Kestrel
17
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The
majestic "KESTREL 17" is truly the flag-ship of our fleet.
Accurately replicated from the history making "Glasflugel"
full size 17 metre high performance sailplane, our scale
version is similarly a classic by now. Its bold elegant
lines are high-lighted by its long, gleaming, plexiglass
canopy, which comes to you ready trimmed to fit. The kit
contains an extensive inventory including a beautifully
finished white fibreglass fuselage, clear canopy, ready to
laminate foam cores, long wing tube/spar system, torque tube
spoiler hardware (front hinged style), and many other basic
hardware items such as pushrod drives. The builder needs to
have a reasonable background in model construction, because
some of the construction items are to be scratch built. The
Instruction Manual is extensive (100 pages) with an
abundance of technical drawings and illustrations. Material
required to complete this kit are the adhesives, all the
balsa for the foam cores, and miscellaneous small hardware
items used for servo installations, and control connections.
The builder also needs to supply the wheel and undercarriage
detail, and wood for making canopy frame and console and
also, if necessary, any scale items such as pilot,
instruments etc.
As for installation of full house R/C equipment; you can see that the extremely large cockpit area permits uncluttered installation and access to everything. Accommodation of extra servos is shown to operate, if so desired, optional control accessories such as retractable wheel, retractable tow-release, and flaps. Despite this apparent complication, this ship can be rigged in minutes. The canopy extends back over the wings to reveal quick connection of ailerons and spoilers as well as the wing retaining rubber bands.
In flight the Kestrel provides the best in overall performance, whether off the slope or off the line. Its long wing of moderate chord, coupled with its higher wing loading, means that it is benefiting from increased Reynolds number operation. On stronger days the performance margin is most apparent. High inter-thermal cruise at eye-opening LD's, plus an excellent thermalling ability, make the Kestrel truly exciting to fly. Yet the Kestrel is not difficult to fly. Its proven aerofoil design with change of section, camber and washout, provide for a stall characteristic that is soft and straight ahead. Tip stalls must be deliberately induced. Its docile stability, majestic steadiness in flight, and crisp control response, make it very easy to handle.