Though thermaler for a novice

[Zlaser]

I'm looking to buy a cheep RC thermal sailplane that can handle a little abuse but is not kit or rtf. I have the radio gear but I need a arf that can handle a little beating even though i've been flying for a couple months(foamie).

I saw a Scorpio Top Quark. Has any one heard of it. Any other plane ideas would be nice.

[aeajr]

Here are a range of choices that you might consider as first
gliders/sailplanes, depending on your goals. Based on your description, I would suggest you look at the Multiplex Easy Glider.

Easy Glider - ARF $70 - Just becoming available in the US in June 2005.
The one I flew was purchased on Germany.
http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/ParkFliers/EasyGlider.htm
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKHS7&P=7

The Multiplex Easy Glider is a new plane. The Easy Glider is made of Elapor foam. Similar to EPP foam, it can take a real beating without requiring a lot of repairs. I had the opportunity to fly one of these off of a hi-start. It flew very well though I feel my Spirit flies better and thermals easier. However the Easy Glider might be a better choice if you are learning on your own. Beginner mistakes that would send the Spirit or the Gentle Lady to the repair table would not break the Easy Glider, or would only take a few minutes to fix with some CA glue.

I have to give a high recommendation to the Great Planes Spirit. This was my first thermal sailplane. The Spirit is a 2 Meter ( about 79" wingspan) plane built up from balsa and plywood then covered with MonoKote. It is available as a kit, and ARF or an RTF package.

A 2 Meter plane, is a very good size for a new pilot. A nice convenience wiht
the Spirit is that the wing is desgned so you can keep it as two wing halves
to be joined at the field which makes it very easy to store and transport. I
tape mine together at the field with clear packing tape which makes them very strong, then remove the tape at the end of the day.

In addition to being easy to fly the Spirit includes spoilers in the design,
which makes this a RES, rudder/elevator/spoiler plane. This is one of the
reasons I selected it. Spoilers can be very helpful in landing in small areas
or for getting the plane out of a strong thermal. If you get the ARF or
Select RTF versions, the spoilers are sealed under the covering. You can fly
it as a R/E plane, then set-up the spoilers when you are ready.

I also have another 2M RES sailplane and a 3 meter full house sailplane.
However after hunderes of sailplane flights across all three, I still love the
Spirit and really enjoy flying it. I recommend this as a first sailplane all
the time.

Spirit Kit - $50
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ596&P=7
Spirit ARF $95
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMK19&P=7
Spirit Select RTF including Radio - $145
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVK55**&P=7


The Goldberg Gentle Lady also has a great reputaiton as a first glider. Like
the Spirit, it is a built up balsa design. It does not have spoilers and the
wing is designed to be permanantly joined. That makes it a little less
conveneit for transport or storage, but I am told it is well worth the
trouble. I have never flown one but there are several at our club which are
flown by new flyers and experienced flyers. They fly very well. Between the
Spirit and the Gentle Lady, thousands have come into thermal sailplanes and
have learned to enjoy silent flight.

Gentle Lady Kit - $45
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJC3&P=7
Gentle Lady ARF - $90
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXELP0&P=7

The Spirit and the GL can be flown with 2 channel radios. With three you can
use the spoilers on the Spirit too. The Easy Glider has ailerons so you need
a 4 channel radio. If you have a computer radio, such as the Hitec Flash 5SX,
you can set the ailerons up as flapperons or spoilerons to help with more
precise landings.

I have not sloped the Easy Glider yet, but because of the foam construction
and aileron controls, I think this could be a good first slope plane as well.



If your primary focus is slope soaring, the ZAGI flying wings have a
reputation as great flyers AND being very tough. My first slope plane was a
Zagi 3C. I love it and fly it often. It is made of EPP foam and can really
stand up to abuse. The 3C is no longer available, but the 5C seems to have
taken its place.

Zagi 5C - ARF $60
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHWX5&P=ML

Two other first slope planes that have been highly recommended to me are the
Eraser 48 and the Eraser 60. As far as I know, these are intended as a slope
only planes. I don't see any provision for hi-start of winch launching.

Eraser 48
http://www.canterburysailplanes.co.nz/index.php/item/department/Gliders/item/Eraser.html
Eraser 60
http://www.canterburysailplanes.co.nz/index.php/item/department/Gliders/item/Eraser%2060.html


If you would like to read a larger article on getting started in
sailplanes/gliders, try this link
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=36

[Zlaser]

Since i first posed the local club that got my friend and i in to this hobby has had a few meetings, and my friend bought a used spirit with every thing (i know what is needed (rc cars)) and since then ive flown with him about 5 times

My longest flight was on the 18 it was 6 min 57sec (one of the club members is helping teach us) but i flew it all by my self off a high start
But i'm still having rough landings

I like the spirit but do you know any other good kit airplanes ( i like knowing how it went togeather so it is easyer to fix)

thx

[Zlaser]

Also the slope soaring around here is not very good and very brushy landing areas so it is very diffrent then thermaling any way so i was looking more into thermal planes

[aeajr]

I like the spirit but do you know any other good kit airplanes ( i like knowing how it went togeather so it is easyer to fix)

thx

Well, like how about the Spirit or Gentle Lady? Or maybe the Easy Glider, which is more of an ARF, but still not RTF.

[tdonily]

How would DJ Aerotech's Chrysalis fair in this regard?

[aeajr]

In addition to the planes listed above, Chrysalis has very good reputation. Also the Riser from Sig Mfg.

If you would like a foam plane, there is the Easy Glider mentioned above, the Gentle Foamy from www.mtntoys.com and the Defiant from www.nesail.com.

For a little larger plane, Great Planes just introduced a ARF version of its Spirit 100. The kit version can be built RES for full house. I believe the ARF is full house.

[aeajr]

Since i first posed the local club that got my friend and i in to this hobby has had a few meetings, and my friend bought a used spirit with every thing (i know what is needed (rc cars)) and since then ive flown with him about 5 times

My longest flight was on the 18 it was 6 min 57sec (one of the club members is helping teach us) but i flew it all by my self off a high start
But i'm still having rough landings

I like the spirit but do you know any other good kit airplanes ( i like knowing how it went togeather so it is easyer to fix)

thx

How is your soaring doing? Did you ever get to try slope soaring?