D34th

hey im looking to get a nice glider that has everything included at a nice price. i have a wide range of flying areas so im not limited to small or large flying parks. can anyone suggest a nice on for a beginner...thanks and sorry if this has been asked...

kwmtrubrit

A Gentle Lady is a great trainer. Depending on your ability, you can add spoilers and have a perfect RES ship. Good luck.
P.S. This is what I have and love it!!

Keith

csasopwith

I agree with kwmtrubrit.easy to build so stable in the air cant go wrong.Just add a 2m bungee worlds your oyster.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I wanted to get involved in RC flying since I was a kid. However I
really didn't want to build the plane. I didn't have the skills, and if I
crashed it my first time out, after all that work, I would be crushed.
Fortunately today you don't have to build to fly.

I started flying in March of 2003. I went the R-T-F route. I think this is
such a great way to get started.


THE GREAT PLANES SPRIT SELECT RTF 2 METER SAILPLANE -

The Spirit Select comes completely assembled with all the electronics installed. It includes a 72 MHZ three channel radio which is branded Hobbico, but it is really a Hitec radio. This was my first glider. I loved learning to soar with the Spirit and continue to fly it often today.

Here is a link to the site where I purchased it from tower hobbies. You can get it for $159 complete!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVK55**&P=7

The only thing you will need to add is a hi-start so you can launch it. Tower has this one which will work great with this plane. $60
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE636&P=7

That's all you need. I started flying the Spirit in July '03 and have about 180 flights on the Spirit to date. It is so great when I get it so high it is just a dot in the sky. I definitely recommend the Spirit select as a first sailplane. I have since added 3M full house sailplanes to my hanger, but it was the Spirit that got me started.


SPECTRA MOTOR GLIDER

I don't have one of these, but if you are more likely to buy a motor glider
than a pure sailplane, there is a version of the Spirit Select called the
Spectra. Also an RTF, this version has a motor. www.towerhobbies.com has it
for $199 RTF - Add $10 for transmitter batteries and you are set.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVJ51**&P=7

D34th

hey man thanks a lot...i didnt specify what i wanted (if i wanted to build or not) and you found the most perfect one...well i had seen it before and took a few peeks on the spirit and now that i konw someone likes it i will be ordering soon. this would be my first and there is no way that i am ready to build. thanks a lot...

D34th

hmm i also like that spectra for the future. for now im gonna stick with true sailplanes but i have a question. what battery connectors do planes use? im coming from rc cars with the tamiya connectors, the planes dont use the same ones right? thanks...

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Some of the electric parkflyers use a smaller version of the tamaya connector, but there are many others. Planes are more varied than cars.

As for the Spirit, you won't need to worry about that. All the connectors are there. You will be using AA batteries for the radio and the receiver. You can use rechargeables if you like.

I flew the Spirit with that radio for a year and also used it for one of my electrics. If you get real serious, you may wish to upgrade to a computer radio later, but this radio is fine for RES, or rudder/elevator/spoiler planes, or for R/E throttle electic sailplanes. You can buy another receiver so you can have more than one plane ready to fly too. Maybe get that Spectra as an ARF, add you own servos and receiver and go fly that near the end of the season.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

The New Glider Pilot's Handbook

Welcome to the world of silent flight. If you plan to fly gliders and
sailplanes, whether slope or thermal, powered or pure, this series of articles
may be helpful in getting off to a good start. They are written with the new
glider pilot in mind. I hope you find them useful.

Getting Started in Sailplanes
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=36

Radio Systems Part 1 - Standard Radios
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

Radio Systems Part 2 - Computer Radios - The better choice for almost everyone
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65

Sailplane Launching Systems
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=55

How to use a Hi-Start
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=52

Finding Lift
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=57

Sailplanes are Wonderful
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=18

Plane Locators & Battery Monitors
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=67

Additional Articles and Resources
http://www.coloradogliders.com/tools.htm#articles

Read this next article only if you like to dabble in deeper technical stuff.
This article
is on advanced set-up of a full house sailplane. Definitely not something a
beginner, or even a many experienced sailplane pilot need to do. This is more
for competition pilots, but if you like to look at some of the advanced stuff,
this might be fun. It is a translation, so take your time as you read it.
http://www.gliders.dk/triming_and_se...der_wi_eng.htm

I invite others to post links to articles and resources that would be helpful
to new glider/sailplane pilots.

Good luck new pilot and welcome to silent flight!

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

I follow these steps for every new plane!

PREFLIGHT AND TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR GLIDERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums

Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your glider for
launch. If you are a new pilot, you really need to heed the wind cautions.
If you are experienced, use your own judgment.

Here is how you prepare for your first flights. Skip a step and you open
yourself to problems.

Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested point. If you don't have a
reference setting from planes or a guide, then try balancing on the main spar
as a starting point. Another reference point is 30-35% back from the front of
the wing at the root. It is more complex than that, but it give you a
starting point.

It is better to be a "little" nose heavy to tail heavy. A nose heavy plane is
more stable so you have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.

Respect the wind - For new pilots, dead calm to 2 MPH is perfect. No more
than 5 MPH for your first test glides and early/training flights or you will
be fighting the wind, not flying the plane.
(guess how I know)

AT THE FIELD

1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. If
someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will crash!
Check first!

2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day

3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3 days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!

4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up, etc. Check that
surfaces are properly aligned. Also make sure your wing is straight!

5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the stick(s).
Be sure you have not bumped one out of position. A bumped trim can cause the
plane to crash. (guess how I know).

6) Always launch and land into the wind

7) hand launches/test glides - good firm LEVEL throw - not up. Never
throw the plane upward on a test glide as it will most likely stall, nose
down and crash.

8) Let it fly straight out (with or without power for e-gliders) - the fist
few times and see if it goes straight
and level. Try not to use the controls unless you have to. If it is balanced
correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should glide straight and flat for
about 50-100 feet. If it does not, you have some balancing or trim to adjust.

If this is an e-glider, do the same, but it will need a stronger throw. Take
a couple of steps to get up some energy.

Then you can power it up, launch it, go out straight and bring power down and
let it glide to a landing. See how it glides an get a feel for how it lands.

The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 10-15 test glides, then
adjust, then test again. Only when I am happy that the plane glides straight
and flat will I launch it.


IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST FIRST FLIGHT AND YOU ARE LEARNING ON YOUR OWN

If you are learning to use a hi-start on your own, consult this article on
learning to use a hi-start:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=52

My suggestion is to make your first few hi-start launches purely test and trim
launches Launch and spend your time testing the behavior of the plane. Avoid
thermals until you are sure of your plane. Land after a short time and see
how it lands. Do several launch and land drills to get to know the plane.

I like to adjust my planes at the surfaces so that my normal flight setting on
any plane on any radio is neutral trims. This way I don't have to worry about
setting trims before I fly. It takes time, but it saves problems later.

If you can set your control throws lower for early flights do it. Too much
surface movement on an unfamiliar plane can cause you to over control it. You
can always "crank it up" later.

Once I have done all these things, which might take hours, then and only then
would I go for a thermal. I want to know the plane is right before I send it
hunting.



I do several test glides before I launch any sailplane. I do this EVERY time I go to the field. ALWAYS! EVERY TIME! Am I making myself clear? Test glides!

Clear Skies and Safe Flying!

love those warbirds

My Feedback: (39)

I Have a Great Planes Spectra ARF 78.5, its a good flyer. The instructions are sort of hard to follow. But for a 3 channel (ruder,elevator,throttle) sailplane it handles vary good. I could do loops and fly upside down too. If you do do loops and other tricks put on A LOT of rubber band the wing really flexes.