RJ 5 handicap

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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Dan, 5J