Dream-Flight Alula Evo, Instruction Manual

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ALWAYS check with other pilots present to check for a conflicting radio frequency before turning on
your transmitter and attempting to fly.
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Treat the land and its occupants with the utmost of respect.
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Fly glider a safe distance away from any individuals present.
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Have fun and enjoy the sun and wind!
Slope Soaring, also known as ridge soaring, may be one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to
experience the thrills of R/C soaring flight. The glider sustains flight by utilizing updrafts created when wind
is deflected upward by any sizeable land feature (hill, mountain, cliff, large building, row of trees, etc).
Flatland Soaring with the Alula can be extremely rewarding; however, a certain amount of skill is required
to sustain flight at low altitudes using rising bubbles of warm air known as thermals (caused by the sun’s
heating of the earth’s surface). Navigating thermals, which tend to be inconsistent and turbulent near the
ground, makes for a good challenge. A good way to think of hand-launched thermalling is “sky fishing,”
since a typical flight consists of a quick side-arm launch to altitude, a nose over of the glider to level flight,
and then off to search for a thermal. The majority of flights will to be short (15-30 seconds), but if you
persist, you will eventually hook a nice thermal and gain altitude for an extended flight. Below are a few
tips that will make mastering the art of near-ground thermalling a bit easier:
► Tune into your surroundings … Watch for birds! Listen to and feel for sudden yet subtle changes in the
wind and air temperature. Soaring birds often appear miraculously when a thermal is present. Look for
groups of swallows or sparrows picking rising insects out of the air as a thermal passes by. Oftentimes
the wind will change suddenly and the temperature will rise a few degrees as a thermal passes through.
A thermal is like a large vacuum and will suck surrounding air towards it, so a sudden change in wind
direction usually indicates that a thermal is near and probably downwind of your location.
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A thermal generally tries to push a soaring aircraft or bird away from its core where the lift is best.
Thus, the pilot has to work constantly to keep the glider centered within the thermal for the best chance
of gaining altitude. Note that the lower the altitude, generally the harder it is to core a thermal, so
you’ll have to concentrate and pay close attention to the signals your glider is giving you as it responds
to the quickly changing dynamics of the growing thermal. A sign that a thermal might be very close is if
you notice your glider suddenly being pushed or turned away from its current path. The common
technique is to immediately steer against and turn towards the invisible force that is pushing you away
from the rising air. So, you’ll most likely have to make constant control corrections to force your way into
the thermals core, since the thermal will do its best to spit you out into the sinking air that surrounds the
thermal.
► Time of Day is very important when it comes to flatland soaring with small, lightweight, hand-launched
gliders. Usually, the best time is middle to late morning before the wind starts to pick up. As the winds
increase in the afternoon, it becomes more difficult to navigate thermal lift and conditions often get
“blown out.”
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Location is crucial when it comes to thermal soaring. Our best suggestion is to keep your eyes peeled
for soaring birds. They will always find the best lift! Just because a location looks good does not mean
you will find good updrafts there. Local wind patterns and topography have a large influence on the
soarability of locations and may cause a great-looking field to have turbulent and/or sinking air
currents. If you see birds soaring, not constantly flapping their wings, good chances are you’ve found a
viable soaring location.
OK, now you are ready to give it a go. We wish you good luck, good lift, and happy soaring!
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