KallianE

Hi!

First off, let me apologize. I'm sure to the experts out there, this is a stupid question, but I'm asking it nonetheless, because, well, we all have to start somewhere, right?

I'm hoping to buy a warbird-style slope glider as a Christmas gift. I would love to get something like this: http://www.flycs.co.nz/index.php?pag...mart&Itemid=55 But the shipping to the US from this website is $45.

After hours of searching hobby store websites, I've found a bunch of similar-looking gliders on eBay. I want something designed for gliding, that DOESNOT require a motor. Several listings say NPS "no power system" to my understanding but I don't know if that means that it's designed to fly without a power system, or just that there's no power system in the box and you'd have to supply your own.

So here's my question: Can something like this http://www.caliberhobby.com/gws40_kits.html be flown as-is without a power system, or is it designed to be an electric plane with a motor?

Thank you so much for your help and expertise!

iflytailies

My Feedback: (82)

I would suggest posting your question there, you will get tons of great info:

http://www.rcgroups.com/slope-97/

papermache

My Feedback: (35)

Kallian,

Go to Sky King R/C Products and look at their DAW foamie warbirds. These are great fliers and a lot of fun to build. There are other manufacturers as well, but this one I can vouch for from experience. I have 3 of them.

papermache

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

leadingedgegliders.com

hard to beat these anywhere IMHO

wind junkie

My Feedback: (1)

I second the DAW warbird recommendation from Skyking:

http://www.skykingrcproducts.com/rcp..._warbirds.html

These most closely match the specs of the spitfire you have shown from Canterbury Sailplanes. All the DAW 48" warbirds fly the same and are lightweight and practically indestructible by virtue of their light weight and good design.

The LEG kits are great, and look closer to scale, but fly best when managed "with energy" (ie, always climb in a turn, use the speed/ altitude to plan the next move), and if your gift is meant for a beginner slope pilot they aren't as easy to fly as the DAW warbirds which stay on top of the lift much better and fly well as a "yank and bank" style.

IF energy management is possible and desired, I highly recommend the LEG kits. If you're not used to flying this way and you try to fly a LEG kit "yank and bank" style, then unless you have incredible lift, you're bound to dump them often. Not the end of the world, but the wing tips and noses get crushed, any paint gets scraped off, and they dont' look or fly that well anymore once they start getting wrinkled without TLC. That's the price you pay for more energy capability (ie, weight and speed).

The GWS warhawk you have linked was primarily designed for E power and while it =CAN= be set up for slope duty, it will likely not be a good flyer or survive as long due to it's lack of reinforcement "skin" (ie, FG reinforced packing tape, covering) which the above recommendations have. Granted, these are kits and the Warhawk is more of an ARF, but any serious attempt at flying slope should include something like we're suggesting. I'm assuming you don't have much slope experience.