Spirit 100 X Bird Of Time

[brauko]

which is better to begin in the glider?
SPIRIT 100 X BIRD OF TIME

[Ollie]

If you intend to build it from plans and provide all the materials yourself, then build the BOT. If you plan to purchase a kit, choose the Spirit 100 and build it with polyhedral and without ailerons and flaps.

[Mchone, Jake]

I would personaly go with the BOT...but im one of thows 'classic' guys... :p

[aeajr]

I would probably recommend the Spirit 2 meter. Smaller, slower, easier to transport. Build it with spoilers.

I purchased mine as part of a RTF package from Tower Hobbies. In this package they call it the Spirit Select. From box to air in less than 2 hours. Includes all the radio equipment.

Keep the 100 or the BOT for your second plane.

My Spirit has been a great first saillplane. I enjoy flying is so much! Once I put it in the air, it does not want to come down.

Since then I have put a Sagitta 600 in the air as well. This weekend I will launch a 3 meter Airtronics Legend full house.

But it was the Spirit 2M that got me hooked on sailplanes.

[brauko]

I am wanting to buy to begin in the glider. I continue with a big one doubts among the 2 gliders.

[Ollie]

We could make better recommendations if we knew more about you. What experience do you have building models other than gliders? What experience do you have flying models other than R/C gliders? Will you be buying a kit from a hobby shop in Brazil or mail ordering it from the USA? Do you belong to a model airplane club?

[Mchone, Jake]

And to further that list...
What is your method of launching?(High/up-start, winch, or maybe slope)
What are you looking for in a glider?
Will You be thermaling it or Dynamic soaring, or slopeing?
ARF/RTC, RTF, or kit?
How much money are you willing, or have to spend?

[brauko]

I begin her I am wanting a glider that is for thermal and hills.
I am in doubts among SPIRIT 100 X BIRD OF TIME. what would be better in my case?

[Jim Walker]

They both fly well being in the 100 inch class. That size is large enough to get past the "model plane effect". This refers to the fact that bigger planes just fly better. The threshold is right about the 100 inch size. It still gets better as you get bigger, but not as dramatically as going from 2 meter to 100 inch.

The real questions then are your building skills and flying ability. Are you a beginning builder? If so then you would probably want the Spirit 100 ARF, the Bird of Time ARF, or the BoT kit. If you are an experienced builder and want to do things your way then the Spirit 100 kit may be what you want.

Are you a beginning pilot? If so get the BoT, it's an RES plane (rudder/elevator/spoiler) and the easiest to fly and train with. If you are an accomplished pilot then get the Spirit 100 with flaps and ailerons. With this plane and a 7 channel computer transmitter you will have full control over every aspect of the aerodynamics. You can control yaw with rudder, pitch with elevator, bank with ailerons. Crow will stop it quick for landings or getting out of a thermal. Flaps are great for slowing down and you'll have camber control to adjust the sink rate and airspeed.

Jim

[aeajr]

Here are a range of choices that you might consider as first gliders/sailplanes, depending on your goals.


If you primary focus is slope soaring, the ZAGI flying wings have a reputation as great flyers AND being very tough. Or, if you would like a motor launched slope glider, the ZAGIs have a great reputation for resistance to damage and versatility in the air.

Two other first slope planes that have been highly recommended to me are the Eraser and the Eraser 60. As far as I know, these are intended as a slope only planes. I don't see any provision for hi-start of winch launching.

Eraser 48
http://www.canterburysailplanes.co.nz/index.php/item/department/Gliders/item/Eraser.html
Eraser 60
http://www.canterburysailplanes.co.nz/index.php/item/department/Gliders/item/Eraser%2060.html


Compromise between thermal and slope plane

The Gentle Foamy looks like and is offered in a thermal version but is made of EPP foam which makes it more tolerant of the bumps and bruises that you are likely to see on the slope. I think the Spirit, below, is likely to be a better flyer, but might be more subject to damage on rough slope sites. I have never flown one, but I have heard that the Gentle Foamy slopes well and is not a bad thermal plane. It can be hi-start and winch launched.
http://www.mtntoys.com/gf.html


If your primary focus is a first sailplane for thermal soaring, I have to give a high recommendation to the Great Planes Spirit. In addition to being easy to fly it includes spoilers in the design. Spoilers can be very helpful in landing in small areas or for getting the plane out of a strong thermal.

I am told the kit is very easy to build. I have the Spirit Select which comes ready to fly with the radio installed. I also have 2 other sailplanes that I currently fly. I love the Spirit and really enjoy flying it. I recommend this as a first sailplane all the time.

Spirit Kit
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=MC1132&P=7

Spirit ARF
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=MC1135&P=7

Spirit Select Read to fly including Radio
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVK55**&P=7


So these are my thoughts. I hope this is useful information. I have no idea whether these planes are available in you area.

[brauko]

thank you very much for the help. I think will begin even for a ZAGI and later to leave for a glider. this was my conclusion. thank you once again.