Today I had a lengthy conversation with the people at Bud Nosen Models, my balsa supplier. Here is the bottom line: Don't expect any contest grade balsa from any supplier, any time soon. Why? Well, thanks to the " environmentalists", most balsa being harvested is going into wind turbine blades! The turbine industry is paying the highest prices for any balsa...they do not need to sort it by density...so they are getting nearly ALL of it.
The irony of this state of affairs is in their efforts to "save the planet", the very tropical rain forests the environmentalists revere...ARE BEING CLEAR CUT to supply material for turbine blades!
So, look for alternate construction methods and materials for your planes. Also, carefully consider which politicians and environmental groups you chose to support.
Tom Dixon
07/27/2019