R/C glider fun

slodave · slodave's Garage

Hi,

Just came back from a R/C glider contest in Visalia (placed 34 out of 58). I have been flying R/C gliders for about 5 years now. I had always intended to get into power, but found that soaring is much more fun. My glider is a 3 meter RES - rudder/elevator/spoiler and was designed about 30 years ago. It does not compete well with todays modern carbon composite gliders, but is fun none the less. The glider is also outfitted with a telemetry system that gives me airspeed, altitude and a host of other bits of useful info. I can attach to a laptop and have a live virtual cockpit layout. It also has a video unit that I am working on. Anybody else into R/C gliders?

A glider going up on the winch line

A few of the gliders...

Myself and my glider.

Enjoy.

Dave

M.D. Holloway · 05-07-2006, 08:03 PM

Looks pretty cool - my boy and (lil girl) love R/C planes. We sometimes watch them. How much does it cost to get into gliders? You can hook up a video and taker vids from the air?

slodave · slodave's Garage

A decent ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) will run about $100-$150. Radio and gear is another $150 for a basic setup. My plane was built by me in about three months (nights and other free time). You do need patience and understand that things will break. Here is what remains from my current gliders predecessor.

My video gear is design to give me a live feed on the ground and transmits about two miles. I can and will hook it up on the ground to record some of my flights. So far, my record altitude is about 2300 feet above ground.

Find a local field and see if there is anyone willing to give you some stick time. Also, if you do get a glider or other plane, be sure to stick with the club and let them help you learn. It makes all the difference in the world.

Dave

ckissick · 05-08-2006, 10:05 AM

I used to fly on a hill overlooking the coast near Pescadero and the onshore winds would keep the plane up until the batteries went dead. Most of the time, a red-tailed hawk would come along and attack. Sometimes he'd rip a wing off. Other times I would go into a dive, pull up, and nail him. Nothin' quite like dog fights with a hawk.