John Wighton Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Due to the interest in the Alpina Magic which was recently on the forum For Sale pages l thought l'd start a discussion by showing my last one (see pic). I got the original one in the late 80's, it was 4m and flew at around 13-14 oz/sqft loading. I optimistically fitted it with a RS hook and tried to bungee it. That was not too successful unless it was pretty windy. Hand towing needed a fit and fast person, we never thought of dual towing in those days. It came into it's own on the slope. The picture is of (a younger) me in July 1992 in Verbier. The day before was 20 degC sunny and lovely, overnight it snowed (such is the fickle alpine weather) and we had some snow. The wind was apparently good for the southern bowl but 5 secs after chucking it off l realised there was a huge curle-over. Today l guess people DS in these conditions - l made a slopeside landing and had a 40 min retrieve (no damage). The main problem with the Alpina was getting it down (when the wind is blowing up the slope). Without servos in the wings you had to rely on the spoilers. Nowadays most of them are fitted with wing servos for reflex aileron which helps dump the lift. I sold off my original and immediately regretted it, seeing one come up in the For Sale site was good news. I intend to FPV (and possibly electrify) my new one (collecting it tomorrow from Jerry). The mag l am holding is Silent Flight - they used to invite people to send in pictures with a copy of their mag. JW 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil.Taylor Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Good luck with the new Alpina I had fun a couple of years ago with a battered old Alpina & a DG500 fuselage which shared the same wings. Unfortunately destroyed due to radio failure. Links to forum pages below: Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Good stuff John. I think the ASW 22 uses the same wings, mine flies very solidly at 18.5 oz/sq ft. Cheers Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wookman Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Back in the early eighties as a poor apprentice I dreamed of owning an Alpina. The chance eventually came a couple of years ago through an add on BMFA. That one is still on the bench undergoing a radio update. Orange Multiplex servos with plastic gears might have been ok in 79 but..... Alpinas are like buses, none for ages then two come along. A clubmate decided to get rid of his. I got first refusal at a price that just couldn't say no. Thanks Joe. Here she is doing her thing on the Menez Hom in Brittany at last years Rencontre de Grand Planuers. Merci Damien pour les photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren_O Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 On 2/12/2017 at 17:33, John Wighton said: Due to the interest in the Alpina Magic which was recently on the forum For Sale pages l thought l'd start a discussion by showing my last one (see pic). I got the original one in the late 80's, it was 4m and flew at around 13-14 oz/sqft loading. I optimistically fitted it with a RS hook and tried to bungee it. That was not too successful unless it was pretty windy. Hand towing needed a fit and fast person, we never thought of dual towing in those days. It came into it's own on the slope. The picture is of (a younger) me in July 1992 in Verbier. The day before was 20 degC sunny and lovely, overnight it snowed (such is the fickle alpine weather) and we had some snow. The wind was apparently good for the southern bowl but 5 secs after chucking it off l realised there was a huge curle-over. Today l guess people DS in these conditions - l made a slopeside landing and had a 40 min retrieve (no damage). The main problem with the Alpina was getting it down (when the wind is blowing up the slope). Without servos in the wings you had to rely on the spoilers. Nowadays most of them are fitted with wing servos for reflex aileron which helps dump the lift. I sold off my original and immediately regretted it, seeing one come up in the For Sale site was good news. I intend to FPV (and possibly electrify) my new one (collecting it tomorrow from Jerry). The mag l am holding is Silent Flight - they used to invite people to send in pictures with a copy of their mag. JW Now that looks a nice slope! I enjoy watching the youtube vids of big slopers on big slopes. The sight of large gliders soaring the Alps is something special. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wighton Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Terrific video link and a nice site. 8/10 attempts of mine to fly high in the Alps results in being cloud bound. Most of the flying occurs in the lower slopes, which is the main reason why the motor is needed. I used to fly off a nice site near Stans, CH. The owner was an ex-Pilatus Aircraft employee (turned farmer in retirement) - we used a 20m short bungee to get out into the lift. Slopeside landings (or a walk to the bottom) were normal. Having flown since aged 10 on UK 'conventional' slopes (i.e. when you stand at the top) l found this type of flying 'interesting'. Looking now for some suggestions on a suitable power setup for the Alpina Magic. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wighton Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Exactly my experience Pete (flying in Switzerland). My apartment faced west with a large area of flat ground (valley floor) out towards the Stanserhorn. As l had the top floor with a 40m wide balcony l used to fly electric models off the roof. Sometimes the wind was good enough to slope a Zagi. Landing on the open ground 3 storeys down was tricky without a shadow to follow. Regarding electrifying the Alpina, l suspect that many people use huge batteries. The video link sent makes a pretty compelling story for electrification, although my main use on a slope would be get-you-up and therafter as a get-you-home. Do you still fly yours off the Suffolk cliffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Guys, I regularly fly my Alpina. It is an original with the servos in the fus. (On a little ply slide to aid rigging). I have added Multiplex wing fasteners to speed rigging doing away with the rubber bands, otherwise she is standard. I think the original looks so much better than the latest variant. Having aspired to one of these legendry beauties for some time I acquired mine almost un-flown a few years ago. Now, after lots of flights from the slope and from a powered tow I have the confidence to fly it anywhere in almost all conditions. In fact I would say it flies like a big trainer. It's my baby and is the glider in my avatar. Happy Alpinering, John - inventor of a new verb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_B Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Elastic bands ...? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wighton Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Alpine Magic, after spending 30 mins checking all is working and freeing up steel joiners with some wire wool (main joiner needed tweaking) she is looking good to go. The spoilers need a little tlc, the servos are installed at the root and operate the mechanical mech via longish wire rods. I will install some return springs. Next installment - flight test!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren_O Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 The colour scheme is familiar:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_B Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 My Alpina doing its thing in County Kerry 2010 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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