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aeajr
477 Posts |
 Posted - 07/19/2006 : 10:11:41 AM
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GETTING STARTED IN GLIDERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums
Updated May 2010
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 decided I had to try it. Now I am hooked.
I have 6 electrics, but I also have 12 gliders. I love to fly the electrics,
but it is the gliders that I think about all the time.
By the way, for all practical purposes, gliders and sailplanes are the same
thing.
TWO KINDS OF FLYING WITH GLIDERS/SAILPLANES
Thermal Duration - Lift is provided by warm rising air.
A thermal is a column of warm rising air that occurs when one section of the
ground warms faster then other sections. As the air raises it draws in
more air. Think of a very slow moving tornado. Not exactly
correct but close enough for first approximation.
What do thermals look like?
http://www.flyaboveall.com/mountainpilot/thermalclinic.htm
Finding Elusive Thermals
http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/Thermals.htm
Thermals: Collectors, Wicks and Triggers
By Will Gadd
http://www.gravsports.com/Paragliding%20Pages/Paragliding%20Stories/thermals.htm
Slope Soaring - Lift is provided by wind hitting a hillside.
The rest of this discussion is about thermal duration gliders, but if slope
soaring is of interest, here are some links that will introduce you to slope
soaring. I enjoy slope soaring often and, on some days. I slope and
thermal. Those are great days. Most TD planes can be flown on the
slope, so after you learn to thermal, the same plane may also be able
to introduce you to slope soaring.
How Slope Soaring Works
http://users.iafrica.com/s/st/stevemac/afc/ssoar.html
Slope Soaring:
http://www.ppssrc.com/articles/soaring_faq.html#589883
THERMAL DURATION GLIDERS/SAILPLANES
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET STARTED?
For about $200 to $300 you can be in the air with a real sailplane, a real radio
and a real great time ahead of you. If you already have a radio, it can be
even less of an investment.
Let's consider a Tower Vista ARF $50
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLGM5&P=ML
The plane is all built, just add the radio system, balance and fly.
A simple transmitter, receiver and servos, will do just fine.
Futaba 3 Channel - $55
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAAD7**&P=7
While you can hand throw the Vista, it is really meant for hi-start
launching. Add a hi-start for about $65.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYXK5&P=7
There are better hi-starts out there, but this one will get you into the air.
That is all you need. In fact, with this combination you could enjoy a
lifetime of soaring and never need anything else. No fuel, no battery
chargers, no extra flight packs, nothing! OK, you recharge or replace the
radio and reciever batteries. And maybe you replace the
hi-start every few years.
This is a very inexpensive form of RC flying.
The Multiplex Easy Glider has become very popular and is now
my number one recommendation for new glider pilots. Unlike the Vista, the
Easy Glider is made of Elapor foam. It can take a real beating without
requiring a lot of repairs. I have flown The Easy Glider off a hi-start and a winch.
It flies very well. Beginner mistakes that would send the Vista to the
repair table would not break the Easy Glider, or would only take a few minutes
to fix with some CA glue.
The Easy Glider pro is available as a kit for $110 or as a receiver ready
package. It can be built as a pure glider or an an electric launched glider.
I will only be looking at the pure glider side here.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVEN8&P=7
review
http://www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=5042
If you get the RR, receiver ready version you just put in your receiver and battery, set up your radio,
balance it and you are ready to fly! In essence, this is your radio with an
RTF plane. I think receiver ready set-ups are going to be a huge hit!
Of course there are lots of other wonderful planes available to help the
new pilot get started. The Gentle Lady is legendary for getting new
pilots into the air. I won't list them all. I focused on the Vista and the
Easy Glider because they are very good and are packaged in a way that
allows you to very quickly and very easily get into the air. If you love to
build kits, there is a large selection available of these too.
For example, www.skybench.com has a great selection of glider kits
Here are some other glider kit and ARF sources:
www.mmglidertech.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mmglidertech.com/
www.arthobby.com/" target="_blank">http://www.arthobby.com/
www.mountainmodels.com/index.php?cPath=25_28" target="_blank">http://www.mountainmodels.com/index.php?cPath=25_28
www.nesail.com/categories.php?subcatID=5" target="_blank">http://www.nesail.com/categories.php?subcatID=5
www.soaringusa.com/products/category.htm?category_id=248" target="_blank">http://www.soaringusa.com/products/category.htm?category_id=248
RADIOS
If you decide to buy a radio, you can start with a simple three channels
for the R/E gliders so you can add spoilers later. They cost as little as $55
including the servos and receiver needed to complete a kit or ARF.
There are lots of choices in 3 channel sailplanes, often referred to as RES
planes. RES stands for rudder, elevator and spoilers.
There are competition RES sailplanes that cost over $800,
so this class of sailplanes is not just for beginners.
Some people enjoy a lifetime of RES flying with nothing
more than a simple three channel radio.
The Easy Glider requires a 4 channel radio. The Hitec Laser 4
would be a good example:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMYL6**&P=7
SIX OR MORE CHANNEL COMPUTER RADIO
However, if you have the budget, I would recommend a computer
radio with 6 or more channels to open more options for the
future. Examples of entry level radios would include the
Spektrum DX6i, the Hitec Optic 6, and the Airtonics RDS8000.
These are not competition sailplane radios, but for
around $200 including receiver, you have a radio that has
model memories so you can program several planes. You can
fly a full house sailplane, including ailerons, rudder, elevator
and flaps, and have some computer assisted mixes to help you.
Of course you can spend over $400 to get a true sailplane radio.
So budget will dictate what you get. The message is that you
can get started for very little money and invest when you have
the money and when your ambitions grow.
For more on sailplane radios, take a look at this article:
www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=223" target="_blank">http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=223
TRIMMING YOUR NEW PLANE
Even an RTF packages will need some adjustment, balancing and trimming,
so be prepared to do a little trimming and balancing. Read the manual that
comes with your plane
If you can spare $25, I highly recommend this video to help you with your
set-up of your glider.
Performance Tuning for Gliders
www.radiocarbonart.com/Pages/perftunemain.html" target="_blank">http://www.radiocarbonart.com/Pages/perftunemain.html
There is a review of the video here:
www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=5010" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/links/index.php?id=5010
This is a fantastic video that everyone should get! It is from Radio Carbon
Art, a company that makes RC Soaring videos. I have several of
them and they are all excellent.
All I can say is that this may be the best $25 you could ever spend, if you
enjoy flying gliders. It is so full of valuable information and simple tips
that, having seen it, I ordered my own copy. He talks about how
tuning will impact both thermal duration and slope soaring gliders.
You might think, from the title, that this is about racing or competition,
but it isn't. He takes a common ARF, a Spirit Select 2M, and takes the
plane through a series of steps to get it to fly its best. He tells you how it
flew when first assembled, what he found that could be tuned, and then does
it.
If you don't have someone to help you set-up your plane, get this video.
LAUNCHING
If you go with a pure glider, my personal favoriate, 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 are easy to transport and store. You can enjoy a lifetime
of thermal hunting with a hi-start.
Personally I find hi-start launches a blast. Using a full size hi-start
the glider goes up between 400 an 600 feet.
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.
> Video of actual hi-start launches
> www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvhxIICR48&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvhxIICR48&feature=related
Rather than go into detail here, let me refer you to a couple of
article on hi-starts and learning to launch your sailplane.
Learning to use a hi-start
www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=216" target="_blank">http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=216
www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155353" target="_blank">http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155353
LEARNING TO THERMAL
A thermal is a column of warm rising air that occurs when one section of the
ground warms faster then other sections. As the air raises it draws in
more air. Think of a very slow moving tornado. :confused: Not exactly
correct but close enough for first approximation.
What do thermals look like?
www.flyaboveall.com/mountainpilot/thermalclinic.htm" target="_blank">http://www.flyaboveall.com/mountainpilot/thermalclinic.htm
Here is a great video on thermals. I highly recommend it!
The Secrets of Thermal Soaring
www.radiocarbonart.com/Pages/asecthermalmain.html" target="_blank">http://www.radiocarbonart.com/Pages/asecthermalmain.html
Once you have your glider trimmed and you are the master of the
hi-start, you will find thermal hunting both challenging and rewarding.
COMPETITION and the EASTERN SOARING LEAGUE
You may have no interest today in flying in sailplane competitions,
but let me tell you that they are fun! You don't have to be a master
flyer. I flew my first ESL competition after only a few months of soaring.
I entered with a 2 meter wood sailplane. I had such a good time I
was hooked forever and I made some great friends.
When you are ready, the Eastern Soaring League sponsors thermal
duration contests up and down the East coast. Working with local
clubs, we help new flyers get into the fun and comradely of contest
flying. And there is no better way to improve your skills than by working
with more experienced pilots. So when you are ready to get REALLY
GOOD, the Eastern Soaring League will be here to help you advance.
SUMMARY
Sailplanes and gliders are just pure fun to fly. You can start with kits,
ARFs, receiver ready or RTFs as I did. For about $200 you can be
in the air, hunting for thermals and having a great time. 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 many hours. It
all depends on how good a hunter you are. Every flight is an adventure!
Give 'em a try. If you have questions, ask. Others
helped me. I am happy to help you. |
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
Long Island Silent Flyers
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Edited by - aeajr on 10/26/2010 4:04:37 PM |
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Getting Started in Gliders and Sailplanes
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