Slope Soaring - (FT Versa Wings)

by FliteTest | June 8, 2015 | (25) Posted in How To



We had the chance to do some slope soaring while visiting the West Coast recently.

This time we built some FT Versa Wings to fly on the windy coast. 

The hillside is windy and the location seems to be ideal for slope soaring.

The last time either Josh or Josh slope soared was.. over 4 years ago and both of them had no experience slope soaring.

This time, well... nothing has really changed. They still have limited experience with slope soaring, but with their FT Versa Wings in hand they're going to give it a try!

The weather was windy, but the flying conditions turned out to be perfect!

The Coast had an amazing view and we had a great time flying.

Alex took up the QAV400G to capture some air to air, but the strong winds didn't offer the best flying conditions for the quadcopter so he decided to land it and try his hand at some slope soaring with the FT Versa Wings.

Peter decided to join the fun with his FT Guinea Pig!

We didn't have much time on the windy hill, but Peter did manage to get some fun GoPro shots from the nose of his Guinea.

The FT Versa Wing is becoming a classic speed build kit for Flite Test and can be built with only 2 sheets of foam board! CLICK HERE to learn more about the Speed build kit and building information!

It was a great time for everyone to get together and fly, and the best part was... we didn't need props and motors!

Despite some hard "landings" our FT Versa Wings held up great!

Be sure to share your videos and experiences slope soaring, along with the airplanes you choose to fly with, we'd love to see them!  

 

 

 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

Related Articles

FT Versa Wing - Build

by FliteTest

Slope Soaring

by FliteTest

Flitetest Versa Wing as a Slope Soaring Glider

by 28th St. Air

COMMENTS

jrvalentin62 on June 9, 2015
Wonder how a blunt nose would do. Very cool seeing J. Scott back in action. Cheers FT!
Log In to reply
Amdaylight on June 9, 2015
Greetings,

Guys it looked like a lot of fun! Where were you at? And Josh Bix, you have to come clean what did you do to you right Hand ? ?

Andre
Log In to reply
28th St. Air on June 9, 2015
So awesome to see the Joshs together again in a video and better yet to be out here in the West sampling some of California's amazing scenery and slope soaring spots. I posted a FT article and video of a Versa Wing set up and slope session a few years ago, so it is all the more enjoyable to see you guys giving it a shot again too.
Log In to reply
Amdaylight on June 9, 2015
Second comment,

It was real good seeing both Josh's together, it's been a long time.

Andre
Log In to reply
Chocotaco101 on June 9, 2015
Great to see both of the Josh's flying together once more, hope to see it more often. Sloping looks like a blast, I'll have to find a place to try it out. I've built 6 of the flite test planes and the versa is still my favorite.
Log In to reply
pintokitkat on June 9, 2015
Disappointed not to get a related articles link, but I guess I'll get over it. http://flitetest.com/articles/versa-wing-slope-soarer
Log In to reply
abieex on June 9, 2015
This is the best episode in a long time! Great watching you guys have fun. Josh, Josh and Alex, what a trio!!!
Log In to reply
timo164056 on June 9, 2015
That looks like tick point off of hiway 1 north of the golden gate... I recognize the eucalyptus trees across the road. I learned to fly(crash) there.
Log In to reply
yehudah on June 9, 2015
peter that guinea fly's great, thank you flite test for what you give to the hobby
Log In to reply
Fishbonez on June 9, 2015
Well done.
Nice to see the original recipe back in action felt like a reunion.
Log In to reply
Bobbyr on June 9, 2015
Really great show guys, about time you went Slope soaring again .here's a Vid I did couple of years back , This is a cliff , so no landing in front option . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z4GXZ7oD1s
Bobbyr
Log In to reply
RickPeck on June 9, 2015
Nice to see the Josh's back together in an episode. Nice flying Josh Scott!

Log In to reply
apnewton on June 9, 2015
Great episode, Old Fogey can slope too (with some mods)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YQEhU0jjZ4
Log In to reply
Goose on June 10, 2015
WOW, great article, can you really slope sore with anything?? Is it harder than powered flying?? Should do more of these!!
Log In to reply
vitorbarros on June 10, 2015
Way to go Goose... look like is much easier to do that!
Log In to reply
Goose on June 12, 2015
Well if I tried it I would go through a lot less props!!
Log In to reply
vitorbarros on June 10, 2015
HAHAHAHA That was the funnyest episode ever!!
You guys inspire me!! mostly the crazyness and weirdness of Peter!!
Can't wait to see the DYNAMIC SOARING episode!
Good jod you guys! keep it up!
Log In to reply
JeffCovert on June 11, 2015
If you are in the Phoenix area, let me know and I will show you how to slope soar the right way.
In heavy winds, you need a big heave bird. That is why the Ginny was doing so much better than the versas.
Glad to hear you did some research, but you need to fly with someone that knows how to do this, to get in the zone and fly...
Log In to reply
FliteStudent on June 11, 2015
And we see that the Ginny still flys without a nose ;-). Great video!
Log In to reply
Epitaph on June 11, 2015
Looks like you really had a good time sloping out there, did great this time, especially as it's something you're not at all used to. It can be a little intimidating at first, but once you're up there and comfortable (as JS found out) it's really very relaxing and great fun.
Log In to reply
xtrmtrk on June 12, 2015
I loved this episode - my favorite in a very long time. It looked like all of you were having a great time out there, and as always, good to have JS's personality back in the mix.

I hope the fun you were having there increases the odds of there being a FliteFestWest in the Bay Area. I'd be there in a minute.
Log In to reply
Aero_Tech_Master on June 20, 2015
Hey where you guys are in California or by nearby there's this town and it's completely ignorant to the world of RC and I am in the middle of it. It is called Lodi and nicknamed little Mexico. I have two verse wings one in empty frame the other a pusher, and the repair process is long due to ministry at the church.
Log In to reply
Aero_Tech_Master on June 20, 2015
Whoops not where, when

Log In to reply
rickdal on November 26, 2015
Cool vid! I am also wondering if the location is next to the overlook in Muir Beach. I grew up there and it looks like it.
Log In to reply
fredskidoo on December 15, 2015
Hey Peter -
I really started noticing your a real natural at flying when you dominated the updraft during the filming of this episode (just north of San Francisco) every bit of it was peripheral and hilarious - you carried this episode and made it a kick to watch - plus that up in my neighborhood that y'all guys were bustin' on... monster flying Peter!

Easy,
Ethan
Log In to reply
Sellevh on April 12, 2016
Nicely done guys,
What electronics setup did you use? What ESC? And How did you connect it to the reciever?
Thanks in advance !
Log In to reply
John_01 on May 13, 2016
Hi folks... i downloaded the plans of the Versa and build it. after some struggeling with the corntrolhorns (still not happy about them) i had a blast from the first moment i thrown this wing into the wind .. Greetings from The Netherlands ... John
Log In to reply

You need to log-in to comment on articles.

FliteTest

(91)

Slope Soaring - (FT Versa Wings)