Returning to sailplanes

[Apexflyer]

I have been away from sailplanes for years but I have decided to have fun again and catch some thermals. I checked my old kit stash and found a Dynaflight Apogee. Paid $40 for it at a hobby shop sale years ago. I started framing it up over the week end and so far it looks ok. I put in an adjustable tow hook that was in my old parts box and I will replace the cable control of the flying stab with a bell crank setup like my old Aquila had. Does anyone have any other tips for this old bird (Me or the airplane)?

Jerry

[Dedé]

Congrats!
This year i went to those messy and noisy glow and gas burners, but after a litle time i realise tha the real thing is soaring (and e-power too!).
So i make up my mind and now I'm selling all my "noisy" stuff.

I appreciatte very much the walt to the top of the hill with my dogs Barney and Filó, a muscle Retriever Labrador (male) and a beautifull Street dog (female), and I know that they appreciatte much more than I do! :)

Take some thermals and try slpe soaring too!
Dont wait anythig!Life is now!
Wish you The best regards!(and soft landings too! :D )
André
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBrazil!!! HexaChampion 2006 HEHEHE!

[bobby legue]

Hey Apex,
This was by far my most favorite woodie. I have3 built 4 of them and they all flew great! Each one had suttle refinements and I will give you the end results.
1. An increase of 1/2" in the polyhedrals.
2. If your outer D tube sheeting is not very light then go get some more.
3. Use .007 carbon fiber tape on top and bottom out to the third outer most ribs.
4. Reinforce tailpost with a second 1/8 by length of tailpost using medium balsa - had rudder hinges pull wood out with separation of fin and rudder in hard dive.
5. at trailing edges of wing slip a piece of carbon fiber tape between the two pieces of trailing edge stock and sand to a razor sharp edge.
6. Do the same for the rudder TE.
7. Keep the rudder as symetrical as possible.
8 Wnen you are comfortable flying at reccomended CG. slowly take weight out of nose and place twice that amount in that ballast box. It will just come ALIVE and climb on a bug fart thermal.
9. Dont be afraid of going downwind with it. Turn for home put a click or two of down in it let the plane take its time to speed up-and it will - and cruise for home. This plane had the longest legs of any wood plane I ever flew. I just had to give that eppler 205 some time to pick up speed.
10. I glassed the bottom half of the fuse from the wing leading edge forward as a personal thing with light cloth and finishing resin as I come low and fast and sort of stick it in the dirt at the tape. This is not necessary its just the way I fly and its rough on the fuse glue joints.
Good luck with it, its tough and it flys so well. Been looking for one But without any luck.
Bob

[SoCalGliderFlyr]

Item 5. Don't get any carbon fiber splinters in you.

[Apexflyer]

Bob,
Thanks for the tips. I did a search on Apogee but all I found was Mark Drela's DLG. Glad to here someone else has some experience with it. I don't intend to do any contest work and the wing is too far along already to add any carbon. I'll just be doing some lazy afternoon thermal thumbing.

André,

I would like to get back into slope work. I did a lot in Southern California in the early 70s. I'm in central North Carolina now and there are just too many darn trees on all of the hill sides.

Thanks,
Jerry