Risers?

[round1]

I am contemplating getting my first sailplane after years of regular fuel engine R/C and controline.
Sig has always provided me with good products, so I thought I would start with one of there Riser kits.
What is the major diffrence to a beginner between the 2M amd 100" riser other than the air foils and wing span?
Any opinions about starting sailplane flying with the 100" vs the 2M?

[balsaaddict]

Im just getting back into flying R/C sailplanes after a few years of free flight. I flew a lot of 2m ships and had an Aquila. The 2m were the best for me. if you have a small flying field, I would recommend the 2m. The 2m birds will be more responsive and do thermal well. Planes around the 100+ need a little more anticipation because they respond less quickly to control inputs. They weigh more and will not launch as high on a short high start with little wind.
Anyway, you really can't go wrong with flying gliders. Every flight is different.
That's my two cents.

[schrederman]

Well,

Response has more to do with the design than the wingspan. The Houston Hawk at 128" is as responsive an RES ship as I have ever seen. My personal experience says go with 100"+. They thermal better, and there's lots more to pick from. The 100" would be my choice for most situations. Properly set up, it will respond as quickly as a 2m ship. The plus will be that you can see it further away. Built lightly, it will launch with or better than a 2m... more wing to carry the line.

The best advice anyone can give you is to join a glider club and get help and advice from the guys that fly gliders, primarily. Balsaaddict is right... can't go wrong with flying gliders...

Jack Womack

[flystoolow]

Flew the 2m sig riser.........did not like it.

Here is my suggestion:

Get a two meter Gentle Lady because everyone needs one, and quickly follow it up with a 100" old-time glider or a new design (something with 'legs' anyway).

You will be very happy with these two for starters.

[round1]

Flystoolow, I'm not familiar with the term "legs" as it might have to do with airplanes.
Could you explain "legs"?
Thanks for all the input, from you all.

[John Walter]

GL and Risers are OK (I have both) but I suggest you try a more current design. Better airfoils, laser cut, great parts fit etc.

http://www.laserarts.com/index.php?cPath=25_28&osCsid=19624a677cd6879332a9774b8323489e

Lots of options. I have a Majestic and it's a great plane.

http://www.skybench.com/

then take a look at the Big Bird and the Oly II, you can't go wrong with either ship.

[kwmtrubrit]

I have the Gentle Lady and the Riser 100 and both are great planes. I did build a ballast box in both of them, and put spoilers on them. The Riser is an easy build. The GL really needs some mods built into it. Nothing too time consuming. Let me know if you want some info on that. The price is right on these planes too. Fly a sailplane and you are hooked. ENJOY!!

Keith

[Robglover]

I did the same thing about 100 years ago. The 100 inch Riser is a great choice, if you like to build. It's a good enough plane and will get you where you want to go. Mr. Kalashnikov said that perfection is the enemy of good enough, and the Riser is a perfect example. There's no substitute for wingspan when it comes to thermal duration sailplanes.

If you have extra money and little time go for the Ava. That would be perfection.

[DACeller]

I chose to use cheap 2M ARF's which in fact were being dumped on the market (Windstar by Thunder Tiger, and Aspire by Hangar 9). They were $50 ea and assembled quickly. I'm still flying them and still learning. There are a number of these style ARFs available cheaply, and if you research, you'll find a 'bargain' sooner or later. Try QuantumModels.com for their bargains - which is where I bought both of mine. If you do wreck, you'lve lost very little. I have, and repaired them to fly again.. BTW - the riser (which I also have) is a pretty fragile glider compared to either the above especially on a winch!! Hi-starts are generally not as forgiving to beginners regardless
of chosen plane. Find a club to at least learn the winch-launching technique. It only
looks scarey..

[djnibler]

round1: The term "legs" means that the glider has the ability to range out for lift. "Float" would be sort of the opposite end of the spectrum. In dead air (no thermals, no wind, no sink), the glider that floats best will hang around in the air longer, will fly slow, but will not fly through much air. The glider with legs will fly faster, will fly farther, but will be on the ground sooner. It is a trade off.

The new pilot generally does best with a plane that floats. It gives them more time in the air, and allows them to utilizer weaker thermals due to the high-lift airfoil. It also allows the pilot to do a poor job thermaling, yet still go up. The floaters are also more forgiving and recover from stalls quicker, land slower etc etc. They are just easier to fly.

Now when you can fly a floater to the fullest potential, and possibly you start getting interested in contest work, you will realize the planes weakness: If there are no thermals near by, you can't reach them before you are on the ground. Now you need a faster plane with "legs" to really range out and get to the lift. Once you are in the lift, you now have the skills to make the faster-sinking glider go up. In addition, if you follow a thermal way down-wind with a floater, you aren't going to make it back to the field through the head-wind. You need a plane with legs for this.

Don't worry about the plane with legs for now. The floaters will keep you on your toes for a good while. You will know when you are ready for something faster!

Lots of good advice already on this thread. But here is mine: If you like to build, go ahead and build a floater kit. But if you just want to get flying, you can buy one in ARF form and get in the air much faster. The Bird Of Time and Great Planes Spirit both come in ARF form (though the Spirit is not much of a floater). The Bird Of Time Arf is cheap (~$130) and is a very good first plane. It is 100" but flies and responds well. I agree with what Jack said about the response of 100" ships BUT I do think that if you crash one, they may be less forgiving because they weigh more... I think they can also take longer to recover from stalls due to the weight as well. 2-Meter vs 100" isn't that huge a difference though.

Good luck and happy flying!

[MikeBanyai]

Three of us flew about 20 days this summer, relitively new to gliders but not R/C. Two of us really favored wood planes. We found the 100 inch Riser spent more time in the air then just about any other plane. We found it to be robust as the rubber bands gave a bit with rough landings, handled our sport winch OK, seemed to do well for each of use despite different style/experiance. I agree that it would be best to hook up with a club but in any case you can't go wrong with the 100 inch Riser. good flying...hope you have fun building and flying..

[round1]

DJ, thanks for explaning legs.
I think I will start with the 2M Riser and progress to the 100" Riser, possibly will build both at the same time. I'm used to that, building C/L stunt planes, at any given flying session, when you least expect it, bamm!, there goes a plane, I usually build several so there is no interuption in flying.
Dose anyone know of a hobby shop in the Denver area that caters to sailplane flyers more than other shops? I live about 50 miles Noth of Denver and don't go there often enough to check out all the shops. Only reason for me to go, is to get Sig fuel for other planes. Only one shop carries it.
Thats one of the few reasons sailplanes seem to appeal to me, less hassles getting parts and supplies.
I feel myself getting hooked on sailplanes already.
There is no club within a reasonable driving distance to me, but I will try to seek out some experienced help.
Great replies men, I think Iv'e got the idea now where and why to start.

[Bill Ervin]

I've been shopping for a Riser 100 for the past few weeks. The best price I could find was at ABC hobbies, $69.00 plus shipping. I think their site is abchobbies.com but if that's not it try the google maneuver.

Bill

[drCarter]

round1, Like you I was/am a control-line nut. The difference between a 2M and a 100" is like going from a Enya 19 to an OS40. Or from a Fox35 to a ST60. They just fly better. Got a couple Noblers, Mongooses, and a Magnum. I still like to fly the pattern once in awhile.

[round1]

Bill, Thanks, I'll give it a try.
drcarter, Big diffrences, thanks for the insite, now I want to build the 100 first but I know I'd never get back to the 2M. Naww,better start from the beginning and learn in some fasion of order.
I have, Cardinal, Oriental, Barnstormer and T-Bird all .40 sized, R/C have Sig MidStar 40 and Four Star 40. I just love all model plane flying, never ventured into rubber or other freeflight.
Jerry

[Bill Ervin]

just tried it, this is what it should be abc-rc-hobby.com

Bill

[drCarter]

Yeah, well let me tell ya about it. Once you hook your first thermal, all those other planes will start to collect dust. OK, you have done the power RC thing so you are already past a big leaning curve. Hummmmmmmmm, I might go out and fly the Magnum today. Naw, then I gotta clean it, smell it, hear it. You'll see what I mean.

[nuevo]

round1, be sure to join up with some local glider pilots.

Rocky Mountain Soaring Association (http://www.rmsadenver.com/)