I recently purchased a Grace and a 9C Super, and was hoping for some expert advice on initial set-up.

This is my first R/C experience, but am an experienced sailplane pilot. I recently moved from the Denver area to the Northern Kentucky area, and since there is no soaring in the area, I have a bad flying jones. My wife said to use the energy for good and not for evil, ergo the foray into R/C.

I have poured over the 9C manual and have a fair grasp on HOW to set up the radio. My questions surround setting up the control surface percentages for this particular model. Maybe being a pilot has me overthinking this and putting me at a disadvantage, but I don't want to launch a new plane to find that I have the control surface mixes too far out of kilter either.

I have ordered a couple of DVD's from Radio Carbon Art which should help, and have read a lot of information here. The materials and links Ed Anderson has put together have been very helpful as well.

Anyone out there who has set up a Grace or a Elegant 2? Just looking for a starting point so that I have a stable platform to tweak from...

Not that this has any real bearing on the set-up, but the model has the Medusa MR-028-056-1900 w/ 4.3:1 gear drive and Li-Poly recommended by Sal at NESail.

Thanks!

Allen

Where do you plan to fly the model?

Have you asked at the LHS where the glider guys fly?

You mentioned that you're an experienced full scale pilot. That's probably going to be a disadvantage, it has been with almost every pilot I've worked with or seen. It would be a good idea to search out some RCers near you and see about flying with them. They'll be glad to have you. And they'll save you a bunch of frustration.

But to answer your setup question directly.............

Set her up the way the manual says to, that is, if you have a manual. If you bought an already assembled airplane, with no manual, you really do need to find another modeler. And experienced RC glider flyer can check everything and make sure you don't launch something that's setup to crash.

I am new to the area, so don't know anyone locally yet. I will look into finding someone with a local club to assist.

I have a number of promising areas to fly nearby. It IS Kentucky afterall, so there are open pastures and fields surrounded by hills. I have been watching the red tailed hawks hunting in the area, and they find lots of lift out there.

Not sure where the local guys are flying... The one local club's website says they lost their flying field due to construction, so I think they are looking too!

At any rate, I understand the dynamics have a decent idea where things need to be. I'll start conservative and work up unless someone can share a known set-up for the Grace. The Elegant 2 is similar, but believe they changed the airfoil along with moving the ailerons more outboard and gave the tips a little less dihedral with the Grace model. (according to the website)

I will have someone double check my set-up before first launch to be sure.

Thanks!

Allen

BTW, one thing that gliders have going for them, one HUGE asset, is that they can be test glided very safely.

Find a large flat area and throw the sucker!

OK, that's a simplification. But you will need a large area. Eventhough you're only going to be pushing the glider off from an extended arm, they can go a VERY long way. The idea is to hold the TX in one hand and the glider over your head. Jog a little to get the feel of the airplane. Jog directly into the wind. Hold the airplane level and try to find a handhold where it is balanced. Jog fast enough that you feel it go light.

When it goes light it will also show you any really bad out-of-trim's that are in the sucker. Don't start retrimming until you've seen the same thing again and again. Gusts can fool you. And if you're new to gliders you've probably not learned to read the ground wind all the time, nor what it's saying. (Full scale guys have no need to develop any of the RC glider guys tricks and feels and usually no idea they exist.)

Pay particular attention to the pitch reaction of the glider on these jogs. You really don't want the sucker to pitch up on release. And you don't want it nosing down hard. The bird will be at the lowspeed end of the envelope when you're jogging. It can actually be flying in your hand.

Kewl, ain't it??? so..............

If the bird does ride level in all 3 axis, you're ready to step it up a bit.

Don't run any faster than before. But be very sure to have your arm extended. Your head is up where the horizontal stab is going to be on release. I've heard people say that it hurts to tear it off on your ear. I personally have no experience doing such an amazingly stupid thing however. not ever.... never did..... and it's a lie what all my Minnesnowta boys say I did.

Jog up to speed. Make absolutely sure that the excitement of the decision that "this is the one" hasn't made you forget to judge the wind direction. Also make sure the glider is coming along with you and IT is comfortable.

And just push it out in front of you.

AND GRAB FOR THE BLASTED TRANSMITTER AND DON'T TRIP DOING IT.!!!

If you've felt the airplane's inclinations on the previous runs and fixed the repeated ones and gotten it to jog level, your glider is going to sail straight away from you. I've found out that loud shreeks of joy bring unwanted attention, but that you can grin like an idiot and noone will notice. But it ain't time to spectate right then.

You can now watch what it does and decide if it needs any trim. You will also get very truthful evidence of your ability to read the wind's direction and whether or not you launched directly into it.

The object is to trim the glider to land somewhat distant from you and directly up wind. Most times it'll take a couple clicks here or there, but if you've got any talent at this technique up to when you push it off, you won't need much trimming.

And after doing this a couple more times, she'll be good to go. And she'll go good.

Ain't gliders kewl....................

Thanks! I really do appreciate the tips. I will let you know how it goes...

As it turns out, there is a slight dealy in getting it all put together anyway. There are a fair amount of parts missing from the kit, so its a phone call (and hopefully an overnight package) to rectify the problem.

Allen