RCSD-2013-03 - Rcsoaring.com

The Vip Team’s GraecalisI used to go fly at Monte Cucco in theearly eighties, along with my friends fromRome that already flew those quarterscale “orchids,” as the Germans callthem, of 3,75 to 4 metres of wingspan.Huge gliders, we thought in those times.I was a beginner then, but I enjoyedflying there because of the wide anduncluttered landing space.The first deltas and paragliders weretimidly flying there and none of us wouldhave imagined that in a few years thosehang gliders would have colonized themountain, open the National flying schooland impair the access to anyone else.Then, about ten years ago, the municipaladministration persuaded the School togrant one week-end per year to modelflying. It was an instant success, but theplanning was lame and it did not lastlong.Fortunately, three years ago, RobertoRanocchia and Gianluca Fazi tookcharge of the organization and, thanksto the kindness of the authorities and theactive collaboration of FIAM (the italianequivalent to AMA), they were able toorganize a meeting worthy of its name.In 2012 it took place over a four dayspan, from June 28th to July the 1st.Four wonderful days with nearly idealconditions that allowed us to fly from thesouth slope, far more spectacular, andsomewhat easier, than the north onewhich we flew from in the previous twoyears.There were 86 participants, with 125people at the Saturday buffet. Comparedto the previous edition, during whichthe vast majority of models were mainlyaerobatic (a lot of Stingrays and L-213A),this year, with less extreme conditionsand more thermal activity, we hadthe pleasure to see a greater varietyof gliders. The aerobatic types havealways played a leading role, this yearwith two remarkable new entries: theBhyon designed by Giulio Cornia andthe outstanding Graecalis by Michele,Gianmarco and Stefano, the so calledVIP Channel Team.The 2013 edition of the Monte CuccoMeeting will have a more internationalflavour as we are expecting entrants fromthe nearby european countries. NowI leave you to the beautiful photos byFabio Fasciani that are worth a thousandwords, and illustrate the wonders ofthose four unforgettable days.This article was originally published inModellismo, September-October 2012,Cesare de Robertis, Editorial Director.Our sincere thanks to Cesare for allowingthis English version of the article toappear in RC Soaring Digest.30 R/C Soaring Digest