Airtronics Square Soar 72

Very nice looking glider there. Funny you are showing it as I recently picked up my first glider as well, and ironically it is an Airtronics Olympic II, 100". I see many similarities in yours and mine. I too was going to use a power pod on it, but when I saw it, and the original owner not sure if it had butyrate dope on it or not, I decided to keep it only as a glider to be launched with a high-start. Got some electronics to install in it then off to the sky.

Kim wrote:Yet ANOTHER New Member!!!!

WELCOME to the C.E.F. J Bergsmith!!!

Thank you, glad to be here!

rsv1cox wrote:Nice build, custom wing tips really came out well.

Welcome.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I couldn’t leave them just square. The 45 degree tips are easy and look nice.

NEW222 wrote:Very nice looking glider there. Funny you are showing it as I recently picked up my first glider as well, and ironically it is an Airtronics Olympic II, 100". I see many similarities in yours and mine. I too was going to use a power pod on it, but when I saw it, and the original owner not sure if it had butyrate dope on it or not, I decided to keep it only as a glider to be launched with a high-start. Got some electronics to install in it then off to the sky.

The Olympic II is a really nice flying sailplane. I had one in the early 80’s when I started flying in contests. I built a new one two years ago that has been a lot of fun.

Lee Renaud was a great guy.
I got to know him because of Dan Pruss.
Lee and Dan were good friends.

I got to know them through my dad (Jim McIntyre)
We were/are members of the S.O.A.R. club which for years held the SOAR Nats just outside Chicago.

Best part of the relationship that Dan Pruss had with Lee Renaud was when Lee designed a plane he would give pre-production plans and kits to Dan.
Then Pruss would give the kits to some of the club members to build and fly to evaluate the plane.
Some of the pre-production kits I built I still have. I should one day donate them to the AMA museum?
I have donated one of the original SOAR Nats winches to the museum ( in 2018)

The kits were:
Oly II --- they used my plane for the box cover photo.
Oly 650 and electric conversion with Astro 05 can motor (direct drive)
Aquila --- 1st wooden fuse version / 2nd was the fiberglass ( proto fuse was made with polyester resin not epoxy)
Aquila Grande --- same as Aquila above
Aquila XL (no wooden fuse) Fuse was made of polyester resin.
Sagitta 600 / 900 / XL  -- great plane but fuse was small for the servos at that time.
Cumic with the "V" tail --- never kitted!
Whisper 2 meters
Legend
Buteo glider and electric ---- never kitted

I was sad when Airtroncs packed thing up and stop making kits.
The just could not compete with the cheaper carbon fiber planes coming out of the Czech Republic.
I stopped flying gliders because they were getting too high tech for me!
Also, for me, It was not fun anymore to fly gliders and everything was a big production to fly.
Example is you the pilot, then a spotter, a timer, and someone for the winch (watch it)
I tried the electric high tech planes. You just eliminate the winch guy.

All of Lee's kits were made with "TLC"
That is on the 1st kit I made from Airtronics back in 1974
And on the plans it means made with "True Locking Construction"
Airtronic kits were/are the best!

Here are photos of the prototype Airtronic kits.
Buteo Electric


Buteo Glider


Olympic 99 and Oly II and original in the back left corner of photo (box photo)


Sagitta 600 / Wisper 2m / Legend / Cumic  (clockwise - bottom rt corner)


Aquila white wings and white wing and yellow L.E. / Proto type Aquila Grande (red wings) / Aquila XL in back


S.O.A.R. (Silent Order of Aeromodelling by Radio) Nationals winch --- donated to the AMA museum
Total of fourteen winches were built by my dad  (Jim McIntyre) and I back in 1974


Photo of winch ready for transport out across the field

sosam117,
Terrific story! I to miss Airtronics kits specifically Lee Renaud designs. After the Olympic II, I grew into the Sagitta 900 and competed very successfully all through the 80’s. I also got turned off when the fully molded ships took over. They all look the same. I much prefer the all wood sailplanes.

Thanks for posting the pics of the Buteo‘s. I’ve often read about them, but never saw a pic until now.

The Square Soar 72 is an interesting subject. It’s amazing how many people have sent/posted pics of ones they built back in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Nice Build J Bergsmith Looks really Good and Welcome to the Forum!!

J Bergsmith wrote:sosam117,
Terrific story! I to miss Airtronics kits specifically Lee Renaud designs. After the Olympic II, I grew into the Sagitta 900 and competed very successfully all through the 80’s. I also got turned off when the fully molded ships took over. They all look the same. I much prefer the all wood sailplanes.

Thanks for posting the pics of the Buteo‘s. I’ve often read about them, but never saw a pic until now.

The Square Soar 72 is an interesting subject. It’s amazing how many people have sent/posted pics of ones they built back in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Bergsmith,
The only thing I wish was available back then like now is a copy shop like the UPS store or office max (staples) where I could have copied the plans that I got from Lee Renaud.
After building the kit (pre-production) I had to send the plans back.
Of course, the plans had Lee's hand written notes on how to build it and my notes on some of the corrections on his instructions.

I would have had plans for some of the planes he never kitted either.
His son (Tim) when he took over made a "special division" of Airtronics for the F3B planes and it could not keep up with the composite planes coming from Europe.
Tim was never interested in the "radio" side of the business.

I never saw anymore prototype planes (kits). Most of those went to fliers out in California (where Tim Renaud lived).
I moved away from Airtronics planes.
My first European kit was a "King" which has rudder, elevator, flaperons. I still have the plane and compete at local contests.
When I feel like flying in that class. I do well against some fliers with their "newer - High tech" planes with my old "King".

The ones I pass in the standings can't understand how I beat them?
I just tell them "you have to know your plane".

I joined SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) years ago for they fly the old stick (wood) airplanes and gliders.
The glider side is getting more popular in the last 5 years.
Guys I flew against in contests years ago, now I'm seeing them join SAM and we're flying the old gliders we used over 30 to 40 years ago.
SAM has categories for the glider class. Old Tmer (before 1950), vintage (1951 - 1970), classic (1971 - 1980), modern (1981 - 2000)
Contest is simple.
Put in 3 flights for the day, each flight has to be as close to 15 minutes. spot landing (in - 25 points/out - zero)

Larry Jolly started the push in the SAM club for gliders. Before Larry, there was very little interest.

getback wrote:Nice Build J Bergsmith Looks really Good and Welcome to the Forum!!

Thank you!

Finished the Square Soar 72, it's ready to fly. It's 24oz rtf. I'm pleased how it turned out and hope to fly it on Sunday.

J Bergsmith wrote:Finished the Square Soar 72, it's ready to fly. It's 24oz rtf. I'm pleased how it turned out and hope to fly it on Sunday.

Nice Job!

sosam117 wrote:

J Bergsmith wrote:sosam117,
Terrific story! I to miss Airtronics kits specifically Lee Renaud designs. After the Olympic II, I grew into the Sagitta 900 and competed very successfully all through the 80’s. I also got turned off when the fully molded ships took over. They all look the same. I much prefer the all wood sailplanes.

Thanks for posting the pics of the Buteo‘s. I’ve often read about them, but never saw a pic until now.

The Square Soar 72 is an interesting subject. It’s amazing how many people have sent/posted pics of ones they built back in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Bergsmith,
The only thing I wish was available back then like now is a copy shop like the UPS store or office max (staples) where I could have copied the plans that I got from Lee Renaud.
After building the kit (pre-production) I had to send the plans back.
Of course, the plans had Lee's hand written notes on how to build it and my notes on some of the corrections on his instructions.

I would have had plans for some of the planes he never kitted either.
His son (Tim) when he took over made a "special division" of Airtronics for the F3B planes and it could not keep up with the composite planes coming from Europe.
Tim was never interested in the "radio" side of the business.

I never saw anymore prototype planes (kits). Most of those went to fliers out in California (where Tim Renaud lived).
I moved away from Airtronics planes.
My first European kit was a "King" which has rudder, elevator, flaperons. I still have the plane and compete at local contests.
When I feel like flying in that class. I do well against some fliers with their "newer - High tech" planes with my old "King".

The ones I pass in the standings can't understand how I beat them?
I just tell them "you have to know your plane".

I joined SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) years ago for they fly the old stick (wood) airplanes and gliders.
The glider side is getting more popular in the last 5 years.
Guys I flew against in contests years ago, now I'm seeing them join SAM and we're flying the old gliders we used over 30 to 40 years ago.
SAM has categories for the glider class. Old Tmer (before 1950), vintage (1951 - 1970), classic (1971 - 1980), modern (1981 - 2000)
Contest is simple.
Put in 3 flights for the day, each flight has to be as close to 15 minutes. spot landing (in - 25 points/out - zero)

Larry Jolly started the push in the SAM club for gliders. Before Larry, there was very little interest.

sosam117:  is that the sam Larry Jolly who was in the Torrey Pine Gulls slope soaring club in San Diego back in the 1980’s and 1990’s? If it is I used to see him at the Torrey Pines Glider Port back in the day. He was big on the larger scale sailplanes. 8 to 12 foot wingspan. He and some other guys would bring a small winch and winch up the sail planes if the lift off the cliff was too light.

Then the parasailers and hang gliders started taking over the area and crashing into our landing area and smashing planes. Then just laughing as they walked away. There was no policing of the area even though there was a check in and check out area for us sailplane people to fly.

That is one of the main reasons I left. On a good day you could fly forever. Except in January thru March the area was restricted to full scale gliders and the wind usually blew up to 30 knots against the 350foot cliff.

Those were the days.  I still have my Sagitta 600 waiting in the wings.

Happydad       

happydad wrote:

sosam117 wrote:

J Bergsmith wrote:sosam117,
Terrific story! I to miss Airtronics kits specifically Lee Renaud designs. After the Olympic II, I grew into the Sagitta 900 and competed very successfully all through the 80’s. I also got turned off when the fully molded ships took over. They all look the same. I much prefer the all wood sailplanes.

Thanks for posting the pics of the Buteo‘s. I’ve often read about them, but never saw a pic until now.

The Square Soar 72 is an interesting subject. It’s amazing how many people have sent/posted pics of ones they built back in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Bergsmith,
The only thing I wish was available back then like now is a copy shop like the UPS store or office max (staples) where I could have copied the plans that I got from Lee Renaud.
After building the kit (pre-production) I had to send the plans back.
Of course, the plans had Lee's hand written notes on how to build it and my notes on some of the corrections on his instructions.

I would have had plans for some of the planes he never kitted either.
His son (Tim) when he took over made a "special division" of Airtronics for the F3B planes and it could not keep up with the composite planes coming from Europe.
Tim was never interested in the "radio" side of the business.

I never saw anymore prototype planes (kits). Most of those went to fliers out in California (where Tim Renaud lived).
I moved away from Airtronics planes.
My first European kit was a "King" which has rudder, elevator, flaperons. I still have the plane and compete at local contests.
When I feel like flying in that class. I do well against some fliers with their "newer - High tech" planes with my old "King".

The ones I pass in the standings can't understand how I beat them?
I just tell them "you have to know your plane".

I joined SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) years ago for they fly the old stick (wood) airplanes and gliders.
The glider side is getting more popular in the last 5 years.
Guys I flew against in contests years ago, now I'm seeing them join SAM and we're flying the old gliders we used over 30 to 40 years ago.
SAM has categories for the glider class. Old Tmer (before 1950), vintage (1951 - 1970), classic (1971 - 1980), modern (1981 - 2000)
Contest is simple.
Put in 3 flights for the day, each flight has to be as close to 15 minutes. spot landing (in - 25 points/out - zero)

Larry Jolly started the push in the SAM club for gliders. Before Larry, there was very little interest.

sosam117:  is that the same Larry Jolly who was in the Torrey Pine Gulls slope soaring club in San Diego back in the 1980’s and 1990’s? If it is I used to see him at the Torrey Pines Glider Port back in the day. He was big on the larger scale sailplanes. 8 to 12 foot wingspan. He and some other guys would bring a small winch and winch up the sail planes if the lift off the cliff was too light.

Then the parasailers and hang gliders started taking over the area and crashing into our landing area and smashing planes. Then just laughing as they walked away. There was no policing of the area even though there was a check in and check out area for us sailplane people to fly.

That is one of the main reasons I left. On a good day you could fly forever. Except in January thru March the area was restricted to full scale gliders and the wind usually blew up to 30 knots against the 350foot cliff.

Those were the days.  I still have my Sagitta 600 waiting in the wings.

Happydad       

Yes Happydad,
That is the same Larry Jolly.
Since Larry got the soaring part of SAM (Society of Antique Models) going, its been great!
Before Larry, there was no one willing to get the soaring part of SAM going.

It was great in 2018 at Muncie (Indiana). Flying against competetors that I flew against back in the 1970's, 80's and 90's.
Mark Smith, Larry Jolly, Bob and Barb Robinson, Jack Hiner, Jim McCarthy, Tom Kallevang, Ken Bates, Keith Shaw, and others.

I flew my old Bird of Time and also brought my Mini Bird of Time as well. Jolly was flying a Paramount (12 feet wing span).
Bob and Barb has a Aquila XL. McCarthy has a Sagitta 900. Mark Smith had a Oly II and something else? Jack Hiner flew my Bird of Time (borrowed -- as I also flew it).

Great Time! I got 1st with my Mini Bird of Time. 7th with the Bird of Time. The bigger planes did better when the wind picked up later in the week.
It was disappointing that it was canceled this year. I would have like to fly against them this year?
Next year suppose to be out in Vegas (dry lake bed)

Installed the Black Widow, much better performance. Had a great 18 minute flight after the motor died. The Square Soar flies excellent, very smooth flying characteristics. The mid 70’s design works just fine.

J Bergsmith wrote:Installed the Black Widow, much better performance. Had a great 18 minute flight after the motor died. The Square Soar flies excellent, very smooth flying characteristics. The mid 70’s design works just fine.

Bergsmith: As the old saying goes: “great lift is everything”.  I just made that up.

 I’m jealous, stuck here 25 miles from the coast, 45 miles from the old Torrey Pines Glider Port.

     Way jealous.

   Did you have to show us 3 views of Wonderful?

Happydad.                  

18 Mins. WOW that is a good long time after power out ! She looks nice in the sky !