help me

[meatwad]

well im kinda new to sailplanes i had one before but it didnt fly well i want to get one called aerobird challenger its 3 channel ive heard good stuff about it and i also want a smaller verison called firebird scout its 2 channel and if i get both i can use the smaller one as a trainer well anyway do u guys think its a good plane plz help me


from ur friendly meatwad

[meatwad]

do u guys know if it is a good plane or what
from ur friendly meatwad

[aeajr]

FYI, you are not supposed to post the same thing in two forums at the same time.

The Aerobird is not really considered a sailplane. It is a parkflyer that glides pretty well and can be thermaled.

Thinking of flying gliders, but you are not sure? That is how I was.

I started with electric parkflyers with no interest in gliders. Then I met a
group of
guys who fly gliders. After watching them for a couple of months, in between
my electric flights, I had to try it. Now I am hooked. I have 4 electrics,
but I also have 4 gliders. I love to fly the electrics, but it is the gliders
that I think about all the time.

By the way, gliders and sailplanes are the same thing.

What does it take to get started? Here is an article on getting started:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=36

Here is a short summary of some of the key points:

For under $200 you can be in the air with a real glider, a real radio and a
real great time ahead of you. If you already have a radio, it can be even
less.

If you get a RTF package like the Great Planes Spirit Select: $165 it comes
complete with radio and is ready to fly.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVK55**&P=7

If you have a radio, most introductory gliders, like the Spirit, the Gentle
Lady, the Gentle Foamy, and others, only require two channels for
rudder and elevator control. In fact there are a lot of larger gliders,
like the Bird of Time, that are two channel, rudder and elevator only, so you
don't need an expensive radio to fly gliders. If you
are buying a radio, I would recommend at least three channels.

Here is an article on introductory radios:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

LAUNCHING

As discussed in the article at the first link, if you go with a pure glider,
no motor, you will need some way to launch your glider. You can get a glider
with an
electric motor, but I prefer the pure types which I refer to as sailplanes.
You usually launch these with a hi-start or a winch.

Almost everyone starts with a hi-start because they cost under $100, they are
small, and they easy to transport and store.

Personally I find hi-start launches a blast. The plane goes up like a jet
launched off of a carrier. When it leaves the end of the launch, it just
floats off the line like a sailboat on the ocean. Or you can "zoom" off the
end and gain even more height.

I wrote an article on using a hi-start which you can find at this link:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=52

The nice thing about hi-starts is that you can control the power of the launch
by how far you pull back, so for your first launches you might pull back half
the length of the elastic. Later you might go to double the length of the
elastic, or more. Also, once you release the plane, all you have to think
about is steering, the elastic does the rest.

Thermal duration gliders are all about hunting.

Here is a link to a picture essay I did on flying gliders. I hope it helps
you understand why I have become so passionate about them. I call it,
"Sailplanes are wonderful".
http://www.rcflying.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5356

If you are interested in gliders, visit the links and read the articles. Lots
of good info.

You can start with kits, ARFs or RTFs as I did. For $159 for
the RTF package + $30 for an up-start + $10 for incidentals, you are in the
air. No fuel to buy or clean off. The only battery you need is the ones in
your transmitter and your receiver. Flights can range from 2 minutes to
hours. It all depends on how good a hunter you are. Every flight is an
adventure!

Gliders are great! Give 'em a try. If you have questions, ask. Others
helped me. I am happy to help you.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi aeajr,
Just a word about daffynitions. A glider is any unpowerd vehicle (including the space shuttle) that flies in the atmosphere. A sailplane is a form of glider that can gain altitude on rising air currents for extended flights.
Happy soaring, Dave

[aeajr]

Dave,

I like your definition, however, based on that, many of my parkflyers are sailplanes including my Aerobird and my Tipsy. I have thermaled both of them. In fact most parkflyers can be thermaled.

I prefer to do the distinction this way.

A sailplane is an unpowered aircraft that is designed to ride thermal currents to gain altitude. In my book, sailplanes don't have motors.

A glider is any plane, with or without a motor, that is gliding without the aid of the motor.

Now, under that definition, all planes are gliders at one time or another. But unless they are unpowered and designed specifically for thermaling, I don't call them sailplanes.

That's just how I look at it.

So, for example:

A GP Sprit is a sailplane.

A GP Spectra is an e-glider ( essentially a Spirt with a motor )

A Zagi 3C is a slope glider ( not designed for thermals)

An Aerobird is a parkflyer (it happens to glide pretty nicely and can be thermaled under the right conditions, but that is not its intended use by design.)

What say you Dave?

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
I suppose our only area of difference is the absence/presence of a motor. In the world of full scale, there are true sailplanes that have auxillary motors for launching that stow for soaring. In my case, if it were not for the ability to use an electric motor and folding prop to launch, I could not enjoy the world of soaring. There just is not an area large enought to layout a launch system within a reasonable driving distance.
Granted that many models with relatively low wing loadings can ride some thermals, there still is a distinction between say, an Aerobird, and a powered sailplane. Maybe we are getting into a world of splitting hairs, and certainly the purists could not abide a motor on a sailplane. In fact, the community of sailing enthusiasts feel the same way. If it has a motor, it is not a true sailboat. This may be one of those areas that defy simple definition.
Cheers, Dave

[aeajr]

Agreed, but it is fun to explore it!

Ed

[aeajr]

well im kinda new to sailplanes i had one before but it didnt fly well i want to get one called aerobird challenger its 3 channel ive heard good stuff about it and i also want a smaller verison called firebird scout its 2 channel and if i get both i can use the smaller one as a trainer well anyway do u guys think its a good plane plz help me


from ur friendly meatwad

Meatwad,

Did you ever get a sailplane?