Where will it end? Who knows, but I am sure there will be a lot off development along the way.

For many, the thought of HLG is small models on 27mhz, 2 channels and 15 - 30 second flights.

Guys it has changed! There are now as many 4 servo models turning up in competitions as 2 servo's, and they are at no disadvantage at all.

Let's have a look at how things have moved in the last few years.

Traditionally, HLG's were polyhedral designs that relied on just rudder and elevator controls. This was necessary because of the then available construction techniques and radio gear. There was nothing that you could regard as mini, far less micro, unless you get into a discussion about the dresses that the distractions wore in those days.

Ah yes, the good old days. Enough, enough, you'll go blind.

However it was considered something of a miracle if you got a model weighing less than 16 ozs.Nowadays with the modern micro gear and materials 8 ozs is closer to the norm. for 2 channels.4 servo models were just not a consideration a few years ago, the weight increase was too much and the servos would be hanging out in the wind, if you had gear that could operate separate wing servos.

Around 5 years ago Joe Wurts (you've heard of him) and a few others started experimenting with aileron equipped models and started winning major competitions with them. They had gone over to the low camber airfoils like RG15 and been able to build models down to 4 oz - 5 oz /sq.ft. wing loading.

What had happened? Why were they able to do this? How could we do it?

All questions that we asked ourselves but quickly overruled by saying it must have been luck. How wrong we were. Their successes continued, even against all the then best HLG pilots flying in the major Californian contests. So what were the obvious differences?

Were there any disadvantages? Well some people looked upon the extra expense of two more servos as a major stumbling block, but if you want an advantage in a competition then you will find the money and the justification, I think every modeller has been in that situation before. It also required better radio gear, preferably computerised to take the benefits and use them. Again justifying the expense of new gear poses a problem for most but competition pilots always find a way. The weight will go up, true then, not really now when servos are being weighed in grams rather than ounces.

New batteries to power the extra servos. There is great development being made in the capacity of the modern rechargeable cells so the flight duration should not be affected significantly. OK the battery duration drops when you add extra servos but it is easy enough to recharge or exchange the pack when the first one goes a bit low. Competitions are held in rounds so there is plenty time to charge or change between times.

Were there any real advantages? As I said, the use of low camber sections was beginning to become popular, this when combined with low all up weight, was allowing a faster glide. They still maintained a flat glide and this combination enabled the pilots to range over a larger piece of sky in search for the lift. The thinner low camber wings had another advantage, they could be thrown higher due to the low drag, then with around 1/16" camber dropped in the RG15 would hang as good as the SD7037, the magic new thermal section. The difference in throw height between a normal 2 channel model and the 4 channel equivalent is quite significant though at first it might not seem so. The gain is likely to be in the region of 10 feet for an average thrower, which can be as much as a 25% increase. Even with the same glide angle at a higher speed there is quite an advantage, but being able to alter the camber and thereby the hang time you should be able to outfly the opposition in average conditions. The other advantage was that of instant response to control input, the aileron equipped models would respond to every little bit of lift and then be able to turn into it straight away. There is always more of a time lag when flying rudder/ elevator models and with low, small thermals that could be all the time you need to catch or miss that thermal.

Not important in the competition scene but for fun flying, the aileron model is far more aerobatic, and this opens up a whole new spectrum to the models.

So it looked very like you could have every thing you wanted in one model. But there's more.

Lately people have been unhappy with just 4 servos and are changing over to 6 servos, yes 6 to control their models. As in F3B, F3J and all the other F classes flaps are being added to the models to control the landing approaches, so that the models can be stopped dead and dropped onto the spot or straight into the hand. They are truly amazing to see, going from flying speed to stationary in around 5 -10 feet, then just descending at 60 -80 degrees straight into the pilots hand.

You will probably have guessed from my rantings that I am in favour of the 4-6 servo models, I like them, but I do have a couple of very good r/e's as well.

It is up to the individual to make up their own mind whether they think there is a major advantage or not. Sure there are times when a good r/e model will outfly an aileron model, same as when a 100's will beat an open class, but this is what makes it interesting. If every thing in gliding was too cut and dried it would not be nearly as much fun.

SUCCESSFUL FLYING!