Favorite Bird

[Synth]

Just for fun. What is your favorite bird,and why? Cheers:cool:

[R. Carver]

Oh boy, that's a tough one-
Right now I'd have to say the good ol' Gentle Lady. Nowhere near the performance of a lot of other ships, but a great flyer none the less. I like just being able to strap the wing on and turn it on and I'm ready to go up. I also like the way the transparent covering glows in the sun. I'm just finishing up my 5th one....sick, eh? :)
A close second is a tie between my BoT and NESail Edge. The BoT because..well, 'cause it has SOUL, and my Edge because it's been a great contest plane for me.

[Ollie]

I built an all composite version of Mark Drela's Bubble Dancer. It is without doubt the easiest to fly and best performing of the many planes I have built and flown over the last 35 years. It floats better than a Gentle Lady but is happy in winds up to 20 MPH without ballast. It is able to work small, low level lift almost as easily as a good HLG. It has skied out many times from under telephone pole height. It has absolutely no bad habits.

I am presently working on my third and fourth BD. Thank you Dr. Drela!

[Jack Hyde]

My favorite plane is a 60 oz Mantis 3m with a 7037 wing. I think at $450 it is the best deal going in composite unlimited sailplanes. It flies great, is rugged and lands where you want it to. Two guys I fly with watched me fly mine and each ordered one for himmself.
I am currently flying a Mantis with a MH32 wing and it is very similar to the 7037. Maybe next week I will like it best.
Ollie, is there a way to get a BD without first developing a 'glass shop' capabilty. Is anyone selling wings, pods, booms, etc. I got on the list Miller posted for a builtup BD kit that was to come out this spring. I would rather put together a composite plane - they seem to hold up better. I read the Allegro list but didn't run across a 'kit'.

[Ollie]

Jack,

You can get BD ribs and shear webs from Laser Arts for the authentic BD wing. You can get BD boom from Pat Sloan at:
http://www.tailboom.com/
You can get the V-mount for the stab from Bud Elder whose E-mail address is listed in the Allegro Lite discussion forum. That just leaves the fuselage pod for glass work to be done. You can do a pod in four, 45 minute, working sessions by the lost foam method. See:
http://www.favonius.com/soaring/index.htm

Barry Kennedy is importing the Ava which is an eastern European manufactured ARF variation of the BD. There is a thread in this forum with pictures of the Ava. The only significant aerodynamic difference between the Ava and the BD is that the spoiler is mounted more forward on the Ava. The structural design is different, following European FF technology.

[Superman]

I've got to go with my Sagitta 600. It is a blast from the time you let it go on the high start to when you hit the spoilers for landing.

-Superman

[Jack Hyde]

Ollie,
I was hoping to put together a BD with a bagged wing. I have seen guys selling cores. I would like to find a skinned wing. I have a vac system but no experience in skinning wings.
The AVA is beautiful but so fragile looking. My Allegro Lite got holes punched in the wing covering the 1st time I flew it. The weed stalks where I fly are too tough for open bay wings. My bagged wings hold up fine.

[Ollie]

Jack.

I highly recommend the two DVD set, Vacuum Bagging Made Easy by Phil Barnes. This Is the most detailed and complete information available on vacuum bagging. I have been bagging my own wings for over 12 years and I learned a lot from this instructional set of DVD's. It is available for $55 plus $6 S&H from:
Mr. William Haymaker
107 Schofield Drive
East Berlin, PA 17316

BTW, the composite version of the BD will weigh about a pound more than the built up version and the wing won't be zoom proof like the built up version. Even so, I don't think you will be disapointed in its light air capability.

[jcstalls]

Greetings,

So many, many birds over the years. Yet still, my all time favorite was my 4M Multiplex ASW22. Not fast, nor aeorbatic, but a great flyer.
I use to fly her off a local slope in such poor conditions that Wanderers could not fly. Yet this nine pounder just floated away.
I still kick myself for seller heryears past. I am sure that I will come across another one.

Jared

[garthebar]

My buddy Geoff Jones builds a DLG called Vanguard. She's clean, light, strong, fast, basically, nothing's gonna punch any holes in her skin-and dings are so easily remedied with wet paper towell and iron. I could go on and on. MY FAVORITE tho, his Siren...pics of me and Siren, also one of Vanguard at thread below...



http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=110760

[hayman01]

Thanks for the mention Ollie,

Phil Barnes is well know in sailplane circles. He has been manufacturing
wings for many, many years. First working with Frank Weston making Magics
and Merlins. For many years now, he has been making most of the bagged wings
and tails for Northeast Sailplane Products thermal and slope kits. Last year
he started producing wings for Polecat Aeroplane Works popular line of DLG
gliders. He also sells the Tom Kiesling designed Mantis Unlimited TD kits
directly. If you fly sailplanes, chances are you have flown wings made by
Phil at one time or another.

This 4 1/2 hour instructional video takes you step by step, in great detail, through the processes of making vacuum bagged composite wings and tails starting
from raw foam right through to finished parts.

This is a 2 DVD set, packed full of invaluable information, that will
ensure the novice good results as well as give the seasoned builder new
insight into producing top quality wings and tails. If you bag your own
wings, or want to get started, this is a one of a kind, must have, video.

You can download a couple of Video clips and read testimonials at;

http://www.paonline.com/hayman/video.htm

Bill

[davidleitch]

I don't know what my favourite will be next year but right now its the 2.5 m Organic (with electric motor). However I'm sure I'm still not getting near the best out of it yet, but its a lot of fun trying. Man those thermals are hard to find.

dave