Carbon DS'er wnated

[chamm37]

i wanna get a carbon plane to do DSing with

i wanted to know what you guys would sudjest to get as a DS'er......i was thinking of a Mini Blade 1.5 from sailplane AUS
here is a link to the plane
www.rc-sailplane.com.au/sailplane_detail.php?gliderID=24

Let us know what you think and also leave some sudgestions on what plane you would choose


Regards,
Chris ;D

[sean]

IMO you couldn't go past the single-carbon Bird, depending on how you build them they'll thermal, go 220mph+ or anything inbetween. Having said that I strongly recommend a bit of DSing time on foam before chucking an expensive mouldie into the dark side. It's true mouldies are easier to DS but until you get a feel for our treacherous DS sites you'll be putting planes in left-right-and-centre!

[sf2]

You can also get the blades from rc bandit in NZ, soaring usa has a large amount of carbon planes or try the dominator from NE sailplanes, which is what I'm looking at whenI get the cash up.

[chamm37]

yer well i have finnished my bevo and i have strenthened that all up and it has very little flex to it....not much at all so i will get some experience on the bevo...dunno the weight on it yet but i am guessing that it is around 810grams roughly

I wont be able to get a mouldie for a little while yet because i have to save up the money to buy it yet but until then i am just finding out some info and sudgestions from people to find out which would be best ;D
thanks saun for the advice ae ;D

[laanguy]

I suggest you look at a website like www.rcspeeds.com

People or retailers will often give opinions of different planes that they think are great but the speeds that the planes achieve is not bias. Also remember that some models come in different versions. A good exampe is the mini blade you mention. They do rate down the list for DS but I believe that is the one piece wing carbon version, however there are glass two piece winged versions. They might look attractive at the lower price but will not handle DS. Another good example is a retailer listing a carbon banana that is designed for DS and I'm sure lots of people bought the model based on what the web site listed. Have a look at RC speeds and do a searchin the DS threads of RCG and you will learn why the model is poor for DS.

Also the dominator mentioned might be a great plane but it has no proven DS performance and doubt it could handle much. Perhaps I am wrong but really if you want a plane for DS, buy something that has proven it can do the speeds easily rather than a plane that has never been rated and might struggle to get low speeds. Also search for north east sailplanes in rcg and then decide if your happy to buy from them. Also remember buying a one piece wing from the US will also mean a very high postage cost, expect at least $150 just for the postage.

Guess all I am saying is do your research.

Andrew

[Vanders]

If I'd been after a 60" plane, it was going to be a Carbon Bird from www.falcongliders.com.au/carbonbird.html, after seeing Sean's fly I was pretty sold, there pretty tough & Andrew from Falcon Gliders is a great guy to deal with.

[ezza]

After seeing Seans' Bird I would rate it as the best, readily available, 60 inch plane for ds. I am quite envious actually. If you get a glass plane you want to get something with flaps.

I wouldn't normally rubbish someone/something but if it saves someone else a whole bunch of hassle it is worth it. Do a search on NEsailplanes and you will find out. One of the locals down here handed money over to them for a JW. (This was before I warned him). About a month later he emailed and they replied it would be another month. Another month goes by and he contacts them and they say they can't get them. Then it took weeks to get the money back!!

[laanguy]

For an affordable glass model with flaps that Ezza suggests here are two in stock in Australia, the Glass Nemesis (current stock has carbon fuses though) and this has flaps. Top recorded speed for a glass version is 184mph. Also the glass Ocelot is in stock in Australia with flaps and conventional tail.

I have not put mine together yet but the finish is good, not quiet the same as the Bird but still a nice Czech made model.

[chamm37]

yer thanks guys for that......yer i was looking at the that plane

it looks really kool ;D

[thevon]

Chris, I totally agree that the C Bird is the best choice. But the problem is that so far you haven't spent any time flying on a big slope at all, and you've never DS'ed. So you need to get out flying a bit, and have a go, and spend some time on a DS foamie before investing in a composite plane. With your flying skills you'll be there very quickly, but you have to look at your situation. DS is short for "Destructive Smashing" - do it first with something that won't break into a hundred bits.

[skyboyken]

Chamm,

I second all the above advice.

You cannot imagine how hard on planes DS at high speeds is until you've seen it for yourself. DS literally tears planes apart. That's why you're being advised to go with something proven. After all, why spend your money on doing the testing for someone else when you can spend it on something that someone else has proven for you?

I think it's a good thing you're thinking ahead and asking questions. Hopefully by the time you're ready to buy a DS mouldie you'll have gotten past the DS crashing phase with foamies and you'll be ready to get the most out of your mouldie without being scared to death every time you fly it. Don't ask me how I know this .

Whatever you decide, go great!

Ken.

[sean]

The thing I love about my Carbon Bird is it is capable of withstanding any DS conditions I'm likely to subect it to, yet it is also a tough, well behaved, aerobatic, every-day sloper that will stay up in light lift and land slow. There aren't many planes that can do all those things. My Pike and Erwin are faster and easier to DS in light wind but they both have a speed limit whereas I know the Bird will take whatever I can give it... In really big conditions the Bird is still the plane I'd use to try and up my PB.

I bought mine from Andrew at Falcon Gliders and his service and support really is as good as it gets.

[chamm37]

yer ok thanks guys ;D

i have gotten my bevo all strenthened up and gooped up it and it is really stiff now so i will use that as a beginner into DSing plane
Andrew and Saun, do you remember how flexy it was when we were trying to kill our selves to clear that lantana......well if you hold it at the end of the wing you get about 5mm flex accross the whole wing so it is resonable stiff.....dont no the weight of it tho but i am guessing that it is around 800grams or so

What ya reakon