Was wondering if there is a 50 -60 in. span glider that I can use with my hi-launch, basically a 40 ft. rubberband. I don't live in the mountains or the coast.

I tried the Gentlelady years ago, but wouldn't glide very long, just long enough for a 180 degee turn. I usually fly around flat windy fields, looking for long flights.

Thanks,

Pearl

40 feet of rubber should be enough to launch a Gentle Lady to about 200', high enough to fly for a minute or two if there's no thermal activity. It won't launch a smaller lighter-weight glider very much higher unless the rubber was just not strong enough for the GL. You'd be just a well off to get a proper hi-start for your GL.
That said, there are some excellent built-up 60" gliders available. Look at the Chrysalis HLG by DJ Aerotech or the Lil Bird2 at skybench.com or the Zephyr 2 at isthmusmodels.com.
The Gambler at wrightbrothersrc.com is also very good.
If you think the problem might be a weak hi-start, get a small fisherman's scale and measure the pull of your rubberband when fully stretched. It should produce 5-8 pounds of pull to adequately launch your GL. If it doesn't, you can get a good quality hi-start from hosemonster.com or Hobby-Lobby. There's also the Dynaflite heavy duty hi-start at Tower Hobbies. Its cheaper in every way but will work for a GL or for the smaller models mentioned but don't stretch it as far as you would for the GL.
Good luck.

if all you're using is a length of rubber, you need to add about 250 feet of non-stretch line to it. 40 feet of rubber would make a great slingshot but you need all that non-stretch line to give you some altitude. maybe you are using a typical hi-start, but from your post it sounds like all you're working with is the bungee. so sorry if i assumed wrong. With the hook placed according to the plans and the glider balanced properly, all you need to do is steer with rudder on the way up.

The GL should do just fine with a high start, so that's the place to have another look. A smaller glider is not the answer. 40 feet of rubber, 200-250 feet of nylon line, 7# of pull, and you're in business.

Thanks for the advice. Took my Hi-Start out of the closet after 15 years and noticed it's still in good shape, wax still on the outside of the bungee. I noticed the bungee is about 30-40 ft. long, with parachute, and non-strech line connected, not sure how long the non-strech line is, but it's all stock. Seems to be a strong Hi-Start, 8lb or more when stretched. I believe it's a standard Hi-Start. I no longer have the GL, but when I tried to launch it, fuselage wanted to crack because of how hard I was pulling on the tow line. perhaps I just need a stronger sailplane, looking at the ARF's. If you guys know of any great ARF's let me know.

Thankyou again,

Pearl

The suggested planes are good ones. It is awfully hard to beat the Gentle Lady as an almost ready to fly plane. It has all the good floating and flying qualities that the kit does and it is quite simple to put together. It is strong enough to hold up to many hi-start launches. Good luck!