Details

The RO8 grew out of lessons learned from the RO4. The RO4 was intended to be light, durable, fast, and easy to fly. While it achieved low wing loading and good durability, its thick flat-bottom airfoil limited speed, and despite respectable contest results, it was neither especially enjoyable nor easy to fly.

Before redesigning, I reassessed the true goals of sailplane flying. The foremost priority became fun—achieved through a design that is easy and rewarding to fly. The second priority was creating something distinctive and visually appealing, a design that stands out. Competitive performance formed the third priority, with the goal of winning any two-meter contest regardless of task. The final priority was durability and ease of construction, driven by a strong preference for flying over building and a need to minimize repairs.

Designed by Dick Odle
Plan on Outer Zone website