RJ 5 handicap

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What handicap number would the RJ 5 ( 40 to 1 condition) have under the current system? Guesses / opinions?

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On Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 7:11:38 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> What handicap number would the RJ 5 ( 40 to 1 condition) have under the current system? Guesses / opinions?

My opinion? The handicap should state that anyone who enters any contest in the RJ-5 automatically wins.

Looking at the in-period competition results suggests to me that a handicap based on it being a but better than the K6E, SH-1 or Skylark 4 might be about right. Maybe the same as an SHK? I wasn't even around in those days so all I know about the subject is gleaned from reading old issues of Soaring and Sailplane & Gliding. I'm fascinated by the older ships and what the scene was like from 1945 through the mid-70's. Even the competition reports from those days are fun to read! I really want to get the time to visit some vintage events in the future. So far the older designs in my logbook are an early 1-26 and 1-23, and a 2-22. I suppose my ASW-15 is fairly old as was the Phoebus C I had a few flights in this year and the L-13's were certainly a vintage design but none of those seems to really feel "vintage" to me. I would love a chance to get up in a 2-8 or LK-10 someday.

[OHM Ω]

Is this N79T that is mentioned at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross-Johnson_RJ-5. Quite a contest history of wins in that particular ship. Is there more than one RJ-5 out there?

[Mike C]

On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 1:57:08 PM UTC-6, OHM Ω wrote:
> Is this N79T that is mentioned at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross-Johnson_RJ-5. Quite a contest history of wins in that particular ship. Is there more than one RJ-5 out there?

Dick Johnson had a great article about his win in the 1963 Nationals held in Elmira. He was flying the Skylark 4, my father the repaired RJ-5 renamed RJK-5. He shares his impressions of flying against the sailplane he co-designed and built. It is in the December 1963 issue of Soaring. The actual contest report is in the August issue. These old reports (Soaring archives) are really great reading.

When George Moffat was reporting on Glider performance he claimed the RJ5 had a glide that was midway between the SGS2-32 and the Sisu 1-A.

Mike

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The question was how does the RJ 5 in its prime performance condition rate in the current Sports Class handicap system. An internet search for the RJ5 measured polar was unsuccessful . It would be interesting to compare the RJ5 polar to a Standard Cirrus, ASW 20, Sisu 1A, etc. the RJ5 was a break through and led the way to modern sailplanes.

[Mike C]

On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 7:32:39 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> The question was how does the RJ 5 in its prime performance condition rate in the current Sports Class handicap system. An internet search for the RJ5 measured polar was unsuccessful . It would be interesting to compare the RJ5 polar to a Standard Cirrus, ASW 20, Sisu 1A, etc. the RJ5 was a break through and led the way to modern sailplanes.

Try Soaring mag archives. It has a search function.

Mike

[Mike C]

On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 8:53:26 PM UTC-6, Mike C wrote:
> On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 7:32:39 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > The question was how does the RJ 5 in its prime performance condition rate in the current Sports Class handicap system. An internet search for the RJ5 measured polar was unsuccessful . It would be interesting to compare the RJ5 polar to a Standard Cirrus, ASW 20, Sisu 1A, etc. the RJ5 was a break through and led the way to modern sailplanes.
>
> Try Soaring mag archives. It has a search function.
>
> Mike

Found the polar in the August 1960 issue of Soaring. It also includes comparison polars for the HP-8 and Phoenix.

Mike

[Dan Marotta]

Mike, I tried to find pictures of the RJ-5 on the internet, but
couldn't. Glad I flew with you and got to see the ship in person so much!

Dan

On 11/4/2016 4:38 PM, Mike C wrote:
> On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 1:57:08 PM UTC-6, OHM Ω wrote:
>> Is this N79T that is mentioned at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross-Johnson_RJ-5. Quite a contest history of wins in that particular ship. Is there more than one RJ-5 out there?
> Dick Johnson had a great article about his win in the 1963 Nationals held in Elmira. He was flying the Skylark 4, my father the repaired RJ-5 renamed RJK-5. He shares his impressions of flying against the sailplane he co-designed and built. It is in the December 1963 issue of Soaring. The actual contest report is in the August issue. These old reports (Soaring archives) are really great reading.
>
> When George Moffat was reporting on Glider performance he claimed the RJ5 had a glide that was midway between the SGS2-32 and the Sisu 1-A.
>
> Mike

--
Dan, 5J

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On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:19:09 PM UTC-5, Mike C wrote:
> On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 8:53:26 PM UTC-6, Mike C wrote:
> > On Friday, November 4, 2016 at 7:32:39 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > > The question was how does the RJ 5 in its prime performance condition rate in the current Sports Class handicap system. An internet search for the RJ5 measured polar was unsuccessful . It would be interesting to compare the RJ5 polar to a Standard Cirrus, ASW 20, Sisu 1A, etc. the RJ5 was a break through and led the way to modern sailplanes.
> >
> > Try Soaring mag archives. It has a search function.
> >
> > Mike
>
> Found the polar in the August 1960 issue of Soaring. It also includes comparison polars for the HP-8 and Phoenix.
>
> Mike




Thanks for the reply. For some reason the first search on Soaring archives did not show Aug 1960. When learning to fly as a teen in 1959, the RJ 5 was a supership compared to the surplus WWII training gliders flown by the soaring community. Today the RJ 5 seems to be matched by the Standard Class gliders of the 1970s, Standard Cirrus, ASW 15, etc., hardly superships by current production standards. Yet, a 535 mile flight was made for a world record. Wally Scott's 455 mile flight to a declared goal in a K6 set a world record. Sailplanes with handicap ratings near 1.00 have ample performance for Diamond distance, goal, and all other badge flights. All possible on modest soaring budgets.