Ryans Rebel

My Feedback: (12)

I am very new to DLGs. Not new to R/C though as I have been flying for 20+ years and competed heavily in IMAC the last 5 years.

I just purchased a Great Planes Fling DL to get my feet wet. I'm sure it will be fun. I noticed it is shorter coupled and heavier than other DLGs I found through a Google search. What might be a few choices if I am looking to upgrade to a more advanced DLG in the future? Links and any help would be appreciated as I know nothing at this point!

Ryan

scaflock

That's going to depend on how much money you want to spend on one. You can get a nice little DLG for as little as $75 for a kit if you want to build it yourself out of balsa or you can spend inn excess of $800 for a composite plane and gear. What kind of price range are you looking at?

The Fling DLG is kind of a tank in the DLG world and the airfoil is not very advanced. I've got friends that have them as well as the Gambler AG (about $75 for a kit) and everyone of them prefer the Gambler for flying.

Ryans Rebel

My Feedback: (12)

Eventually I could get into the $800 range but looking for a competitive intrmediate ARF or kit at the moment.

Do you have a link to the Gambler?

roboto65

My Feedback: (30)

I will say it is a tank but serves it's purpose it will get your swing right I have one and it flew nicely but not like the highends but it does fly LOL Oh here is the link to the Gambler http://www.wrightbrothersrc.com/products/gambler.htm

evan-RCU

A while back I got a Flig DL and never assembled it. Well this week work was slow so I put it together and took it out to maiden today. First let e say it is not the same quality as most Great Planes kits nor that of the original Fling that I really enjoy. I did put very thin metal gear servos it the wings but other than that it is about as light as I imagine possible and came out at 16oz. I took 1/8oz of lead in the rightwing to balance laterally but the 700AAA NiMh pack was perfect for the nose to balance it at 62mm.

Anyway I have found that I do not enjoy what it takes to get this in the air. It was windy today but I can not see me getting this to the 100' altitudes I've seen others launch good DL's to.

So.... well I got home today and put a tow hook on it.... and that's that.....

pivlrs

The [link=http://www.rcgroups.com]other RC forum site[/link] has a fairly active hand-launch glider forum that has lots of DLG info. In particular it has a sticky thread of [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=728220]hand-launch links[/link] that will point you to most of the big DLG vendors. Look for one you like, then search the forum for info. It'll keep you busy for weeks...

-matt

Ryans Rebel

My Feedback: (12)

Thanks for all the help guys.

glidagida

Hi Ryan

Most of the posts are correct in their observations.

If you want to get into the 'real' DLG world I would advise you to get your throw basics up to speed with the Fling DLG and then purchase a lightweight DLG with carbon or carbon/kevlar fuselage and carbon tail boom with moulded [or bagged foam at the very least] wings either using balsa or Rohacell [or equivalent] foam as the sandwich material. Buying another DLG like the Gambler will simply prolong your entry into the 'real' DLG world.

A beginner's budget and the chance of damaging a new plane generally rule out an expensive model for the first 'real' DLG and I have found the 'Binary 2' a good step for first time DLGers. You can check it out at my commercial website <www.rc-sailplane.com.au>

Yes, these planes are made in China but they are of better than acceptable quality and while we sell them, we have never had one complaint for bad workmanship in the 3 years we have been selling them. All we get are e-mails from guys who have bought them saying how amazed they are to launch so high and how much fun they have with them.

I don't know who sells them in the USA.

Commercial poster.

GG
Sailplane.AUS
COMMERCIAL POST

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

High Performance DLGs

Hobby Club Ice-Fire DLG - $290
http://www.hobbyclub.com/product_inf...927aa8975ba273


Hyper DLG $290
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=3059

Polecat Sidewinder II - $300
http://www.polecataero.com/products/sidewinder2/

Photon - $370
Rudder/Elevator/Flap 3 piece wing
http://www.kennedycomposites.com/

Blaster - $390
http://www.kennedycomposites.com/blaster.html

Gladiator - $420
http://www.icare-rc.com/gladiator.htm

Arrow Pro- $380
http://www.pacificgliderworks.com/arrowpro.html
Build thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540196

Polecat XP-5 Polywing R/E $390
http://www.polecataero.com/products/xp-5poly/

Polecat XP-5 - $420 R/E/A
http://www.polecataero.com/products/xp-5/

Fireworks III - $479
http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=4957
http://www.isthmusmodels.com/product...roducts_id=190

Super Gee II
If you are wiling to take on a scratch build, this is one of
the leaders - Typical build cost is about $250-$300
http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articl...SuperGeeII.htm
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=545273

LightHawk - $579
RTF available
The LightHawk is modeled after the Super Gee II
http://rcbuilder.com/lighthawk.htm

LightSpeed - $579
RTF available
The LightSpeed is modeled after the Super Gee II
http://www.rcbuilder.com/lightspeed.htm


Hi-Start Launch?

Some people do put a tow hook on the bottom and use very light hi-starts to
launch them as well. Then you can get them up 150-300 feet and hunt for
lift from there.

While a hi-start is not normally the way you would launch one of these,
there is nothing to keep you from putting a hook in the plane and taking it
up to very high launches off a light hi-start. When your arm gets tired,
your
flying can continue.

Fling hi-start - $13
Intended for the Fling HLG
Probably get a 120 foot launch with this.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHMZ3&P=7

Dynaflite up start - $25
This is not advertised for HLG/DLGs but I expect you could
hit 250 feet with your DLG.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXE637&P=ML