New for FS One in 2023

Bubble Dancer RES Sailplane coming soon!

With this first “RC Flight Simulation with FS One” newsletter on Substack, I'm announcing the next airplane to be released in early 2023. It is the 117 inch (3 m) span Bubble Dancer RC sailplane by Dr Mark Drela. It is an “RES” design with rudder, elevator, and spoiler controls. Collaborators in the original design were Blaine Rawdon and Bill Watson. Mark Haley created the Bubble Dancer graphics model below (screen shot from FS One). The covering scheme matches the design of his own real life Bubble Dancer - his second one.

The simulator version will be setup for the original design weight of 31 oz (880 g), which is surprisingly light for a 117-in span model designed around yr 2002. Adding ballast is a few clicks away in FS One. The maximum ballasted design weight is 54 oz 1531 g). The Bubble Dancer uses the AG35/36/37 airfoil family designed by Drela. His original model plans can be found on the Charles River RC (CRRC) Club website.

Looking Ahead

Subscribers to this newsletter will be among the first to know when new airplanes and new features are planned and released for FS One. I will also discuss some of the finer details that go into RC flight simulation, share tips and techniques for flying, and touch on aerodynamics and flight dynamics now and then. In addition to the usual coverage, keep an eye out for occasional thoughts and ideas on other related topics in RC modeling.