ORIGINAL: Chevyowner
Hi guys! I'm brand new to sailplanes or flying for that matter. Flew a little over 20 years ago but quit to raise the kids. I'm skilled as a builder and have good understanding of flight dynamics but haven't flown yet. I have built a Great Planes Spectra, followed the instructions carefully. Made sure all critical alignments were correct and installed Futaba system.
I also joined recently a local club and will find an instructor to help. I have a few questions about sailplanes ie - wind limitations - strengths or weakness of this model - the few fliers I've met so far fly powered planes so I'm asking the pros here before I fly the first time.
Also I plan on building a good 40/60 size trainer when money permits. Would like to build the Great Planes Old Timer. It's rudder and elevator only. Can I add ailerons since they're used on most planes you fly?
By the way, I'm 69 years old and open to any and all suggestions.
Have a great day.
Welcome to flying and to gliders/sailplanes
I started flying in March of 2003. I am 50.
I don't see any reason why you could not add ailerons to anything, especially if you are an accomplished builder.
Personally, I had no interest in building models, so I went the R-T-F route. I think this is such a great way to get started. I started with a parkflyer then moved to sailplanes. I now have 4 sailplanes, two of which I have flown. The Spirit mentioned below, and a Sagitta 600. Both 2 meter RES planes.
HobbyZone AEROBIRD CHALLENGER
THREE CHANNEL ELECTRIC PARKFLYER
Very inexpensive and rugged for a three channel starter - $115-$150
The plane comes complete and fully assembled. Charge the flight battery with
the included 12 V peak charger, put
on the wing, put the included batteries in the transmitter and up you go!
With a little throttle management you can get flights of 12-15 minutes on a
battery.
Here is a review of the Aerobird ( before the new Aerobird Challenger)
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853
On these pages you will find Videos of the Aerobird in flight
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.modelflight.com.au/model_flight_videos.htm
With 100+ flights on the Aerobird, I fly in 15 MPH winds and fly with great
confidence. Personally, after all the bad landings I am amazed that the plane
still flies, I love it and have recommended it to many friends who fly them
now as well. They all learned very quickly!
From Electric Park Flyer to Sailplane
THE GREAT PLANES SPRIT SELECT 2 METER
If you are more interested in sailplanes than parkflyers, the Spirit Select is
completely assembled with all the electronics installed. It includes a 72 MHZ
three channel radio. It is branded Hobbico, but it is really a Hitec radio.
Here is a link to the site where I purchased it for $139 complete!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVK55**&P=7
Here is a link to the ARF version where you can find links to two product
reviews. If you want to do some building, the ARF is the route, but for an
extra $40, I got the radio and the plane ready to fly. For me that was
perfect.
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1045.html
Video
http://www.greatplanes.com/gallery/gpma16.mov
The plane has spoilers built in the wings that are not set-up when you get it.
If you want to use spoilers, you can set them up later, as I did. The third
channel on the radio operates the spoilers. The included instructions tell
you how to do it.
I started flying the Spirit in Mid July and have about 65 flights on it. I now
have that down pretty well. This plane has a reputation of being a great
thermalling plane but I have heard of people flying it on slopes as well. I
is so great when I get it so high it is just a dot in the sky. I recently
built an electric power pod for it so I can launch it with an electric motor
if I like, but can take it back off so that I have a pure sailplane. I
definitely recommend it as a first sailplane.
Both the Aerobird and the Spirit have been a pleasure. I would recommend them
to anyone starting out in electrics or gliders who would like to go the
ready-to-fly route rather then building.