Oct - Rcsoaring.com

CampbelLGreg Potter, mrgregpotter@hotmail.comMy wife and I are raising a guide dog puppyfrom the South Australian Royal Society for the Blind(RSB). We got him when he was nine weeks old andnow he is nine months old and near fully grown. He is ablack Golden Retriever/Labrador cross especially bredfor the RSB and his name is Campbell.I took him to the flying field for a practicesession some months ago so he could have a run in thepaddock and maybe see some farm animals (usuallysheep).When I walked to retrieve the winch line hewould trot along with me and then when I picked upthe parachute he would try and grab it from me, so I lethim carry it. At that age he was not strong enough topull the line back against the friction of the winch andthe turnaround pulley, so I would take the strain and lethim carry the chute.After about three sessions like this he had growna bit stronger and was able to pull the line back underhis own steam.Now he does the whole retrieve on his own.When I am about to launch he sits at my feet with hiseyes fixed on the parachute. Once I have launched hesits looking towards the turnaround until he sees thechute floating to the ground. Once he has spotted it heheads off at full gallop, grabs the chute and returns itto the winch.If I am flying with a hi-start he does the sameand he is now strong enough to stretch the line backto the point where I launch from.Frank Slaughter took these photos of Campbell atour recent local club RES competition.n78 R/C Soaring Digest