Title: The 835kph Sailplane and Dynamic Soaring

Speaker: Spencer Lisenby - prototype developer at DSKinetic

Abstract:
Most people wouldn't imagine that the world's fastest radio controlled airplane has no propeller, jet, or any source of propulsion on board. Dynamic Soaring is a unique method of soaring which has enabled radio controlled gliders to achieve speeds in excess of 835kph.  We will explore the fundamentals and progress of dynamic soaring and examine the challenges associated with designing, building, and flying an un-powered model airplane at speeds comparable to modern passenger jets.  We will also give some thought to practical applications of dynamic soaring and discuss where it could be applied in the future.  

Spencer Lisenby graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and currently resides and chases wind in Southern California.  He has set the world speed record for radio controlled gliders 14 different times and holds the current record of…