Quest HL-20

boost "glider"

I had a Centuri MF-24 Bug years ago and the Quest HL-20 reminded me a lot of that kit.

This lifting-body boost glider is based on Aeroshroud® technology. Translated, that's a printed paper wrapper. ;-) It looks to me like this model was strongly "inspired" by the old Centuri MF-24 Bug - with some "improvements". The only significant(?) differences I see between the two are:

The HL-20 cockpit is vacu-formed plastic rather than folded paper.
The tail weight is now two pennies enclosed in a 'weight box' rather than clay.
The HL-20 includes a pod for an engine streamer (makes it legal for competition? <VBG>)

On every launch (so far), this model corkscrews nicely up into the air. Then, on ejection, it spirals down - some times more steeply than others. It flew beautifully on one of its launches at ECOF-97, but the next launch was almost a death spiral. I intend to keep putzing around to try to get it to glide reliably.

Built:&NBSP; &NBSP;winter, 1995/96
Launches
	21 June, 1998 - MRFF-98 9 May, 1998 - club launch 18 April, 1998 - club launch 21 February 1998 - test launch (gliders) 23 August 1997 - family launch 9 August 1997 - Eat Cheese or Fly, '97 12 July 1997 - club launch
Repairs:
	August-December, 1997	repairs following family launch.
		Moved to the workbench following death dive at family launch in August and finally got around to working on it in December. Reglued motor-mount tube that had been broken loose from the nose, shroud and centering ring. While I was at it, I glued together the ends of the elevons - with a bit of "up" in them to see if that doesn't help the "glide". After all, the tail weight hasn't really seemed to help.
	August, 1997	Adjusting glide trim.
		Added yet more yellow glue around the streamer pod. It IS going to glide reliably!
	July, 1997	Adjusting glide trim.
		Added a fair amount of yellow glue around the streamer pod to adjust glide balance. Can't take weight off the nose, so...

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Last Updated:	25 June, 1998
Author:	Alan Rognlie
Email:	arrognli@execpc.com