Willow SOR -be the First!

I have 2 spare Willow SOR models in my first batch of models.  I'd like to hear from other pilots about the model as well as my own thoughts- I've loved the prototype model.

To help get you in the air the models are for sale at £475 shipped in the UK.

Ian

comparing the new wing with the old

  A fine evening and a few minutes has given me the time to snap the new SOR wing wing next to the Willow 2.

  It's always hard to do these shots justice but you can see the tapering of the new wing and the straight line of the hinging on the wing.

  It's when you get into the aileron compartment that the thinner wing tips become more obvious, with less room towards the back of the bay due.

  With the Willow 2 such a good flying and performing model I'm getting organised to get the SOR flying as soon as I can.

A new arrival to get me out

  It certainly seems like spring has been taking it's time to give me chances to fly that do not clash with family commitments!  Lack of flying doesn't mean that I've not been busy and this week the first fruits of arrived in the usual over sized box.

  The New SOR wing has arrived along with the fuselages and tail to match and the extended wing joiner to link it all together.

Wing ballast tubes will see the model's ballast capacity to towards the 2Kg mark and more than compensate for the weight saved by getting the wing weight down to 682g on these 2 panels.  A strange combination of more ballast and less dry weight of the model but you have to love the challenge!

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  Some more subtle changes to the planform have the hinge line running straight and the TE curving forwards- particularly towards the slimmed down tips.  Even subtle changes like these have needed a whole new set of molds to be made and that's not an investment to be made lightly.  The series of changes all add up to a further performance step on the already competitive performance of our other models.

  My motivation to get in the workshop again and get the SOR flying is right back!

Back to Racing

  It’s been a long while since I had a full day pass which was on the same day as a race.  Long enough to forget how cold Northerly winds can be in the Welsh Winter!

 The wind was only a breeze but on the icecream Slope this can be a good thing.  With the fun I’d been having with the Merlin lately I was tempted to race it but the Willow 2 has been such a performer I had to try it first.

  I was in some good company flying some very expensive models but all day the Willow 2 was ‘up there’.  A couple of mistakes on the downwind base were the only real sign of my lack of racing and the Willow 2 showed how much it likes to be brought around the turns with the snap flap working.

  It was strange to see Simon get such bad air that he was brought back to the status of Human (I am sure that sacrifices will be offered to the lift gods before the next race).  Weather it was PitBull, Fosa Willow or Freestyler, when the lift came on you went fast and if it wasn’t you didn’t.

  A good days racing! Pictures when I get a chance and more racing to come this year.

Spring time models

Thanks to everyone who contacted me.  The models are sold.  I am planning to bring some more of these models in soon.

I'll keep you up to date and any other news

Now I might even be able to get out racing at the weekend!

2 spring time models for sale

I'm clearing out the garage for spring time and I have 2 models to clear out.  Both are brand new un built and in the red/white/blue colour scheme.

They're priced at £350 each.

a Merlin f3f

and a

Merlow  Merlin fuselage and tail fitted with a willow 1 tail.

a beautiful days flying and learning

It does seem a very long time since I got out flying at all . Even longer since we had such a clear winters day for it. The story o t day was going from one doh and learning To the next but totally loving the day

When your packing the car and you think 'I didn't know I had 2 spare wing joiners' you havent- a when you arrive at th slope this will mean you won't be flying the willow 2.

 Having the merlin to fly and carve around was an absolute bonus. I remember Martin telling me how good and easy it was to EM turn, I think I might actually have managed it. This had me adding far more ballast for the conditions compared to normal.

 Only frozen figures stopped me as old father foam arrived.

So no practise but mark treble is more than carrying the wil flag in the winter leagues. I just get to have fun!