The Talespin Tavern -all things off topic

[Off-topic jes]

I had an important question today that I couldn’t seem to find the answer to and wasn’t wanting to risk it by figuring it out myself. At the McMinnville swap mean I picked up this 10 foot RC glider and have no means of getting it in the air I don’t wanna tow it with another plane because I don’t know another pilot that can help me out,

but I do own an original motorcycle that I could tow it with. Will this work and what do I need to do to make it work?

 

[cyclone3350]

Back in the late '70's, I was in a club that bungee launched our gliders. U can google rc glider bungee launch & see if this is something that would meet your needs. Eflite has a complete setup that might work on that size.

 

[Mr NCT]

Back in the late '70's, I was in a club that bungee launched our gliders. U can google rc glider bungee launch & see if this is something that would meet your needs. Eflite has a complete setup that might work on that size.

Something like this worked on my 9' wingspan glider

https://www.amazon.com/E-flite-Hi-Start-SLS-450-2-3M/dp/B00D8B9AT0?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

[MrClean]

Use a winch launch. You're also in Oregon, got any mountains or hills nearby? Slope soaring doesn't have to be done with carbon fiber record setters. Have done all mine with Foamies and had a great time doin it.
You'll have to research the winch but I have a quick video off youtube that shows one in action. These can be pretty fancy OR not so much. I think the one I saw was using a small tire rim for the winder. But, you probably want to try a cheaper system and that will involve a Bungee system. The size you need will depend on the weight of your sailplane and they're has to be info on that. But I'll put a demonstration video of that on. Warning, turn on Close Caption and turn off your speaker. Some folks are great chunks of information but don't understand putting a sock on their microphones when filming in the hurricane.

Winch -

Bungee -

This'n you can actually listen too.

And of course, we probably should at least recognize this one.

The winch is good for LARGE models, you have a bunch of power there, but mostly it reminds me of my short time in the actual Sailplane hobby. The club I was a member of had a car with a 440 in the front and a big old piece of tow rope out the back of it. When you're sitting in the plane and there isn't a tow plane you have to fly the box behind, it's different. Just too bad you don't get that vertical takeoff like you do with a histart on a model.

 

[Off-topic jes]

thanks! can i use my bike? how would i? i dont have any cash left to spend on gear

 

[Mr NCT]

thanks! can i use my bike? how would i? i dont have any cash left to spend on gear

In theory that's doable but it would take 2 people at least - 1 to ride the bike and 1 to launch the glider & work the tx. You might enjoy this video of the FT crew towing a glider.

 

[MrClean]

There is FAI event that is Tow Launch gliders, it's Free Flight I believe. YOU can run and pull the plane into the air, that is a bit hard when you're flying. You can MAKE your own Bungee as it only requires a Line (mine was heavier the kite string thread (I don't think it was Nylon as that tends to knot itself up.) a couple key rings and Rubber tubing, you can get latex rubber tubing at Lowe's/home depot but presently that tubing is about 25 bucks for 10 feet. I would do a search for making your own Bungy launch (or Hi-Start for model airplanes, that was the name brand) they may have other materials to use now. You don't have to wind the bungy up on a spool, you can spool it into a bucket or I use a Cat litter bucket, those come with lids. spool it into the bucket one end and then just feed it in till you get to the String portion. Wind that around something, secure it and put it on top. When it's time to deploy put the bucket down at the intended anchor posistion, grab the spool and walk that towards your launch position. I use this with Extension cords and collapsable hoses ( they type you hook to the faucet and now 25 foot of hose turns into 75, and I have a marking rope of natural fiber that I use to mark my control line circle with. As long as it's no tangle it will go into and come out of the bucket with no hassel. Shoot, once I built this foam flying wing called a Pibros. Had to make that out of sign board too but first you had to peel the sign board and then fold this delta out of it. I didn't have a close place to fly it or my histart at the time so I made a chain of rubberbands about 6 foot long, stuck a pitchfork into the ground and hooked the rubberbands to that and made a hook for the Pibros. Stretched that out and shot that sucker about 40 yards away, swung it around, flew back and had enough height to pivot around and land back at my feet. I was in my neighborhood so, things were tight. Built one out of 2 mill coroplast and took it to the slope. This one was heavy, didn't think it would fly well and there was no breeze. But its a 3 hour trip to the slope and It was charged with my other planes. I gave it a toss at the car towards the slope 75 yards away, I made it about half way. But the slope, it's a bit of a pain to go down and retrieve so I didn't try it out there that day and well, other planes were working really good and I didn't get back to it.

 

[Piotrsko]

Btdt, SO: bungee launch needs a rubber band or equivalent that can pull the plane's weight. If the plane weighs 2 pounds you probably need 4 pounds of pull, at least 20 foot long and a bunch of line because a 20ft high launch doesn't get you high enough except on boomer thermal days. Don't forget the drag device or flag because not getting off tow is expensive. Rule of thumb I used: 50 ft rubber thing, 100ft towline, got me usually way above 100 ft high. You also want something pretty strong to attach to since having one end comming loose then at you is mildly upsetting.
Used to be all the major hobby places had bungee highstart, but perhaps a google can still get you one. Might be a lot overkill for a lightweight foamie.

Also be advised that one person highstarts will tend to break planes and people/dogs really thrash your kit sitting on the ground unprotected.

 

[Off-topic jes]

Something like this worked on my 9' wingspan glider

Amazon.com

It’s looking like this is my best option, but how many pounds can this thing take because my glider is quite heavy and is 3 inches over the required wingspan limit

 

[MrClean]

Not to get you off this forum BUT they're are a couple other forums out there that have Sailplane sections and this is pinned to the top of the RCU page Sailplane forum

Learning to use a hi-start - RCU Forums

RC Gliders, Sailplanes and Slope Soaring - Learning to use a hi-start - I am making this post because I could not find tips or advice anywhere on how a person, working alone, could learn to use a hi-start. I invite more experienced sailplane pilots to add their tips, comments and advice to mine...

www.rcuniverse.com

I didn't dive any deeper into the forum about what people use and where they get it. Could get you more answers.

 

[Off-topic jes]

Well, everyone, I decided to turn back to the Darkside from freeflight and put together a sea monkey. You can find the plans, on outer zone it’s a pretty sweet little aquatic plane and I figured I would put it together for my pond.

 

[Off-topic jes]

Now, after flying to finish plane, I’ve come to the conclusion that it flies Amazing. I’m gonna need to fix up the battery pod, though due to the fact that it was a pretty tight fit, and when I landed, it cracked a little bit. I’ll fix that with popsicle sticks, but other than that fantastic performing plane I highly recommend that you guys put one together

 

[Off-topic jes]

And for today’s free flight build I put together this 1911 monoplane you can find the plans on outerzone they’re pretty fresh. It has an 8 inch wingspan is a nice little rubber powered model.

 

[Off-topic jes]

And for today’s free flight build I put together this 1911 monoplane you can find the plans on outerzone they’re pretty fresh. It has an 8 inch wingspan is a nice little rubber powered model.

 

[Off-topic jes]

Well, seeing as my last post didn’t get that much interest, I might as well share the P 51B model and building it is a little fat due to me miss reading the plans.

 

[luvmy40]

Well, seeing as my last post didn’t get that much interest, I might as well share the P 51B model and building it is a little fat due to me miss reading the plans.

Looks great from my house!

 

[Off-topic jes]

Looks great from my house!

Thanks man

 

[Battery800]

So turns out the IT guy at my school is into quads, and so I got him into fixed wing. Currently he's building this 3D printed plane with a behemoth of a battery pack. Well I checked out their website and they also had the cobra, a 2 meter quadplane also 3D printed. This gave me an idea for a really stupidly overpowered combat craft: 3d print the parts, then layer with carbon or glass, take out the printed part then fill the carbon skin with spray foam. I seems both strong and light, and built off an existing platform

 

[Off-topic jes]

well, it seems that everywhere I look I couldn’t find any good information on the HERR kits aqua star so I decided to build one and post pictures of it so other people could have some good clarity, they fly wonderful, very slow and easy

 

[Off-topic jes]

well, it seems that everywhere I look I couldn’t find any good information on the HERR kits aqua star so I decided to build one and post pictures of it so other people could have some good clarity, they fly wonderful, very slow and easy