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The SchpotDorker is a highly sophisticated ship that will thermal in the lightest lift
and still launch hard and pull like an F3J ship; it combines the best aspects of the Psyko
with new airfoils and lighter wingloading. The result is a sailplane optimized for light
lift and spot, er, Schpot landings: a pinpoint-accurate landing device.
Daryl Perkins, 3-time F3B World Champion, took his Psyko Molded
design to the 1998 Nats for another win in Open Class competition. Not one to leave well
enough alone, Daryl reworked the Psyko’s planform design with particular attention to
airfoil and lift distribution over the whole wing. He was looking to optimize spot landing
performance while retaining the outstanding TD capabilities of the Psyko. Daryl then
refined the planform and the SchpotDorker was… hatched. The SchpotDorker uses five
integrated airfoil sections to optimize airflow over the wing. The airfoil details of the
SchpotDorker remain proprietary, so we will simply say this is the most advanced designed
planform and computer designed lifting surface produced by NSP to date.
The epoxy glass and Kevlar fuselage of the SchpotDorker is a wonderfully crafted,
streamlined beauty that sports a nosecone for ease of entry and strength. It started with
a Psyko
fuselage modified for weight reduction. It is unpainted (again for weight considerations),
with an average weight of seven (7) ounces. The fuselage is reinforced with Kevlar and
Carbon fiber for a very strong and stiff but lightweight structure. All the composite work
is done at one location to ensure a good fit. Like the Psyko 3, the
SchpotDorker has a long tail moment and a generous fin for directional stability.
All flying surfaces are composite. The wings are made of carefully matched Spyder foam and
special high-density, low weight blue foam to render the best combination of strength and
low weight. The wing surfaces are bagged with a special carbon fiber cloth and encased in
a bias-cut satin weave FG to provide torsional rigidity and smooth surface finish. The
wings are finished white on top with natural black finish on the bottom to maximize
visibility. The SchpotDorker features built-in Kevlar hinges on the ailerons and flaps.
Like the Psyko 3
and all our top-of-the-line composite sailplanes, we followed our inclination to use
nothing but the best components, and our hardware is top quality. We include a carbon
fiber wingrod, high strength fiberglass control horns and special, lightweight carbon
fiber pushrods for smooth, slop-free response. All hardware and instructions are supplied
for the modeler, as is standard for all NSP kits. The SchpotDorker also comes with plans
to make the task of setup and assembly clear and easy for the modeler.
Great penetration and a surprisingly efficient glide are provided by the blended airfoil.
We have found the SchpotDorker launches very high and has the ability to range. The speed
range is very wide with an upper end glide is very good especially considering the very
light wingloading. The ability to hang in the air is just what you should expect from this
advanced planform. If you can’t work lift with the SchpotDorker, it just isn’t
there! What is most remarkable is the turning ability of this sailplane. It is quite
evident that the SchpotDorker will turn quickly and efficiently and is able to work the
very lightest lift and smallest thermals. All sailplanes see an increased sinkrate in
turns; the SchpotDorker minimizes this loss and maintains the ability not only to float
but also to retain its good straight-line abilities and stay efficient throughout the
turn. With the SchpotDorker it is possible to make exploratory turns in fragmentary lift
without concern for excessive altitude loss. What does this mean? As an expert pilot, you
can feel confident to take the SchpotDorker to the limit of your piloting capabilities.
The SchpotDorker will not let you down.
The SchpotDorker pulls hard on the winch and climbs almost vertically when it's set up
properly. The extended zoom at the top can be easily rounded off into a quick lively
cruise, perfect for quickly reaching those thermals on the boundaries of visibility. This
is a very well balanced ship. Handling is immediate, tracking is steady and the overall
feel is one of synergy, which goes together with form.
Flight performance is just as you would expect from such an advanced design. You get a
flat reaching glide; slow speed handling better than the SD7037 floaters. The
SchpotDorker, while having a nice slow speed with minimum sinkrate, will easily speed up,
giving you the reach you need to work distant thermals. We have found that generous
movable surfaces are more effective, not only at the slow speeds so important to landing,
but also for working those small, tight thermals. The rudder area is also enhanced. These
changes make a noticeable gain in performance, whether you’re thermaling at slow
speeds or covering distances in search of lift.
The SchpotDorker is in its glory on landing approach, coming in at a very slow and
controllable speed. It’s never been easier to achieve the high landing scores so
important in today’s TD contests. Like all our composite sailplanes, the stabs have
high aspect ratio along with generous area. You maintain full control authority right down
to the last little blade of grass between your nosecone and the Schpot.
New All Versions: the SchpotDorker LT! The use of Kevlar sheeting at the back half of the
wing further reduces the weight of this outstanding ship. It integrates seamlessly with
the basic carbon fiber structure and further reduces the overall weight of the
SchpotDorker by 3 ounces. This is a custom built sailplane with a 6-week lead time. The
result is a flying weight of 55 ounces!
Sal Says:
Daryl Perkins: I am very pleased with the Son of Psyko, er, SchpotDorker. Boy, can I hit the spot. This baby really slows down and floats in for the perfect landing.
CD Says:
Sexier than leather!
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