I'm interested in gliders, but want to avoid winches, etc. I have zero experience with gliders, but my impression is that the most common way to launch is with a winch. Our club doesn't have a winch and I don't want to buy one. Are there any good gliders that can be hand launched? I know it might be a little tricky, but I have plenty of patience. I would also like to find one that isn't powered. Thanks, Ricky

Most sailplanes with a wingspan of 60" or smaller are meant to be hand launched. There are plans for a nice looking one here http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articl...minatorhlg.htm (apparently the airfoil isn't great but it looks easy to build). There are also tons of kits.

The disadvantage is that a hand-launch glider (HLG) won't fly as long as a bigger plane. If you want you can launch 2m planes with a high-start (a long piece of surgical tubing and some cord). There are also discus launch gliders (DLGs) that you swirl around like a frisbee (which theoretically gets it higher up - unless the tail isn't strong enough
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] )

I've been thinking about getting an HLG - my field doesn't have a winch or a good spot to put a high start, and I don't really like power pods.

Some of the best sailplanes available for people without a large launch space have auxiliarly electric power. This doesn't mean you have to fly with the motor on all the time, just enough to get to soaring altitude. With modern ESC's you can throttle back or even completely shut of the power and sail from thermal to thermal. If you lose lift you still have the power to get back up and try for more green air. I've flown electric powered sailplanes for years mainly because I live in a place where there lots of trees that eat airplanes, unless they are on fire. Hand launch gliders using what is now known as the discus launch are becoming a large part of the glider scene. Check with AMA on the requirements is it is now a defining part of hand launch competition. The endurance will not be as long as a thermal hunter but the times flyers are getting from them are remarkable.

Thanks for the tips.....that terminator looks pretty cool, and quick to. Wonder if a standard size receiver would be too heavy?

The weight penatly of a standard 7 Ch RX would be small... nearly un-noticeable except in durration competitions. Where you might have trouble is actually fitting it inside... some of the little gliders have inadequate space for a satndard RX with standard 600 mah RX pack even if using small servos.

It won't hurt to hold off on buying a micro RX and hope the larger one fits... The micro RX's are relatively inexpensive... so that shouldn't be a big problem if you do end up needing it.