Slope gliders

[Emanuele]

Hej,
I have the usual old question, I've been looking around but find nothing, so maybe someone out there can kindly help me.
I want to start slope flying next summer: so now I'm looking for a good model, easy to handle and land, really ARTF, about 2 - 2.5 m wings (in two pieces to ease the transportation and wife's related issues).
It has to available in Europe.

Any idea / help ? please.....

Thank you very much.
Regards,
Emanuele

[John McCloskey]

Look at Chris Foss's site .
www.chrisfoss.co.uk
Go to the Index area . You will find the Middle Phase . (Phase 2 )
This can be built as a 2 or 3 channel ship . ( I reccomend the Aileron version .
There is also the Phase 6 . This can be ordered as a sport ,or Pro version . (semi symetrical or symetrical airfoil ) . The Semi symetrical wing is probably the best as it will work on smaller slopes,and in lighter winds .
I built both sailplanes while I was living in the U. K. .
They both fly well . The Middle phase is a bit easier to build , the phase 6 offers a lot better performance .
All the best , John McCloskey

[Svengali]

Those look like some very nice ships. Any idea where they could be purchased in the US?

[John McCloskey]

I doubt that they're imported to the US . I flew them when I was in the UK . You could try an E-Mail to Chris Foss to see what it might cost to get one shipped here . I've done it with other UK manufacterers . John

[Radioguy]

Hi:

I have ordered many kits from the UK in the past. It's really just as simple as ordering from a US company except it takes a little longer to arrive....maybe the same time if the US company is back ordered or out of stock for a few days.

My Phase 6 is around 15 years old now and still does what it was designed to do....fly upside down as well as it does right side up. I have the symetrical wing version and it is in semi-retirement now. Several of my friends have the semi-symetrical airfoil version and it seems to do all the usual "sport aerobatics" about 90% as well as mine, but do a little better in the lighter lift conditions.

A few of the guys have used the Middle Phase to get into slope and the aileron versions have served them well. Properly set up, they do a very credible job on aerobatics too.

Always liked "Fossy's" tail feathers...they just look slick.

The Middle Phase, Phase 6, and many other British slope machines are really quite readily available to you. Chris Foss lives in Brighton, south of London on the coast, and I had the opportunity to fly with him a couple of times and visit his manufacturing shop.

Take a look at the site for Sussex Model Centre in Worthing, England....just down the road from Chris Foss' facility. They do mail order all over the world and have considerable experience in shipping. Here's the site link:

http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/

For general info purposes for a rough guide to prices, 50 pounds sterling is about $70 US

Regards,
Lee Smith,
Winnipeg, Canada

[Duke58]

Svengali, check a plan from RCM plans called " Lady Bird MK II". I am building another one now with a foam core wing and an old Duralene fuselage I had laying around . I had one in the 70's and I loved it , it was one of Chriss Foss's collaborations , and it is a very easy build. The cores are coming from Flying Foam in SC , shouldn't cost more than 30 bucks shipped . If you're interested send me a PM and I'll give you the info to refference the cores ( I just sent the shape so I do not have the AF #).

[Synergy1]

Hi:



A few of the guys have used the Middle Phase to get into slope and the aileron versions have served them well. Properly set up, they do a very credible job on aerobatics too.



Regards,
Lee Smith,
Winnipeg, Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLGYMaJE9iM

[Radioguy]

Exactly what I mean Synergy. That model sure looks the part on those close-in passes.

If you don't mind a suggestion, try putting some differential into the ailerons to make the rolls more axial ... about 2 to 1 ratio, and when you roll, be conscious of not accidently pulling in up elevator at the same time. That way, your rolls will change from Barrel Rolls to Axial Rolls.

I was lucky enough to fly with "Fossy" at Mill Hill and Devil's Dyke about 25 years ago and enjoyed the company of many exceptional slope pilots on my 5 visits to the UK.

What a delightful flying aeroplane that Middle Phase is.

Regards,
Radioguy

[aeajr]

Hej,
I have the usual old question, I've been looking around but find nothing, so maybe someone out there can kindly help me.
I want to start slope flying next summer: so now I'm looking for a good model, easy to handle and land, really ARTF, about 2 - 2.5 m wings (in two pieces to ease the transportation and wife's related issues).
It has to available in Europe.

Any idea / help ? please.....

Thank you very much.
Regards,
Emanuele

From looking at your other posts I see that you are an experienced pilot.

You provide no goals for this plane other than size and transportablity.

For travel I would go with a foam glider and probably an electric, for convenience. Foam is hard to break and easy to fix with minimal space and tools.

Slope gliders tend to be smaller than thermal gliders. You don't have to range out to find or hold the lift so size is not as important. In fact you can fly all day and never be more than 200 feet away from yourself. So keep it small for easy transport. Many slope gliders are under 60 inches.

An Easy Glider or EG Pro will fly both thermal and slope. Not exciting slope but it will float in very light lift or put in some ballast if the wind is strong. The original EG Electric is still available RR. Not a strong motor but enough to get you to the lift and back if the lift dies.

A Radian has the added value of a motor to get you back as you test the lift and find that it is not strong enough. Or you can power up and test the lift on teh other side of "those trees". When you are traveling you don't want to spend the day tyring to get your glider back because the lift died or was not strong enough. If you tape the h-stab on you can put the whole thing back in the box for travel. the RTF has everything you need.

And, if there are no slopes, you can go thermal hunting with either of these.

Most DLGs can be flown on the slope if the wind is mild. They also tend to pack up pretty well.

A MPX Blizzard would be more aerobatic than the Radian or the EGE yet retain that electric convenience. It is a kit but a pretty easy build, I am sure.

If you must have a 2.5, then the Cularis is avaiable RR in non-electric form. But he smaller planes will make better travel buddies. :rolleyes:

All depends on your goals. Mild or wild?

Also note that many 3 channel RTF parkflyers can be flown on the slope. My first slope flights were on an Aerobird. The Aerobird 3 will do fine on the slope. The Firebird Phantom would do fine too. If you are visiting friends, pick one up at the destination. Teach your friend, then leave it with him to store for you, or give it to him as a gift and don't transport it at all. You will have a plane waiting for you when you visit again. :)

[target]

I like the 7.5 year gap in the posting.

T

[aeajr]

Humm, did not notice the date. :o