F-16WpnsTech

Any recommendations for an Electric glider RTF? I've got some time on my Hobbie Avistar and looking for an electric glider RTF since I live in a mountainous area. Any links would be appreciated, and your experience with 'em. Thanks.

aeajr

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SPECTRA MOTOR GLIDER

I don't have one of these, but if you want to buy a motor glider rather
than a pure sailplane, there is a verison of the Spirit called the Spectra.
Essentially the same plane, but with a motor. Tower has it for $199
RTF - Add $10 for everreadys and you are set.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVJ51**&P=7

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Why not consider an unpowered glider upon which you can add a motor when ever you like.

My Glider is the Great Planes 2 Meter Spirit Select.

The Spirit Select is completely assembled with all the electronics installed.
It includes a 72 MHZ radio that is single stick. This is very easy to use.
It is branded Hobbico, but it is really a Hitec radio.

Here is a link to the site where I purchased it for $139 complete!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVK55**&P=7

Here is a link to the ARF version where you can find links to two product
reviews. If you want to do some building, the ARF is the route, but for an
extra $40, I got the radio and the plane ready to fly. For me that was
perfect.
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1045.html

The plane has spoilers built in the wings, but you don't have to enable them.
The Select model does not come with the spoilers enabled. I will do that part
of the build soon.

I have about 65 short flights on it as I have been focusing on launching and
landing. However, this plane has a reputation of being a great thermalling
plane. I am looking forward to many long flights.

I would definitely recommend it.

If you are interested in gliders/sailplanes but not flying them yet, you might
find this thread of value:
http://lisf.proboards13.com/index.cg...num=1070740602


I built this power pod and will start using it with the Spirt in the spring. I will fit almost any glider up to two meters.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ769&P=7

cirrus

aeajr:

I'm considering the Spirit Select for a first RC glider. If you could please ansuer a couple of questions. Can you operate the spoilers on the standard airplane or is this an option that requires extra equipment than that included. Also, how hard is it do perform this highstarts? It seems like a hell of a deal for $139.00.

cirrus

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I have been very happy with my Spirit. I recommend it to everyone. I also use the same radio to fly a parkflyer. Just need another receiver.

The spoilers are literally under the covering. The instructions tell you how to cut them in. You will have to add a servo and some string to operate them. Or you can do what I did which is to put servos in the wings. Either method works.

I would get some flight time in on the plane before you mess with the spoilers. This way you are not impacting the plane before you know how it behaves.

Make sure you balance the plane before you fly it. The instructions tell you to do this, but some peopel don't read instructions. When you order it, get a pack of these. You will need them.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK204&P=7

Hi-starts? I will post my intro to hi-starts right after this. It is a bit long but it does give you a good idea on how to go about it.

I will tell you about my hi-starts. They are a bit beefy, but I knew that ahead of time. This one works very nicely with the Spirit Select and is a little gentler to work with than mine.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE636&P=7

You need about an 800 foot field to use a full size hi-start. If you field is not that big, you might want to start with an up-start. This is also good for practice. I have both an up-start and a hi-start.

Here is an up-start that is well matched to the spirit select.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE638&P=7

I would be HAPPY to help in any way I can. Sailplanes are SOOOO much fun and I am doing some stuff with my Spirit that might interest you.

Hi-starts - watch this spot.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Here is a great link for understanding hi-starts. I use this when I am
explaining sailplanes to friends.
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~learmont/HiStart.html

I have two hi-starts.

Practice hi-start/up-start

This one is a home made up-start with 25' of 7/16" latex tubing (1/16 wall)
that I bought on e-bay. It is really stronger than what I need for this plane.
I added 100 feet of pink mason's line that I bought at home depot. I made the
parachute out of a pink golf hat. I use this one for practicing launches and
landings. It would be better matched to the plane if the tubing was 5/16". I
get a good but a little too powerful launch. This rubber is so strong that it
has been used to launch 3 meter full house sailplanes with no problem.

I can get about 100-150' launch with this set-up. If there is a strong breeze,
say 7 MPH, I add another 50 feet of line because I can get more of a kite
effect and add 30-60 feet to my launch.

Big Hi-start

My main hi-start is from Northeast Sailplanes. It is their "Pinnacle Standard"
model.
http://www.nesail.com/pinnacle.html

This Hi-Start has 100' of 1/2" rubber with a 3/32 wall. Again, this is really
stronger than I need for this plane, but I bought it in anticipation of moving
into larger planes later. This one can launch 3+ meter sailplanes with ease.
It has 390 feet of hot pink line that is identical to the mason's line that I
got at home depot. I get 400-500' launches with this one. I often approach the
launches that others get off of the club winches. The more experienced pilots
can really zoom off the top of the launch with this hi-start.

Keep in mind that I have a huge field to work with. Here is a picture of the
field. http://www.lisf.org/Pictures/29070035.jpg

Our field is about 800' by 1600' so I can lay out a 500' hi-start, pull back
75-100 feet and have room to work. For the larger planes, they pull my
hi-start back close to 200 feet and really send the plane up.

Hope this is useful info.

For anyone who might be reading this who is interested in gliders/sailplanes
but not flying them yet, you might find this thread of value:
http://lisf.proboards13.com/index.cg...num=1070740602

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I think one of the reasons we don't see more people flying gliders is that
they don't understand how the planes are launched. Once someone tells them about a
hi-start or a winch, they shy away, again, because they don't understand.

So, I am making this post because I could not find tips or advice anywhere on
the internet on how a person, working alone, could learn to use a hi-start. I
invite more experienced sailplane pilots to add their tips, comments and
advice to mine.

If you have shied away from pure sailplanes because you feared the hi-start,
relax. Think of a hi-start as just an assisted hand launch. If you can hand
throw your sailplane, get it flying level, control it in the air and land it,
then you can use a hi-start.

I LOVE hi-start launching my Spirit 2 Meter. It is such a thrill to see it
climb up to the sky then just silently float off the line like a sailboat. If
I can do it, you can do it!

These links may be helpful for background.

http://www.mrcss.org/pdf/articles/a_beginners_guide.pdf

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~learmont/HiStart

Hi-start launching.

First, let's be clear, I am NOT talking about competition launches here I am
talking about safe sport launches. I am sure someone will post about maximum
altitude and such. I just want to help you get in the air safely.

Second, get a coach/instructor if one is available and ignore all of this.
This is ONLY intended for someone who is unable to get help and must learn on
their own.

Third, your plane must already be well trimmed and flying straight and even
from a hand throw. Getting good at hand launches is important to good
hi-start launches. Fail to do this and the hi-start will turn your plane to
junk!

Fourth and very important, make sure your tow hook is in the forward most hole
that your plane has. It should be a little in front of the CG of your plane.
This will give you a more controlled launch than the more rear, competition
positions.

OK? We understand the goal here? Safe and gradual build up. Our goal is
control, not height! That will come later.


Always launch into the wind. Launching is easier with a mild breeze than it
is in dead calm air. For learning purposes I would say you want at least 2-3
MPH and no more than 6-7 MPH of head wind.

I was taught to launch with all controls at neutral. In fact my initial
launches were with a little down elevator to help reduce the chance of a
pop-off.

I started with a full size hi-start and an instructor who made the first 4-5
launches for me so I could watch and he could see how the plane would behave.
Then he released the plane on the next three while I held the
radio to control the plane.

Then I released while he flew the plane. Then I did both. But we were
working with the BIG hi-start in a huge field and he was there to guide me.
If your plane is properly trimmed, all controls should be at neutral for your
launches.

You should only need rudder to control the launch. You may use a little up
down then up elevator at the very very end to help release the ring from the
tow hook, but mostly I just let it fly off.

If you get your wings out of level on the launch, the plane will tend to go
right or left when you throw it, just like a bad hand throw. Use the
rudder to get it back to center.

THE ASSISTED HAND LAUNCH

Build up to it slowly. Think of a hi-start as an assisted hand throw. Do
exactly what you would do on a hand throw. Basically flat firm throw.

I don't know what hi-start you have or how big it is, but if it is a "full
size" hi-start it probably has 30 meters/100 feet of elastic and 100-120
meters/300-400 feet of line. That is an awful big thing to handle on initial
launches without a coach.

You can either get an up-start which is 5-10 meters/15-30' feet of elastic
plus 15-50 meters/50-150 feet of line which can be used in a smaller space
and, in my opinion be a little less scary. Or, take your big hi-start,
replace the big length of line with a smaller length.

Shortening a big hi-start for practice:

You can buy masons line at home depot, or you can cut the line that came with
your hi-start. You want to leave a 50-100 foot length to use for your initial
launches You can reattach it later with snap swivels or just tie a knot.

Get a metal ring, 1.5-3 inches in diameter. You are going to use this to
loop the elastic onto the ring in some fashion to secure it so that you are
only using part of the elastic you have to make the shorter launcher.

Don't cut the elastic.

Make sure the stake that you put into the ground has a washer on it that will
not pull through the ring. If you start small, say 10' of elastic and 30' of line it will feel a lot
easier to control, and the launch will be lower and the energy smaller. Again we are just going to do an assisted hand throw.

We will use this length combination for this discussion. Remember that I am assuming your plane is well balanced and trimmed and that you can reliably hand throw it and control that hand throw from your radio.

Hook the line to your tow hook and pull back 5-10 feet, or about 1/2 the
length of the elastic, for the first launch.

Check to make sure all of your controls are working.

Stand firm and just give it a straight. firm, flat throw, controls at neutral.
You should only need rudder to control direction.

It should go out just like a hand launch, only with a little more speed and it
should naturally climb a little. It should just fly off the end of the line.
Don't go for height, go for control.

How did that go? If it went left or right, you tipped the wings when you
threw it. Work on it at this length until you go out level and true every
time.

Build up the strength of the pull over several launches. 1/2 the length of
the elastic. Then 3/4, then the full length. Make sure you are going out
straight and level.

Pop-off:

If the plane starts popping off too soon, try putting a few clicks of down
elevator on the trim before you launch. Also make sure your tow hook is in
FRONT of the CG. The tendency to pop off will increase with the power of the
launch, so let's get it under control early.

Keep adding strength to your launch. When you get to on full lenght with the pull back, it is time to extend the elastic. That is, if you have 10' of elastic at this time, and you are pulling it back 10', then slide on some more elastic, say another 10-20 feet. Build as you are comfortable. Then just slide the metal ring further down the elastic and add more line. Use roughly 1 foot of elastic to 3-5 feet of line.

As the pull gets stronger, the plane will fly out faster and the lift off the
wings will take it higher naturally. No need to throw it up, it will go up on
its own. You can reserve aggressive angles and the more rear tow hook
positions for competition.

I have about 65 launches with my Spirit 2 meter. I launch flat with neutral
controls and the forward tow hook position.

Using my smaller launcher (25' tubing and 100' line) I get 100-150 foot
launches depending on the wind.

With the larger one (100' elastic and 400' line) I estimate I go up 400-550
feet and can zoom off of the end if I want.

Like you I was afraid of the hi-start. If you have someone to coach you
through the first few launches you will be fine. If you don't, try this
method.

That plane was made to fly. Fly it!

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

F-16WpnsTech

Too much stuff?

I hope what I have written here makes sense.

If you are reading this post and are interested in gliders/sailplanes, you
might find this thread of value:
http://lisf.proboards13.com/index.cg...num=1070740602

cirrus

aeajr:

Thank you for all the good info. I am definitely going to try the glider thing when thremals return in the spring. The field that I now use is big enough for a hi-start. I think the Spirit Select will fit my needs very nicely.

cirrus

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

let me know if I can help in any way.

I am rebuilding mine now, after a crash.

Jerry Ledford

My Feedback: (15)

Hi, one last reply for you. Go to www.quantum models.com.You will find 2 meter spectra arf gliders with motors starting at about 50 bucks. I have bee dealing with them for years.They stock about everything you would ever need at the cheapest price.If you have any questions, E-mail Carla,she kinda runs the place.Have fun, Jerry