Highlander First Flight
 

I've just finished building and balancing my first glider--a MAD Highlander. I'm a newbie, so here are some beginner questions.

Assuming that I will launch this glider without an expert present, is it a good idea to hand launch this glider a few times to check it out, or would it be best to hi-start it the first time.

I'm thinking that hand launching doesn't give me any reaction time to adjust elevator or rudder if it flys erratically.

Should the first flight be on a level elevator, or should I raise it a little?

CptCrunch

Highlander First Flight
 

Give it a hand toss first. Set the control surfaces to nuetral, take a few steps and give her a gentle but firm toss straight and level. If it's built straight and properly balanced it will just glide gently to the ground with almost no control input. And don't forget to breath ;)

Highlander First Flight
 

Yep, give it a toss. Concentrate on giving a straight toss, not a strong one. One thing to keep in mind, is that EPP gets stiff and sometimes brittle in very cold temps. I don't know what it's like where you fly (it's really cold here), but anything under 40 degree and the EPP will lose some resiliency. Below 20 and it'll break instead of bend.

-Ben

Highlander First Flight
 

Handlaunching is a very good idea in the beginning. And when it comes time to high-start it, start off with just a moderate amount of stretch and increase as you become comfortable.
Good Luck,
Grant

Highlander First Flight
 

I'm just sitting here typing one handed while the goop dries on the horizontal stab of my hignlander. Do some basic hand tosses to get the clevises set so straight and level flight needs no trim. When she's ready to hi start, have an experiences stick run the radio and trim it out to glide for you.
These planes are pretty heavy compared to balsa and need to fly kind of quick for a newby. A little borrowed stick time on someones' Gentle Lady is a REALLY good idea before you spend too much time on that squirlley Highlander.
The are great if you are learning on a slope hill, but balsa is a lot easier to learn therma with. IMHO