UMX DLG!!!!!!!!! The Whilpit!

ZoomNBoom

Senior Member
g I don't care to put any more time in for 15s flights.

a glider specialist that says he has gotten 30min flights out of it.

The difference is catching thermals. Requires the right conditions, and never an easy thing to learn, but especially not if you are limited to 15s per flight and can only achieve a launch altitude that is typically lower than where thermals begin to rise. It happens, but Ive not often caught a thermal below 10 meter and it really only becomes 'easy' above 20 meter.

The unfortunate reality of DLGs is that to really have a good shot at experiencing what it is really like, you need to buy a pretty expensive composite DLG to achieve decent launch heights and have a realistic shot of catching a thermal. Or at least have up to 2 minute flights without thermals.
 

flyboa

Elite member
The unfortunate reality of DLGs is that to really have a good shot at experiencing what it is really like, you need to buy a pretty expensive composite DLG to achieve decent launch heights and have a realistic shot of catching a thermal. Or at least have up to 2 minute flights without thermals.
I have been scratch building DLG from Dollar Tree foam with some success. Here is my latest using an AR6400 brick.
 
Last edited:

Redflier

Launch Mode
I have just bought a second hand Whipit. Looking forward to flying it. Won't be this week...or this weekend...or next week *sigh
 

Redflier

Launch Mode
Got my Whipit! May get a chance to fly this weekend after all. :)

Anyone else disappointed with the wing screws? Anyone tried using magnets to locate the wing? Strong enough? Or too strong?
 

FAI-F1D

Free Flight Indoorist
Got my Whipit! May get a chance to fly this weekend after all. :)

Anyone else disappointed with the wing screws? Anyone tried using magnets to locate the wing? Strong enough? Or too strong?

Yes, disappointed with the screws. It only needs two. Or one with a leading edge pin.

Launch forces are so hard that the nose cones sometimes eject from these things, so there's no way magnets will hold the wings on.
 

Redflier

Launch Mode
OK, that's helpful.

As it happens, my little assistant dropped one of the screws in the field yesterday, so I am temporarily earthbound with the Whipit :(
 

Redflier

Launch Mode
...and can't find spare screws anywhere! At least, not without ridiculous postage charges. May try a captive bolt as an alternative...

Bother that lad! Well, he is only young, and he is already plane crazy, so I can't complain :)
 

Redflier

Launch Mode
I've decided to experiment with the magnets anyway, so we'll see how that goes. Cut away foam from the fuselage, and set the first magnets deep enough that the wing ones can be surface mounted. Probably use screws to back up anyway.

Tbh, it's mainly cause I took the opportunity to pop into Sussex Model Centre to pick up a few bits & pieces, including what I thought were suitable replacement screws, but turned out to be way too big. Ah well, it could be a good thing in the end (though I may have to add a bit of weight to the nose).
 

flyboa

Elite member
I picked up a Whipit earlier this year. It is so light that I now just do a side arm launch.
 
Last edited:

FAI-F1D

Free Flight Indoorist
I don't want to distract too much from this thread, but I think it's still worth pointing out that I owned a Whipit for a while and it died quickly from a nose cone ejection. This is the real issue with the Whipit--there's not enough structure in the nose to withstand crashes. Everything else is structurally correct. I finally set out to design a replacement. It took a while, but I think I've created something that meets that requirement. And carries a slight bonus...hehehehe. You'll also see an accidental demo of why this thing is ten times more durable than the Whipit.

Other than that structural issue in the nose, the Whipit is a good airplane with great thermalling performance and has earned its sales rate in every way. But I think I'll stick with a more rugged platform. ;)
 

flyboa

Elite member
I built a replacement 1m mini DLG using parts from a Whipit. This launches more like a standard DLG.
IMG_1199.JPG
 
Last edited:

sprzout

Knower of useless information
Mentor
Until the Whipit gets reintroduced you can use the electronics and build your own.


I was disappointed to hear that Horizon Hobbies has discontinued it. :( There's hope for a new one to pop up, though! I wouldn't mind a newer version with a better fitting nose cone, since that thing kept slipping off at random times, which would cause the battery to come loose.

I got a TopSky DLG for Christmas, and I'm going to try to maiden it tomorrow with some basic tosses, just to make sure I have things trimmed out properly first and have my radio programmed for different flight modes before I actually go for good, hard throws.