The Hong Kong Radio Control Soaring Society

Scale Soaring Group

The first thing comes into people's mind about "model aircraft" is usually the scaled down counterpart of their full size cousins. This is not quite true to R/C models. R/C models try to resemble the operation functions of their full size through radio control, and while achieving this there are compromises to the scale details. Many R/C model aircrafts are not after a real aircraft at all. They are simply designed for performance or a specific purpose. For example, you can't find a full size hand launch glider or EPP combat wing!

R/C scale gliders are modelled after real gliders. From the overall appearance, colour, markings and insignia, to the cockpit equipment, pilot figure and panel rivets, scale gliders try to capture every details of the real gliders. It is not easy to distinguish them from the real one in the sky! While some of these scale gliders take hundred or thousand hours of building time, which is not affortable to many modellers, there are also "semi-scale" or "stand-off scale" model gliders. Their level of details is up to the modeller's ability and his preference. They are a good balance between practical R/C flying fun and the beauty of scale models. There is also a unique class of scale models that is only possible with slope soaring. Since we can virtually fly anything in the slope lift, people start flying powered models with the engines removed. Some dedicated model gliders of the real powered aircraft then appeared at the slopes. WWII war birds, modern jet fighters and airliners are very common. They are called Power Slope Scale (PSS) and really opens up your imargination of flying! In the end, whether the model is a museum scale or a PSS, all R/C scale gliders have one common point: They are beautiful and always the focus of the flying site.

Many R/C scale gliders we fly in Hong Kong are semi-scale or PSS. Part of the reasons that super detailed scale gliders are not very common here is because of the landing problem. Landing at slopes is relatively more difficult. Not many people want to risk their master piece at the slope! Also, Hong Kong's limited living space makes storing these big gliders a problem. Despite all these difficulties, however, we still like to fly scale gliders. The satisfaction of building and detailing your own scale model cannot be replaced. Welcome joining scale soaring and sharing the joy of flying scale gliders.