Sig Riser 100" V.S OLYIII? Is it worth the extra $110?

[RollingR6]

Just wondering if the OlyIII is worth spending $110 more for than the Riser 100". I have flown a handlaunch glider back in the day (Tantrum Off the Ground Models), but have never hi-started and plan on going that route. If I had to rate my flying level, I'd say I'm an intermediate pilot with experience with ailerons and no real mishaps other than sanding a wing on gusty landings. I fly cautiously and don't enjoy re-building. My flying field is mostly concrete and asphalt with some grass strips between the runways. It's a stage field for full size Army helicopters during the week. The wind on average seems to be anywhere from 5 to 10 MPH.
I can afford either of the ships, but am balking at the cost of the OlyIII. I could buy 4 and 1/2 2 meter Risers for that cost!

DING! DING!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/raidersix/riser100.jpghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/raidersix/versus.jpghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/raidersix/oly_iii_build_pic_1.jpg

(My flying field. I have the field to myself nearly every weekend morning since I work graveyard shift hours.) :D

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j99/raidersix/Flyingfield.jpg

[condor-60]

......I think you answered your own question. The Riser 100 is a very fine glider and for the money you cannot beat it. Its been around a lot longer and has proven itself many times over. I once had one many years ago and really enjoyed it until I lost it in a thermal.

Condor-60

[arukum17]

If, as it appears, you take care of your toys, then I would spend the extra US$110 for the larger Oly III. Larger is better.

[atjurhs]

The OLYIII gives you 32inches more wingspan, that's a HUGE difference!!!

Given that there really aren't anymore 100inch design contests (typically either RES or 2M contest events); although you didn't say you wanted to compete with it, why give up that 32inches?

Also I'm pretty certain that the polars for the S3014 will beat out the E205 under most of our conditions. The S3014 has been used on several well-proven RES models. I think "schrederman" uses it on a couple of his designs, and I think Drela used it as the "starting point" for some of his AG series (Drela officiants will probably flame me for that).

I would certainly go with the OLYIII.

[Wylie Shaw]

Hey Mate!! That's My Oly Iii You've Got A Picture Of There.......


Oly Iii Is Much Better Than The Riser Bar None..... You Could Also Go With The Oly Iis, Same Airfoil But Only 100 Incher.....


Wylie Shaw Aka The Coyote :d :d :d :d

[blackoutjon]

i thought the S3014 is just a mod. of the E205

[RollingR6]

Hey Mate!! That's My Oly Iii You've Got A Picture Of There.......
Are you sure? Weren't the leaves on the ground arranged in a different pattern than the ones in this picture? :p
(hope you don't mind, I needed to use it for the fighting match.)

[dougalert]

Anything but a Riser! Really. I have built and flown the Riser. I have not flown the Oly but I preferred my foamy Highlander two meter over the Riser. I have never owned or flown a RES plane that was less satisfying. Your dollar cost shrinks when you factor in the covering, servos and especially your time. Besides, what are you going to do with four and a half Risers?

[FrogChief]

Go with the OLY III. New design, modern airfoil, bigger bird. You only live once (or twice if you're James Bond) buy it!

[kzimmerm]

i thought the S3014 is just a mod. of the E205


Actually it is more like the SD7084 (9.6%)

Check this out:

http://worldofkrauss.com/foils/show_compare/?id[]=33&id[]=1131&chord=6.5

Kurt

[craigrrr]

A more even comparison might be the Sig Riser 100 against the OlyIIs. Both have 100" wingspans. The OlyIIs sells for $134.

[planepainter]

Since completeing the build last March I have gone out about five times with my Riser 100 and have flown it with a great instructor helping me every step of the way. Now I am no expert, but the Riser 100 is proving to be a real pig so far. I have caught some good lift with it but it just wants to wallow around the axis like it is sick or something. I am still tweeking the thing to try to make it fly crisper.In level flight it is pretty stable but does not respond to turns with great authority. My instructor ( who btw has been in this sport since 1971) has flown the plane many times and says that it just seems to control poorly in the "neutral" position.The only thing we can figure is that flat airfoil for the tail feathers. I am considering rebuilding new stab and rudder with a foil to it to try to make it more responsive. Would I buy another one as a beginner plane? Not so much. If you can't find lift you better get ready for landing because it is coming down! PP.

[atjurhs]

...If you can't find lift you better get ready for landing because it is coming down! PP.

So what you're saying is that the Riser 100 is a good "landing practice" plane :D

[kzimmerm]

So what you're saying is that the Riser 100 is a good "landing practice" plane :D


How about honing your skills on bashing the kit and build a modern wing w/ newer airfoil? :rolleyes:

Kurt

[Buran]

My vote goes to the Oly III. I don’t see the Riser and Oly III as a good comparison; different class gliders. The OLY III is a modern design structurally.

A plus, Ray makes great kits; good wood, laser cut, parts fit perfectly. I haven’t built the Oly III, but I have built a couple other Skybench kits; they are wonderful.

Yeah, the Oly II is worth the extra bucks if you have it, just my opinion.

[schrederman]

The Oly III is in a different league from the Riser. The Oly III is designed for competitive flying, and the Riser is a sport/trainer. This is not to say the Riser can't be competitive, but in the same hands and weather it will not compete with the Oly III. I've never built a Riser, but have helped several beginners with their first flights and getting them soloed. I haven't built an Oly III, but I've flown a couple of them. really not a fair comparison, even with the lesser price thrown in...

The S3021 is a modification/refinement of the E205. I believe the S3014 has different origins. I believe it was originally intended for heavily loaded slopers.

[planepainter]

Yes, the Riser is a good landing practice plane. It is majestic off of the winch and is beautiful in the air. If I had known better when I was building it, I would have used the lessons that I have learned since building it. Lessons such as using minimal glue to hold it together and keep it light. No mods just a straight build to keep the weight to a minimum again keeping it as light as possible. Did I say keep it light? Also, make sure you build on a hard flat surface. Academic I know but I used blue hard foam insulation so I could use push pins. And the wing came out a bit warped. It has since been corrected but it was an interesting couple of flights before it was discovered.My plane is very strong but I have too much emotional investment into it to use it as a crash and learn plane. I think the OLYIII might be a better thermal bird for a more experienced pilot. PP.

[scaflock]

I also have the Riser 100 and I have to agree with PlanePainter. It's a dog in the air. The weight to span ratio is way to high in my book. You really have to have some super lift going to keep it in the air no matter how light you build it. I'm a master as "glue control" and always build as light as possible, figuring that you can always add ballast if needed. However you can't take away weight without a total re-design. The Riser is a good LOOKING plane and a fun build but that's about as far as it goes in my book.

Spend the $$$ for one of Rays kits and you'll thank yourself in the long run. I have yet to hear of ANYONE complaining about a lack of "flyability" on any of his kits. They're well thought out and very good designs. When I'm in a position to restock on kits... Ray is going to be the first to get my $$$. I'm thinking Merlyn here but if he hasn't released it yet there are still several that I will get to tide me through until it's ready for sale.

Edit:
The Riser would still be a good plane for some relaxing slope flying. I'd modify it a bit for slope. Loose the spoilers and change the wing over to flaps/ailerons with a flat wing instead of poly. With the weight behind it it could do some good cutting up at a slope like Torrey Pines.

[tkallev]

I agree, you will be happier for a much longer time with the Oly III.

Ray's kits are second to none!

tk

[GDbot]

My 2 cents. I have been doing my Oly 3 and only kinda half wish my bro-in-law flying bud didn't talk me out of trying the Oly 2 S first to get my feet wet again. No complaints whatsoever, fun build, great kit.

[StevenatorLTFO]

+1 one for the Oly III, or the Sky Bird

[FoamCrusher]

I have recently built both a Riser 100 and Oly 3 (both modified for electric power) and the Oly3 has flaps as well as a slightly different tail (full flying stab). The tail is about the same size and in the same location as the OEM tail, so in theory it should not affect how it flies very much. FWIW here is my analysis of the differences excluding the issue of both not having flaps:

The Oly3 is a more difficult build and you need some kit building experience under your belt or you can make some mistakes that are difficult to reverse or build around. Ray did not write the instructions letting others write them and post them on his website. Since they are by experienced builders they write in sort of a shorthand that other experienced builders understand, and because each experience modeler has adopted their own building sequence and techniques, the two sets of instructions are different. For me as an inexperienced builder, it was frustrating at times when the two sets of instructions contradicted each other. OTOH, the Riser 100 build is almost foolproof if you follow the excellent instructions that have lots of photos.

The Oly3 has very light balsa as sheeting and ribs for the outer panels to save weight and thus they are easily broken while handling and sanding. The Riser wood is good quality but thicker throughout, and while making the plane heavier overall, it withstands rough handling (or two dogs and a large nosy Main Coon cat in my case) better during the build.

The Oly 3 is bigger, and bigger is always better - for visibility at a distance. Because of the layout of the formers and how the wings mount, the Riser has more usable room in the fuse for larger and potentially cheaper standard size servos.

Because it is larger, the Oly3 will take longer to build and requires more $$$ covering film. It is also a more complex structure which takes more time.

Both are mild mannered in the air, with the Riser not having as long a glide slope as the Oly which will feels like it will glide forever in ground effect - definitely build it with spoilers.

Overall, I prefer to fly the Oly3. It feels lighter even though it masses more than the Riser. The turns are easier to predict and I think it signals lift a bit better. It certainly has a better glide ratio and the wing profile is of a more modern design that performs better in a wider range of wind. In three trips to the field, I have almost specked out the Oly once on each trip.

The Riser is good plane, but the Oly3 is several steps better - but you pay for it total cost and build time. If you have the cash, the time, and the building experience then I would go for the Oly3. If you lack any one of those critical components, then build the Riser 100. If you build the Riser first you will also learn techniques that will help make the Oly3 build easier later (being a darn fool I built the Oly first and then the Riser :o ).

FC