LIFT - Little Finger Thermaleers RC Glider Club

Radio Controlled Sailplanes, Gliders, and Electric Powered Flight

Little Finger Thermaleers of Northwest Michigan
(Last Updates - 8 April, 2008)

The "Little Finger Thermaleers" enjoy building and flying radio controlled gliders and other silent aircraft. Formed in the early 1980’s, the group has grown to more than 25 members who fly their aircraft from a 40-acre field located outside of Traverse City, MI in an area know as the “Little Finger Peninsula." Thus, the club name of “Little Finger Thermaleers” or “LIFT”.

From spring to early winter, members can be seen launching and flying their sailplanes (gliders), electric powered, and other silent aircraft at our field in Leelanau County. Aircraft range in size from electric powered aircraft and gliders with wingspans 8 -12 inches to aircraft with wingspans greater than 12 feet. When flying gliders (soaring), pilots launch their aircraft with electric powered winches or "High Start" rubber launch systems to heights of hundreds of feet then release them from the "tow line" and search for rising columns of warm air called thermals. Upon finding a thermal, they circle their aircraft in the warm rising air that can lift an aircraft hundreds of feet higher into the sky. Flights have been recorded of more than 3000 feet with the maximum height limited only by the ability of the pilot to see and control the aircraft.

LIFT members consist of beginners to those with decades of experience and have attained the highest level of League of Silent Flight competency. Some members are actively involved in regional, national, and international contests while others prefer to simply "fun fly" on a sunny afternoon. The countryside is beautiful, thermals abound, and members enjoy meeting and flying with other enthusiasts. During winter months, members usually build new aircraft for the coming season. The club also has monthly meetings during the winter months that allow us to get together and talk about flying, building, and other facets for this hobby.

The purpose of this web site is to introduce anyone interested in building and flying silent aircraft and encourage you to join LIFT. We take pride in making fun the priority in all of our activities.