My dad's got a glider (I think it's a Gentle Lady) in his basement that I'd love to see fly again, but I don't know the first thing about flying one. Could someone point me in a direction to some information and resources to learn the dynamics of getting one airborne and keeping it riding the wind?

Was the GL flying before it was stored in the basment? If it has never been flown the wings need to be checked for trueness. The assembled sailplane has to be properly balanced. The rudder should have full movement. The elevator should move about 3/8" each direction from neutral.

What radio do you have? Should be fairly new or it may get interference from other RC radios.

I would suggest you find a well stocked local hobby shop and ask them where the nearest RC sailplane club is. Take it to them and have it checked out.

www.fatlion.com is a good starting point

The GL was flown probably 10 or 20 times before it was stored, I was planning on getting a new reciever to go with the Futaba Skysport 4 I already have for my rc plane, and just use the elevator and rudder controls, instead of getting a whole new radio. I keep hearing about 2 meter radio's, AM, FM, etc.... are these different than the radios used for regular rc flying? I haven't pulled the GL out of his basement yet, but when he stored it, it was in good shape, and I was going to recheck everything before I ever put it in the air. My main concern is, I have no knowledge of how to actually get it in the air and flying. I've heard of thermals, slope soaring, etc, but I don't know what the first thing to look for once it's in the air. I'll check out that link that was posted too. Thanks!

From what you say I guess your dad isn't around to tell you how to fly it, like the others said find a soaring club in your area or ask around with the guys you fly with now, they might know something about the subject, that would be the biggest help but if that doesn't work let us know here . . . I, or others here can give you the basics but it takes so long to type something like that out few want to do it and still you wouldn't get the whole pic. It'd be better to have someone in person to help you out. If your'e a learn from books type, RCMagazine publishes a 'how to' book called the "Sailplane and glider manual" . . . though a little dated it gives good advice on the basics which haven't changed over the years. Go to the RCMagazine.com site and check out their 'store' it should be there. I think it costs $15. Another idea is to get a video on the subject of thermals, I'm going to get one myself even though Iv'e been doing this off and on for twenty years. The one I'm going to get is called the 'secrets of the thermal' by Radio carbon art. (the internet site is the name with no spaces + .com) It looks very good and has gotten good reviews, it's about $25+shipping last I checked.
Rick K

Oh no, he's around still, he hasn't passed away or anything, he's more of a builder than a flyer. He just told me he's not great at it, and wouldn't know where to begin teaching me how to fly it, since he was so paranoid about crashing it. (he hates seeing one of his 'creations' destroyed in a crash). He managed to make a few good flights, and a few rough landings, and that scared him enough to put it up. I'll look into that book and movie too. You're probably right about asking the guys at the club... they fly a little of everything, but at the field, they are usually just flying gas or glow RC planes, so it never dawned on me to ask them about it. Thanks!

Well, here we go . . . I'll do this one step at a time, one day at a time (keeps hands from cramping up) and assume nothing on your part so don't think I'm treating you like a 'Airhead' . . . of course that's what you want to be right?

Step 1: You have to check dad's plane out to be sure it's 'square' ie: wings lay flat end to end to start with. The wings on a GL need some 'wash-out' in them, that is the tips on the trailing edge should be twisted up about 1/2" from the flat surface the wing tip pannel is placed on. This is to ensure you don't get a 'tip-stall' . . . the center section will stall first due to it's higher angle of attack compared to the tips. After you square up the wings, get dad to help you twist the TE tips up while re-heating the covering with your heat gun (or blow dryer) twist em' up a little more than the 1/2' needed and hold while they cool off, they should spring back some, hopefully to the 1/2' you need. If not repeat the process.

Step 2: Balance the plane. Do you still have the plans? If so they show the 'center of balance' point. If not, place your fingers under the wings at the front edge of the main wing spar. The nose of the plane should hang down a little . . . 5-10 degrees or so. If not add weight to make it so.

Step 3: Check out the radio, does everything move in the right direction? When the sticks are netural are the controll surfaces?

Step 4: Take dad out and find a nice small hill, doesn't need to be very big . . . 10-20' high is fine. Turn everything on! Check to see everything moves right. Have dad take some 'prozac' or a stiff drink and then have him toss the plane into the wind straight out like he would a 'dart' nice a gentile like, not like a fast ball. The plane should float on out and glide quite a way forward . . . if not be prepared to run like hell from dad . . . just kidding. If the plane flies straight into the ground it's nose heavy, remove some nose weight, if it immediatily goes nose up and stalls, well it's tail heavy, remove some nose weight (remind dad were talking about the plane's nose, not yours) Bring along some CA, a 'crying towel' for dad and a trash bag . . . you might have need for them . . . just kidding.

The above stuff should be common to you already from your power planes but . . . ya never know

Step 5: You're going to need a "Hi-Start" (it's a 100' length of surgical tubing with around 400' of dacron line tied together.) This is your 'catapult', how you get the plane in the air after steps 1-4 You peg one end down and stretch it out about 100 paces . . . more on that later. Be sure to get a 'standard' Hi-start, don't get anything smaller or cheaper, you'll be sorry if you do. You can get one from Tower Hobbies, Hobby People or if you must, Northeast Sailplane products. They all have web sites. Cost is about $50-$80+

Whoops . . . Step 1.5: Check out the radio batteries, be sure their up to snuff, hold a charge etc. Range check the radio, with the ant. down you should still get positive control at 100 yards. Have dad indicate controls are moving in the right directions standing next to the plane at that distance by waving his arms in the direction of movement.

Well that's enough typing for me for now . . . I'll continue tomorrow with what's going to happen when dad lets go of the plane on the 'Hi-Start" (he's going to need two, maybe three drinks for this one . . .) and how the hawks fly without flapping and you too soon!
Rick K

Here are two series of articles I can suggest. I wrote them, so naturally they are brilliant!

Beginners Bootcamp - For any kind of plane

First Lift - For new sailplane pilots.

You will find them listed here:
[link=http://www.rcezine.com/cms/bio.php?authorid=8]New Glider Guiders click here :-)[/link]

I suggest you start at the bottom of the list and work/read your way up. Let me know if you find anything useful.