aeajr
Posts: 5495
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island,
NY, USA
Status: offline
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Smoking Joe,
I wrecked my last year. This is how you come out of a wreck better than before you crashed.
My first sailplane was a Great Planes Spirit Select. The plane came ready to
fly with all the electronics installed and a three channel 72 MHZ radio.
It has been a wonderful plane for me. I have enjoyed it very much and would
recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to fly sailplanes but doesn't want
to build. Also it is very cost effective if you don't already have a radio.
The cost of the ARF at about $95 plus a low cost 3 channel Hitec radio with
two standard servos at $60 comes out at $155.
I purchased this plane from Tower Hobbies, all built, for $139. It was
cheaper for me to buy it than build it and I figure I saved myself about 6-10
hours of work. That means more flying time and flying sooner.
Another thing I like about this plane is that it has spoilers built into the
wings. While they are not enabled when you get the plane, they are not too
hard to set-up. I flew about 40 flights without the spoilers. Then I added
them and have really enjoyed learning how to add them to my flying skills.
They work very well.
My Spirit and I have become best buddies. I have mastered hi-start launching
and enjoyed 65 great flights.
I felt it was time to learn the winch, so I received some instruction from the
club wizards in the use of the winch. As part of the 65 launches mentioned
above, about 20 of them were winch launches that were managed by someone else
while I handled the controls of the plane. We knew the plane would winch
launch without problems with a little pedal management.
On my third attempt to winch launch on my own, I messed up and crashed the
plane hard on the launch. I considered the plane a total loss and purchased a
kit. This time I would build one. A new learning step.
Shutterfly photo link
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b3477855454e
As it turns out, the plane was not a total loss. Using the plans from the kit
as a guide, I was able to repair the wings. The damage was less then I
originally thought. The servos I had put in the wings to operate the spoilers
survived the crash. They worked very well, so I will keep them there.
Here is one way to put a motor on a Spirit without permanently mounting it so
you can fly with or without a motor.
MODIFYING THE PLANE FOR AN ELECTRIC REMOVABLE POWER POD
My original interior layout used two CS-61 standard servos which sat under the
wing, which is the standard placement. That arrangement required about 4 oz of
lead in the nose weight compartment for balance. This is pretty typical for a
Spirit, or so I am told.
During my learning period using a winch I crashed the plane which required
lots of repairs. So, I decided to make improvements in the process.
The first change was to embed about 1 oz of lead in the nose block which gets
it about 1" further forward than the ballast box. Then I moved the R/E servos
forward, to the
rear of the receiver compartment. The standard size cs-61 servos that were
already in the plane just fit here and the weight forward helped further
reduce balance weight.
I switched to a Micro 555 receiver, instead of the original 3 channel AM
receiver so I have a channel for motor control. Its small size allowed
me to use reuse the standard servos in this placement.
With this 3 inch shift forward of the servo weigh, a change to the Micro 555
receiver, plus a 1" shift forward of weight to the nose block, I reduced the
net balance lead and end up with a plane that is 2 ozs lighter.
A second change was to switch to golden 'n rod control rods for the
elevator and rudder so I could run them down the sides of the plane. The
standard control rods ran down the center. This opens up the space under the
wing, which is right over the CG, to accommodate a 2100 mah nicad battery pack
to power the Speed 600 power pod.
Now I can convert from sailplane to e-glider at will. Placing the
battery directly over the CG means I don't have to rebalance the plane on the
change over.
With these changes I have a lighter plane and gain the
flexibility to add electric power at will, or have a very convenient place to
add ballast weight when I am flying in heavy wind. I always found it
challenging to find a well balanced place to add ballast. Now it is easy.
If you like the power pod idea, that is about $32 at www.towerhobbies.com.
How's that for making the best of a crash?
_____________________________
Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
Ed Anderson
Moderator
Park Pilot Program Partner
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Gliders, Sailplanes and Slope Soaring >> RE: 2M Spirit FINISHED! 
RE: 2M Spirit FINISHED! - 
RE: ca in eye again? night flying and ufos and get gog... - 
bright idea sounds like a 