Well I must say I never expected that I would ever be in a position to afford a Calypso Contest
but life is a funny old thing.
I had taken the remainder of my power models into Model Aviation, one of my local model shops to
raise some money with the intention of buying a Simprop Solution. I don't know why but the
Solution presented somewhat of a problem for the model shop to order and just as I was about to
cancel the order and take my money elsewhere, Edward, the proprietor said, 'How do you fancy a
Calypso Contest?'
Daft question really and I treated it as such but Edward continued. He had taken it in from a
customer to sell complete with all radio equipment and the price was more affordable than I
expected. So the deal was done. It was the older T-tail version but as I prefer the friendlier
handling of a T-tail to a V-tail I was more than happy. A very nice feature with these sailplanes
are the padded carry-bags that come as standard - an excellent idea for protecting your very expen-
sive investment.
With a sailplane like this you cannot use just any old radio so the machine was programmed into my
Graupner MC20. Anyone who has seen the English instructions that come with the MC20 will realise
that this is no easy task. Several cups of coffee and a migraine later I realised why the MC20
comes with such a large capacity battery.
Unfortunately I had no instructions with the Calypso (and it seems Model Technology are reluctant to
supply a spare copy!) so all movements for the set-up had to be guessed. Fortunately the settings
from my Graffiti proved to be near enough for the test flights.
The quality of the mouldings is excellent and the fit of the control surfaces is faultless. A
nice touch is the moulded in horn shrouds on the top surface of the wing.
Mine is the T-tail version and the tail plane is remarkably light. The control linkage to the
elevator is both simple and ingenious allowing very quick disassembly. Ballast provision is taken
care of with a single ballast tube that can be loaded by removing the nose cone. I believe that
the newer Calypsos come with two ballast tubes - a second tube will be easy to fit should it prove
neccessary.
I have now flown it and I must admit that I am even more impressed now. From the hand launch off
our northerly slope the model soared out straight as a die requiring no trim input at all. After a
couple of circuits to check the handling - my guessed settings were OK on aileron but the elevator
was a little too sensitive - a dive was entered to check out its speed. It accelerates very quickly
and initially starts to make a little wind noise. As the speed increases it goes totally quiet.
The speed gain is impressive indeed, although it does seem to give the impression of being just a
little on the light side - further flight tests with ballast will explore this. This initial
experience also suggested that the balance point may be a little too far forward at present as the
model wants to pull out of the dive and down elevator has to be held on throughout a fast pass. My
guessed elevator settings proved to be on the frightening side of sufficient and this will be
reduced mechanically rather than using the rate switches.
Landing using crow braking was simplicity itself, the brakes being very effective indeed. Several
more flights were had during the remainder of the day and my confidence began to build. The model
really inspires confidence and I look forward to flying it more.
The biggest problem with the model is that after having spent £700.00 on it you might expect other
modellers to be impressed. Leave it on the ground and your fellow modellers will totally ignore its
presence, after all they all look the same. Chuck it off the hill and fly it in anger and heads
will turn. It allows you to fly manouvres at altitudes and speeds that are impossible with other
aircraft. Awesome is a word that springs to mind.
I have been saying for the last couple of flying seasons that I will enter an F3F race or two.
Perhaps this model may prove the catalyst that will persuade me eventually to race rather than talk.
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