has anyone

[mhmitchell333]

Has anyone on here ever built a sailplane from blue fanfold. No motor at all to be launched with high start maybe be used as a winch trainer (cheap).

If so any pictures or plans?

[Ollie]

To get a good launch on the histart, the maximum line pull has to be at least four or five times the weight of the model. this means that the wing has to generate just about that much lift force. that's too much to ask of fan fold foam alone. The wing will need a spar to keep it from folding during launch.

[mhmitchell333]

yes I figured it would need a spar. From my work with fanfold and building semiscale decent looking aircraft with it (almist as good as balsa) I was hoping to find plans or pictures and maybe a contact to see if it might be worth the effort.

It seems a lot of $$$$ is wasted on learning to winch launch I was thinking I can build a fanfold P-51 for about $7.00 including paint. So a sailplane would be in that ball park. If so then one would not worry about cracking his pride and joy learning to winch. I know there are solid" foamies in the combat arena but those seem to be rather labor intensive..

[Ollie]

You can teach yourself how to control the speed of the winch with absolutely no risk to a plane.
Stand at the foot switch holding the launch ring firmly but in such a way that if it is forcefully pulled from your hand it won't take any flesh with it. Then start tapping the foot switch with taps so light that the soilnoid doesn't close to run the winch motor. Develop an even rhythm of light taps still without operating the solenoid. Maintaing the rhythm of the taps, very gradually increase the force of the taps until the solinoid closes for the briefest possible time. Maintain the briefist closing of the solinoid and vary the rhythm to control the pull on the line. Keep practising until you can do it without using your full concentration. When you have practised enough you will be able to carry on a conversation or do mental arithmatic while maintaining a nice constant pull on the line. It helps if you have tap dancing experience. ;)