Newbie question about big gliders...

[6cuda6]

If someone wanted to get into gliders what would you guys recommend for big ones???

Thanks, Dean

[cgroves]

Hi Dean:
'Big' is a very relative term in gliders. Do you mean a Open class sailplane (100" or so), a 3-3.5m F3J/F3B competition machine or a huge 7-8m scale bird. Or something like an XCBS for doing competitive cross-country.
In general the bigger birds are *much* more expensive and can be much harder to fly (you can spend thousands on the huge gliders). If you don't have any glider experience I would suggest getting a mid-size glider that someone else in the area flys first. DLGs are small but can be great tools for learning gliding and teach great rudder and thermalling skills. I would probably skip the 2m class unless you had a compelling reason and maybe try a 100"/Open sailplane as a first bird. There are lots of inexpensive ARFs and used planes for sale which can get you started.
Another consideration is how are you going to launch it? Electrics are nice for convenience but if you really want to get into gliders a hi-start is a good choice. Don't buy a winch for a while, there are plenty at the ORCC glider field on training nights and you need some instruction on how to handle them safely. The other drawback of the huge scale ships is that many require aero-tow for launching and are too big for hi-starts or winches.

[6cuda6]

Thanks for the input...i guess winch is the best, i was thinking of something in the 3-4 meter type range with glass fuse/none balsa wings. Pricy i guess but i think the overall durability is higher. Plus i like big stuff...lol...

Dean

[cgroves]

So you are probably looking at a F3J style machine. Something like an Eraser, Fazer, Artemis, or a Nyx, not your usual starting machine but if your patient and find an instructor the learning process should be okay. One comment is that the larger high-end birds are NOT more durable. These competition ships can actually be quite fragile and you should seek out instruction on handling them. They can take 200pounds of load on the winch line but can be crushed by being grabbed the wrong way. Of course once they are flying they are amazing. A properly done winch launch with a carbon F3B machine is a sight to behold.
Come out to a a few of the glider training nights in the spring and subscribe to the orcc-g glider group on yahoo group.
One of the best local places for high performance gliders is www.icare-rc.com (http://www.icare-rc.com). Etienne is a good guy and I've always been happy dealing with him, just leave your credit card in the car if you visit him in person. He is also in Montreal so its relatively close by.

[6cuda6]

Thanks for the info, not sure i'll get directly into gliders as i still need to do thid heli thing. I have always loved them and feel that it would be fun, just was never very good at making things perfectly the same, hence the glass/galss interest.

Do the bigger gliders fly better, i know they are easier to see having watched them in Arnprior at the aero tow days.

Thanks, Dean

[Dave Rees]

just leave your credit card in the car if you visit him in person.


hehe, yeah........ RIGHT!!! I know you always leave the CC in the car, right Corey?!? ;)

Dave

[cgroves]

A fool and his money are soon..... on the road to Montreal ;).

[6cuda6]

Anyone have one of these beauties for sale??? :D

Dean