007 Parra Gliding World Championships there. It has 4 huge launch sites covered with astro turf making the perfect runway for scalies.
So, there it is, it’s open to all flyers not just Aussie ones could be that perfect slope /family holiday in Australia for some of our international slope brothers and sisters.
For any other information regarding the slope fest our West Sydney Slope soarers home page will carry updates regarding the progress of the event.
Wings over Wilson (WOW) is proud to host MWSC 2009 May 14th – 17th at Wilson Lake Kansas.
Registration and Open flying will be on Thursday with events planned beginning Friday morning and continuing Saturday and Sunday as weather permits. There will be the traditional awards banquet on Saturday night in Lucas.
The 2009 MWSC will be the 16th annual contest. The MWSC was hosted by the Lincoln Area Soaring Society (LASS) for the first 11 years. Beginning in 2005 WOW has taken the torch. WOW is a loosely knit group of Lake Wilson slopers interested in continuing the traditions of the MWSC.
If you have questions or comments contact Erik Eaton WOW President at 785-625-7660 or, eewyoming@ruraltel.net or Larry Purdy WOW Vice-President at 785-483-3385 or gofly@ruraltel.net.