Bird of Time if built as Dave Thornburg suggested with "on the fly" servo adjustable CG, including easily ballastable bay, on the fly adjustable angle of attack wing mechanicisim, equipped with easily adjustable launch hook, a full flying elevator, and non-balanced rudder is a formidable sailplane! Nostologic, sheer beauty, instantly recognizable, always a flight line attractive sailplane! 40 year ago technology still cutting edge concepts! I have done much research and study of Dave's masterpiece! I have never had opportunity/time to scratch build one, however I have had the pleasure of making a few modification's for friends! Thank you for sharing!
Here, it’s Thursday, 12:18am, and 93 F with a forecast high later today of 107; down from the recent highs of 112-115. These last few weeks have been challenging. I’m not complaining- simply quantifying a few of the contrasts your videos present. Anyway, these calming , peaceful images of your B.O.T. floating overhead are the perfect calmative Rx to reset my outlook! Thank you for sharing with us all.
John, that was one of the prittiest Bird of time I have ever seen, great covering job WoW!! So smooth flying they just hang on every puff of upward moving air ... Such fun to watch !! Thanks John enjoyed your helpers two hands over the leading edge launch unique ... I've never tried it 😃 what a team !!! Hey wait a minute if she's launching who's filming? ?? Ha haah oh dear me my belief mechanism in the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy just got compromised ... Crap .. 🤗😁🌹so glad you have someone that is with you when you fly .. too cool green with envy!? Keep flying together, i love it ..
What a beautiful film! I wish I could fly my (real) Sunbird on that slope, elliptical surfaces are so stirring... but I can't complain about today's thermals on my flat field, had to bail out into sink for fear of specking out. Forty years ago Thornburg created two classics which will never grow old. This is one superb BoT!
John, you have two very beautiful ladies, your wife and B.O.T. The music fits very well with both. I have a B.O.T. Don't fly it much now days unless I use a motor pod. Not as much fun as slop flying. I live Georia, USA. It is flat here and would have to drive about 100 miles to find a slope. Take care and enjoy.
Thank you. A glider like this one is fairly easy to fly as it only has rudder and elevator control. It is pretty stable and will fly in light winds. Faster, more aerobatic models can be harder to fly.
@@Farmer2492 the biggest one I’ve built was a 5 meter scale Minimoa, but I made that for a friend. The biggest one I have at the moment is probably the Leprechaun.
Oh what a classic/beautiful glider! Was it Tower Hobbies back in the mid-70s where I go all my stuff? I never built a Bird of Time but always lusted over its pretty lines.
Now here's something to ponder. What if...... What if the Wright brothers had been handed one of your gliders intact with the working radio control system? What sort of quantum leap of technology and aviation would have sprung from that? BTW, beautiful plane and attractive launch system!
Impressive span-to-length ratio. As usually, great build, fine settings, the result is smooth and (looks) easy. Makes me wonder if you installed some kind of flight control device ?
@@citicolina : makes sense. Although originally a free flight glider, I felt it was way too tame to be free. Of course I meant a flight stabilizer but John does not need it.
I'm continually amazed that you seem to be the only person using this slope. Any empty houses nearby? I may have to renew my passport. As usual, well done with an excellent helper.
@@SlopeRCGliders You fly so well, I figured you were already teaching. I flew off the high start years ago, but watching you handle the wind is poetry.
Running out of superlatives for your gliders! Will you settle for WOW!!. Stick gluing is about to commence at our house, a Quaker Flash. Sorry, I know, its not a glider, but for someone who built original KeilKraft models as a youngster............…… Stay safe!
I can’t remember the exact weight off the top of my head but I did try and build it as light as possible. The original plans show some ply reinforcement on the rear fuselage which I didn’t use. They also show a sold rudder which I was able to build lighter. I think it can out at about 1.1kg balanced and ready to fly.
Curt Rice Hi there. I live in Perranporth U.K. I’m lucky that the slope in the video is just a short walk from my house. All my videos are along the same bit of coastline.
@@SlopeRCGliders I did a satellite map search of your home town and area around you, it truly looks like glider heaven. Do lots of people take advantage of the area?
Curt Rice all of the local fliers go to St Agnes Head which is about 4 miles further down the coast. It’s got a huge landing area and a car park right where you fly from. I don’t often go there as it means using my car..
