shd3920

I was given a Tower Hobbies Vista 2 Meter Sailplane ARF as a late birthdate gift
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...4&I=LXLGM5&P=K

Will I be able to save money and use the Dynaflite Up-Start?
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&P=8&I=LXE637
Or will I need this Dynaflite Standard Hi-Start?
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE635&P=V

The upstart says it can be used on Sailplanes up to 72� and the sailplane I want is 78 1/2�
Is that a big enough difference to matter?

Are they hard to learn to use?

Or would it be best to use a power pod?
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...4&I=LXJ769&P=K

da Rock

The larger of the two is the way to go. Price isn't the only way they differ.

You should consider also where you will be able to use that kind of launch system.

The smaller one needs 300' of clear area to use and should give 200' launches.
The larger one needs 800' of launch space and should give 500' launches.

Which sounds like the better value?

Flying gliders is basically a game of chance. Every launch has a chance to find lift. The higher the launch, the better chance to find lift. And the probability goes up almost exponentially with the height of the launch.

If you've got room, go with the bigger one. Any 2meter should handle it with no problem. And will be a lot happier to start looking for thermals up at 500' than at 200'.

shd3920

So I can compare field sizes what is 800' as compared to a football field?

shane.barton

800 feet is just shy of 3 football fields by 100 feet.

1 football field = 100 yards (not including the 20 yards for the 2 end zones)

100 yards = 300 feet (3 feet per yard)

So, essentially it's 2.66666667 football fields (round a bout).

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

check out aerofoam.com hose monster they have the SERIOUS bungees[>:] and the service is outstanding IMHO

daveosoar

I'll back OzMo, Hosemonster in the USA supply my Club in the UK at a price competitive to those we can get in Europe - including shipping!! - and a superior product to boot.
Daveosoar.

martin o

I agree that Hosemonster is best, but if this is your first glider, the Dynaflite hi-start will work for a while. If you are serious about gliders, the Hosemonster is worth every penny.
If you decide to start out with the Dynaflite, I recommend buying the larger version. My first glider was the same size as yours but slightly heavier. I bought the Dynaflite up-start but it would launch the plane only 100' or so. In a stiff breeze you could probably get a 200' launch, but I wasn't good enough to fly in a stiff breeze so it didnt' matter. I bought a second up-start and tied the two lengths of rubber together. Then I was able to get a reasonable launch height. High enough to make a few turns before I was back on the ground, or if I was really lucky to catch a weak thermal. And I still didn't need the massive field that the full length hi-start requires.
I would recommend buying the larger hi-start and cutting it in half. Then you can add the other half when you find a big field to fly in.
One more note: Dynaflite gives too much string with their up-start kits. Limit the string to 4-times the length of the rubber.
Good luck.

da Rock

http://www.aerofoam.com/hosemonster.html

They sell both bungee and highstart. Also, the site has some specs on the components. Worth reading.

shd3920

Thank you all for your advice. Sounds like it would be simpler and less expensive to use the power pod, http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...4&I=LXJ769&P=K , I just hope it is simple to put together. I have never put together a power pod before.