Which RES over 3 meters span?

[Alex J]

For us in the Southern Hemisphere it's building time again and my fingers started itching.

Four possible planes come to my mind:

Houston Hawk
Bubble Dancer
Skybench Skybird
Skybench Legionair 140

It has to be easy to build (I have built an Allegro, BoT, 2M Lil Bird and Lil Bird), the kit has to be available (HH and BD can only be sourced as short kits, but fuse is available from vendors or individuals. Skybench is closed till June) and it should thermal well in light conditions (from what I have read, all do). All should be sturdy and take hard hi start launches or winch launches.

I have read a lot about all 4 planes in rcgroups, but I haven't personally seen any of them.

It's a lousy question, but can anybody help me decide?

Alex

[Mark Miller]

I sell a full plan set for the Bubble Dancer. I also sell.....

Soprano
http://www.isthmusmodels.com/pages/soprano.html

Mistral
http://www.isthmusmodels.com/wilde/mistral.html

Mirage
http://www.isthmusmodels.com/pages/mirage.html

[JOE KROSNER]

All Of Marks Stuff Is Great
I Have A Mirage Short Kit And The Quality Is A1
Joe Krosner

[rdwoebke]

I have built a Bubble Dancer. It is a fun build. The plane is an awsome flyer. You have built an Allegro, so the BD should be pretty much old hat.

Right now I am building an Allegro Lite. The BD is a longer build than the Allegro, but some things on the BD are a bit easier (there is no spar sweep on the BD, and the joiner rods are not tapered).

Ryan

[schrederman]

So far the Houston hawk hasn't been outflown by any of the others you mentioned. Even with it's "outdated" airfoil and generally normal build technigues, it's performance has surprised more than a few. It has been called the most comprtitive built up model going, lately. I'll fly mine in tomorrow's Deep-South Chanpionships, in RES class and in open class. With the carbon inboard spars and 1/2" joiner, I won't give away anything...

I also am a Legionair lover. My Legionairs are on Skybench's website. As good as the Legionair is, it doesn't match the Hawk. (My late friend Cecil Haga would have a different opinion.)

If you decide to build the Hawk and want the updated tail drawings, email your address to me privately at schrederman@yahoo.com and I'll send you the drawings.

I'll forgive you if you build something else...(haha!)... they're all good choices. I'm starting a Grand Esprit, soon, myself.

Have fun.

Jack Womack

[schrederman]

Alex,

Did you fly real gliders at Texas Soaring Association? I used to know a Chilean fellow that owned a PIK-20 there. His name was Alex, also.

Jack Womack

[Alex J]

Jack,

I knew you would reply to my thread. :) From all I mentioned, both the Legionair and the Houston Hawk appeal the most. I already build an Allegro, so that makes the BD a little old (if you can say that of a great design :o ) and the SkyBird is (almost) the same as the Lil Bird and the 2M LB.

I guess I'll re-read the HH build thread once more and start planning to get all the parts down here. Shipping and handling of all the parts gets somewhat expensive. I imported the parts for 6 Allegro Lites(2 flying and a third fuse being built for E), but on this one I'm by myself. That makes the Legionair more interesting, but Ray is closed till June. :(

Can you be a little more explicit on the HH flying characteristics versus the Legionair?

No, I haven't flown real ones in Texas, but I flew here in Chile during my university years. Haven't flown gliders in almost 20 years, but I get to burn some Avgas instead. Two chilean glider flying Alex's come to mind: Chanes and Chechilnitsky (sp?).

Email sent.

Thanks to all that replied.

Alex

[neonbutterfly]

i have been flying a mirage for over 30 years and it is a fantastic plane.....i recently purchased a mirage kit from isthmus models and added caron fiber to the center spar and elevator ....still a great plane and u couldn't go wrong flying it....


bob

[solo6796]

Besides being able to thermal light lift, The Houston Hawk is just plain durable. Full pedal launches and high speed dives won't break it... Gives you more confidence when flying at speck altitudes.

I don't know if anybody has ballasted it yet, I keep meaning to, but I believe it will handle wind better that way... Otherwise, It flys best in winds under 10-15.

The Hawk shows very good control authority, especially rudder, over the Legionaire. ( I got to fly Jack's)

I built the second Houston Hawk, so I'm prejudiced.

Extremely good looking profile in flight.

AJ

[Alex J]

I couldn't make up my mind :o , so I ended up ordering a Legionair 140 from Skybench (eagerly waiting for its June reopening) and I have started putting the parts together for a Houston Hawk.

Looks like I'll have a busy winter building two fine gliders... :D

Thanks to all that answered.

Alex

[BrianSmith]

What won?? Brian

[solo6796]

RES- Topaz, Johan Luetke
Unlimited-AVA, Luis Moya