Spirit Elite

[Brew Glider]

Hello group.

New to the forum and am very happy you all are here!

Just bought/ordered a Spirit Elite with the SC7035-7036 airfoil. I also went for the ARF that includes the Glass Fus.

Anyone have any experience with this kit? Should I beef anything up for an occasional wing pull? Now I am using a medium to light Hi-Start(25 feet of 3/16 rubber.)

Great to be here!
:)

[John_R_C]

I don't have the Spirit Elite, but an RES Spirit 2 meter ARF. Others here do have the Elite ARF and are well pleased with it.

Your high start seems way undersized for the plane. I'm using 100' of surgical tubing, stretching it 3X and 300' of 40# monofiliment to launch with no problems. I did bend a wing joiner on the club winch with no wing damage. I've now got a stronger joiner, so I may break a wing next time...and have an excuse to get an Elite :p

[nuevo]

Try the hi-start out and see how it goes. Longer hi-starts are available at www.hobby-lobby.com and www.aerofoam.com

I've seen this joiner fail a few times on a winch. But it should be fine for light hi-start launches, as you are planning. I would recommend a solid aluminum one (not the ply-alum-ply), or ply-steel-ply, if you can make one.

Welcome aboard !!

[averen]

The Spirit Elite comes with a Solid Steel wing rod (I think the rod weighs as much as a wing!) It can stand up to a strong high start with no problem. 2 of the guys I fly with have the Pinnacle Hi Starts from NE Sail. When going off of the high start I DON'T treat this plane like it's some wimpy 2 meter. I pull the line just as far back as the 3 meter composite guys...sometimes farther...put on about 20% flaps and let her rip.

On the winch I haven't had any problems doing a light-medium zoom. I even zoomed it hard without any problems once...although I try and keep this to a minimum!

You probably do need a larger hi start...while this will get it into the air I would be worried that you will not get enough "umph" out of it and that the plane could possibly stall on the launch. If you have the $$$ go with the Pinnacle series from NESail. If you don't want to spend that kind of cash get the Dynaflight Standard or Heavy Duty HS or something similar.

As for the rest of the plane I would get rid of the HEAVY pushrods that come with it and go to some lighter carbon rods. Also if you plan on specking it out (which you do...right?) you'll want to add some dark color to the bottom of the wing. I initially spray painted mine with flat black (nothin says loving like that krylon touch!) I have since recovered the wings with deep blue on the bottom and white on top.

But to answer your question :) you don't need to modify anything on the plane to stand up to a STRONG high start or a good winch zoom :)

Enjoy, welcome, and good luck!
Averen

[averen]

Follow up on the last post :)

I was just looking at the Pinnacle series on NESail. They're actually less expensive than the Dynafight ones :)

You can get a Medium for $68, Standard for $80 or the large for $87! For the $$$ these are the way to go...if you decide you need a new hi start :)

Averen