Hi,
This is my first post, so I'll tell you a little about myself and my limited experience in this hobby.

My first airplane kit was a .20 trainer. I didn't know much about r/c planes and got most of my info from the local hobby shop (they really pushed the sale on that one) and a few magazines. It was really fun to build and I learned a lot in the process. However, like most beginners I suppose, I didn't realise how hard it would be to setup correctly and fly. To make an embarassing story short, I brought it to a local soccer field, took-off, it climbed very fast at full throttle, I turned, probably tip stalled (still unsure what happenned), went inverted, in panic I pulled the elevator and crashed it full throttle into the ground. Took months to build it and a few seconds to completely destroy it. The motor was broken and the plane was in hundreds of pieces, and so far I only had about 10 seconds of flight experience. But I didn't give up, because as strange as it sound, those 10 seconds were actually worth it.

I realised I needed a smaller plane for my small field, less dangerous, less expensive, slower and easier to repair. Discovered the tower hobbies web site and ordered an HOB Stealth Sport (.049 park flyer with ailerons and elevator). It crashed many times, the twin tail booms always breaking, but a few repairs later I was able to fly it successfully.

That was an incredible experience. I could do rolls and bank turns (clumsily I admit), and almost loops. It always stalled in the middle of the loop, probably too heavy with my 750mah battery and standard electronics, I didn't know better at the time. I kept flying low to have the horizon line well in my field of view, it caused more crashes but was much easier for me to fly that way. A few successful flights later the cox motor stopped working completely (it never really worked correctly anyway, stopping in mid-air for no reason). Then I stopped flying basically because I had enough of the messy, noisy, and unreliable reed-valve motors, and was a little short on cash.

Now, a few years later I want to get back into the hobby. I just found the RCU forums and reading a few posts here got me hooked again :-) I intent to start with an unpowered sailplane, then an electric, and later a Heli.

My first logical choice as a beginner was to get a GP Spirit ARF, but emotions spoiled logic: I REALLY wanted ailerons so ended up buying a Spirit Elite ARF instead. I also bought a great Futaba 9CAF that I hope to use for an electric heli eventually.

I just finished setting up the glider this week, and I am not sure how to start. I intend to try it in a large park nearby that has a grass field about 600 by 600 feet. There is water north and west of the field, and forest east and south.

Do you think this field is adequate?

How high should I throw it for my first flight for trimming?

Is there a way to calculate the stall speed of my glider before trying it?

What altitude do I need to recover from a stall?

How do you recommend I set the flaps for takeoff? and for landing?

I have setup the Spirit Elite as recommended in the manual, control throws, CG, hook location... Do you have any suggestion for this setup to make it easier for a beginner?

Any recommended mixing I should start with?


Thanks a lot!