A remote-controlled glider by Spencer Lisenby has achieved a remarkable speed of up to 881 km/h during a record-setting flight at Parker Mountain, where strong northeast winds blow. This glider can even reach speeds of up to 933 km/h.
Despite lacking an engine, this glider is equipped with all the components of a typical RC aircraft, including a battery, servos for wing control, and a radio communication system to receive remote control commands.
To achieve this record speed, Lisenby utilized a technique known as Dynamic Soaring. When the wind blows over the hilltop, it can reach extremely high speeds. The fast-moving air flowing over the hill will create friction with the still air on the other side, generating turbulence or a shear layer.
By exploiting this air mass, the RC pilot loops the glider, gaining lift and thrust in the wind direction toward the hilltop, then diving into the still air, which can be very close to the ground, and returning to the fast-moving air above. This allows the remote-controlled model aircraft to fly almost indefinitely without an engine.
The way seagulls fly.
In nature, black-footed albatrosses also exploit wind speed differentials created by waves to fly further and continuously for long periods without flapping their wings.
In addition to Dynamic Soaring, Lisenby’s glider reaches such high speeds due to its design by aerodynamic experts from Germany and its construction from materials commonly used in sports cars.
When the glider performs these loops, it can experience G-forces of up to 120G. G-force is an inertial force used to describe the relative acceleration of an object when changing direction or speed compared to free fall.
Even at a G-force of just 9G, a typical person could lose consciousness due to blood not being pumped to the brain because of the pressure on the heart.
The glider can experience G-forces of up to 120G.
To control a glider flying at speeds of up to 881 km/h, one must have exceptional piloting skills, especially without using automated systems to stabilize the aircraft.
Lisenby is a professional RC glider pilot and a pioneer in glider design. He holds numerous world records for RC gliders.
