RE: A few questions on my first sailplane  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       



All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Gliders, Sailplanes and Slope Soaring >> RE: A few questions on my first sailplane Page: <<   < prev  1 [2]

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 8/14/2006 2:14:59 AM   
slopemeno



Posts: 448
Joined: 5/24/2003
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I bought a used plane from a guy who said " I could never get it to fly as good as your Sparrow". Well, on the first test flight I could see why- he must have had an extra ounce or three of lead in the nose. Once removed, the plane zoomed pretty badly, so lets land and shim the trailing edge of the wing. Two layers of elctrical tape wasnt quite enough, so I landed and added tow more. Bingo. Now it flies inverted with the slightest hint of down, thermals great, and rips it up on the front side. On the dive test it holds a 45 degree down line as far as I dare take it. $150 bucks for a 60" racer with the servos and receiver. Such a deal.

Where did I pick all this up? The old (1995 I think) NSP catalog article on CG, Decalage and the dive test. Great stuff.

(in reply to XFLY-ER)
       Post #: 26

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 8/14/2006 4:31:48 PM   
Jerrak


 

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/6/2006
From: Alachua, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the feedback. I will read that article carefully. While repairing the spirit, I did shim the back of the wing 1/16" or so....maybe that was too much. Anyway, I will set CGat the back of the spar and test from hand launch. I'm sure there is a good sailplane in there somewhere just trying to come out. I haven't had a really good flight yet, but.....for each flight there have been moments where it breaks into a nice stable glide (and I think to myself, "so this is what it is supposed to feel like!" I'm guessing that I hit a sweet spot (attitude/speed) that works with my current CG/deca-thing. I'm hopeful that once I tweak things a bit that I can make that sweet spot the rule rather than the exception.

Thanks again for the comments,
Tom

(in reply to slopemeno)
       Post #: 27

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 8/14/2006 5:33:01 PM   
slopemeno



Posts: 448
Joined: 5/24/2003
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Status: offline 		You'll get there, you just have to be methodical. The Charles River Soaring Society site describes the process pretty well.

I was at Los Banos on Saturday and a guy had a brand new 2 meter Spirit which flew amazingly well in light air. It ate up the light thermals that rolled through, and it was able to quickly get away from sinky areas.

(in reply to Jerrak)
       Post #: 28

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 10/20/2006 4:13:38 AM   
Jerrak


 

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/6/2006
From: Alachua, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I have gotten quite good at floating the spirit around (raising the back of the wing a bit and moving the CG back really smoothed this plane out). I have been having much fun learning this hobby. I am flying a small electric trainer in my yard, a .40 glow trainer at the local club field and the Spirit at a local state park. My mind is wandering to future purchases, and I am really wanting a big composite sailplane (>2.5m) that I can launch from a hi-start and hunt for rising air. I'm wondering if such planes exists. I read !QUOT!silent Flier!QUOT! and keep seeing F3B planes that look very cool, but they are always launched with winches and don't seem to be geared for the flat, windless geo-meterologic (please credit Tom...if this is a new term) conditions of North central Florida. I'm not a great pilot yet and will not have the cash for a composite plane for quite some time.......just wondering if y'all can suggest something I can dream about for the future.

Thanks,
Tom

(in reply to slopemeno)
       Post #: 29

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 10/20/2006 7:33:17 AM   
slopemeno



Posts: 448
Joined: 5/24/2003
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well, I just sold an RnR Genesis Thermal Duration plane, which is a big (115" I think) 6-function plane. Its all hollow molded composite plane. I picked it up used for $340 IIRC with all the servos, just add a battery and receiver. It flew great in light slope lift, and was amazingly aerobatic for a plane that wasnt really meant for that sort of flying really. Look around for deals like that. For instance, right now on another forum theres a Mark Triebs Tempest for sale for $500 for the bare airframe. Thats a hot plane that will fly great- the down side is you'll need a winch to really get the most out of a plane like that. The high-start required would be pretty huge.

If I was living in a flat area like Fla, I'd go for some of these amazing discus launched gliders. You can fly anywhere, so a vacant lot, a quiet city park, etc means you'll get more stick time. The other choices are electrics, of course, but that droves the prices up.
Google the XP-4, Pacific Aeromodeling, Quick-Flick II, Wright Bros Gambler, and think about it.

(in reply to Jerrak)
       Post #: 30

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 10/23/2006 4:37:35 PM   
Jerrak


 

Posts: 16
Joined: 6/6/2006
From: Alachua, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the suggestions slopemeno. As fortune would have it, I met some guys at the state park this weekend who were flying discus launched gliders. I was amazed at the height that they were getting from a hand launch. I will definitely look into this further. You also gave me a new search term with "Thermal Duration". I have found several models which closely match what I am looking for.

Thanks again,
Tom


(in reply to slopemeno)
       Post #: 31

RE: A few questions on my first sailplane - 10/24/2006 5:36:19 AM   
slopemeno



Posts: 448
Joined: 5/24/2003
From: San Francisco, CA, USA
Status: offline 		As luck would have it, I watched a guy dicus launch a Blaster on Sunday, and WOW, the launch heights were pretty high. That thing weighed 10 ounces according to the owner, and it would slow to a crawl for a hand catch. Definitely a step above the old javelin launches.

My only reservation about DLGs is the price, but like anything else, you get what you pay for.

(in reply to Jerrak)
       Post #: 32

Page:   <<   < prev  1 [2]
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Gliders, Sailplanes and Slope Soaring >> RE: A few questions on my first sailplane
Page: <<   < prev  1 [2]





Jump to:


Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Member Video Posts | RCU Video Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

© 2001 - 2007 24-7 RC, LLC, all rights reserved.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America

Kaango.com Classifieds

0.719RCU5