August 2006 Vol. 23, No. 8 – R/C - RCSoaring.com

Team Tiltman 273.
Dean Thomas spotter and
Richard Tiltman pilot.
Photo by Joe Stagg
Products MXC. The MXC airframe is still
in the finishing stages of production.
There was much interest in how it would
perform out on course compared to the
standard SB/XC also produced by RnR
Products.
After we found a good rhythm to the lift
and terrain, we started to make some good
speed. Several teams were in our direct
vicinity which made a good game of
leap-frog as one team vehicle passed by the
other and added to the enjoyment of flying
with other teams.
Unfortunately, the weather began to cool
and what was a very sunny Northern
California valley turned to clouds and
much of the thermal activity was lost. This
caused many of the teams, including ours,
to land before completing the two hour
minimum.
Our plane suffered a small crack after
hitting the only rockpile in the field during
landing, but was quickly repaired back at
the hangars.
Team Rolle 424 completed the day with
the winning speed average of 21.65 m.p.h.
A terrific catered BBQ dinner completed
Saturday with stories of the day and many
laughs while some of the teams tried to
describe the conditions they found out on
course. A couple of full-scale sailplanes did
flybys and entertained us all. Afterwards,
teams went to their tents, motor homes,
and hotel rooms to rest up for the next
day's task.
August 2006 37