kilmerelrc

My Feedback: (8)

I would like to get into sailplanes but dont know what model to get first. I will be flying on a flat field with low to moderate wind conditions. I would like a 4ch plane but dont know what would be best. Hand launch, discus launch and so on. Also, V-tail, T-tail and so on. Any help would be great. Thanks

soarrich

My Feedback: (98)

If I were getting into sailplanes now, knowing what I know now, I'd start with an poly electric sailplane. My reasons are:
For the electric:
1 It just easy to do.
2 You can search for lift more, if you don't find it, you just give it power and look again or come back to the field and land, with a pure sailplane you always have to keep some hiegth in reserve to get home.
For the poly:
You want to be watching the plane for lift, not worring about flying it.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

kilmerelrc

Welcome to the world of themal soaring.

Tell us something about your skills. Are you an experience RC pilot who wants to branch out, or is this your first plane?

Why 4 channel?

Do you have a radio or do you need a whole set-up?

What is your flying space like? How large?

Hi-start launch or electric launch?

How are you building/repairing skills?

There are lots of good choices. Tell us more about yourself and then we can better guide you.

kilmerelrc

My Feedback: (8)

Ed, I have been flying less that 1 year. I self taught my self on a foam 3ch. It was 100 bucks and I got my money out of it. I began to do high speed loops with it and broke the small spar causing the wind to fold up. From there I bought a 6ch computer radio and a foam wing, balsa fuselage, 4ch, electric plane from mountain models. I flew that for a couple of months and then I got into SPADS. My first SPAD built from scratch was a low wing 4ch. It was a rocket. I enjoyed the SPADS so I then built myself a 4ch high wing trainer. It has a 64 inch wing span and I have an OS46 on it. I set it up with flapperons and it seems to fly smoothly. At this point I am interested in soaring. I fly at a field about the size of 8 soccer fields square. It is surrounded by trees but generally very open. I was thinking of getting a 2m sail plain with spoilers. I was thinking of launching it with a power pod, whether electric or glow. I am looking for some suggestion on a good set up. I am not sure about using a hi-start. I am very interested in power assisted starts. I am not sure why, but it has struck a nerve. Well, thats my story. Some flying, a lot of scratch building on SPADS and a lot of aviation knowledge. Thanks for the help. Kilmerelrc

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

If you are going to fly a power assisted glider/sailplane, I would suggest you go electric and that you do it internally rather than on a pod. Pods are only really good when you are modifying an existing plane to power assist, or you want to be able to put it on and off. If it will be power assisted from the start, then start with a plane designed that way.

So you are looking for A/E/R/T = 4 channel. A/E/R/T/spoilers or flaps = 5 channel

Since throttle is really only used to climb to height, it is often put on a swich rather than on the throttle stick. The stick is used to vary the deployment of spoilers or flaps. Think of it as the speed or glide contorl stick rather than throttle in this context. You hit the switch for full power, climb to height, then switch off. If you have a 3 position switch, you can have a high and low throttle. Or you can leave throttle on the stick and put spoilers/flaps on the switch. If it is a 3 way switch, that works fine. This way you have partial deployment and full deployment.

Rudder plays a valuable part in thermaling. If you have a computer radio, you will want to mix rudder with ailerons for smoother coordinated turns which are more energy efficient. Or you can do it manually. You can fly withot using the rudder, but again, it is not as efficent.

Typical configurations for e-gliders are:

R/E/T

R/E/T/Flapperons ( computer radio )

R/E/T/A/Flaps

R/E/T/A/spoilers - this being less common.

Some ideas:

Mulitplex Easy Glider Electric - $90
Aileron/Rudder/Elevator/Throttle - 1.9M This would make an excellent first
e-glider
due to its rugged Elapor foam construciton. I have flow the sailplane
version - it flies very well.
http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/P...asyGliderE.htm
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKHS8&P=7
Here it is flown out electric, but I think this is on a slope
http://www.elflight.dk/video5/easy-gl-hang.wmv

Mulitplex Easy Glider Electric - $90
Aileron/Rudder/Elevator/Throttle - 1.9M This would make an excellent first
e-glider due to its rugged Elapor foam construciton. I have flow the sailplane
version - it flies very well. Great keep in the car plane if you have the room.
Standard Speed 400 motor is adequate but many put in a brushelss
http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/P...asyGliderE.htm
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKHS8&P=7
Here it is flown out electric, but I think this is on a slope
http://www.elflight.dk/video5/easy-gl-hang.wmv

Sandy with ailerons
I like this one as a thermal plane
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=2791


Several people have this at the club.
Not a beginner plane but it thermals
Can be quite aerobatic, but not a hotliner.
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=130


Sprinter
Hotliner
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=1568

Mini-NYX - Pricy but!
Hotliner, sloper, says it will thremal too.
http://www.icare-rc.com/mini_nyx_e.htm

Ocelot Electro
hotliner, but is says it can thermal - might be fun!
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=1584
http://www.icare-rc.com/ocelot_e.htm


Filip 400RG (t-tail)
This is a hotliner - no claim to thermal
Probably ok on slope if you have a good landing area
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=2796
Right size and power


These don't really meet your specs, but these are more traditional e-gliders based on unpowered sailplanes. R/E/T

Goldberg Electra
R/E/T - 2M This is a more traditional built up balsa glider with a polyhedral
wing. Essentially an electric verion of the popular Gentle Lady. Many people
add a gear box and larger prop to get stronger climb on this plane.
Kit - $75
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJB2&P=7
ARF - $110
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...ra&FVPROFIL=++

Hanger 9 Aspire - $239 - RTF
R/E/T - 2M This is a traditional built up balsa glider with Polyhedral wing.
Many people add a gearbox to this plane for stronger climbs.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HAN1950