new to sailplanes?

[sHiMsTeR2004]

i am fairly new to sailplanes and i need information about them
i have recently bought a new spirit 100 but i am not sure if im ready for it...maybe i should buy a less advanced glider before flying the spirit?...if so what are some good less advanced inexpensive sailplanes out there that i could train on? after i have mastered flying the sailplane ...i plan on using the advanced wing in the spirit
any tips on how to fly sailplanes in general? like the basics?...please bear with me im pretty new and i dont want to lose my sailplanes to a crash.
thanks
-alex

[sHiMsTeR2004]

i also forgot to say that i have a firebird xl and was hoping to train on that but i dont think it will help me because i believe flying a sailplane is completely different to flying a firebird xl

[aeajr]

Welcome to sailplanes and Gliders.

I started on an Aerobird, similar to an XL, but three channel. Great first plane. The XL and the Aerobird both thermal very well, but be careful. Since the XL has no elevator, it is easy to lose it in a thermal. Basically the only way to force it down it to put it into a death spiral.

Have you looked at the New Glider Pilot's Handbook?

http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178227

[meatwad]

i know a web site that has very cheap sailplanes that are 3ch and cost around $60-$100 its called raidentech.com

[aeajr]

The Spirit 100 advanced wing set-up would be more a second or third plane.

I would recommend the following as first planes:

Spirit 2M (my first sailplane)
Gentle Lady - wildly popular as a first sailplane
Gentle Foamy - EPP Foam - Almost unbreakable - www.mtntoys.com

See the New Gilder Pilot's Handbook post here - First article is all about getting started in sailplanes.