Spirit Elite ARF

[Don Cohn]

Today I received my Great Planes Spirit Elite ARF from Tower Hobbies.:D The quality of this ARF seems to be good. Looks like the covering needs to be tightened up a bit with a heat gun or iron.

This will be my first "full house" sailplane. Anyone out there have any experience with this sailplane? If so, please share your experiences with assembly, radio setup and flying.

Don

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1047a-2.jpg

[tempest411]

I will start the feedback by relaying what I've heard others say of this plane; I admit I don't own one myself. They do ok on the slope, but are quite heavy for thermal use compared to competitive designs. I believe these planes are said to wiegh in at around 40 ounces, which would suggest that...

Rick

[onlyfingers]

IHi.

I don't have one, but I know a couple of people who do. Take a look at this building tip posted on the Charles River Radio Controllers' Web site, under Kit Modifications.

http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/kitmods/dickwilliamson_gpspiritmods.htm

[onlyfingers]

IHi.

I don't have one, but I know a couple of people who do. Take a look at this building tip posted on the Charles River Radio Controllers' Web site, under Kit Modifications.

http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/kitmods/dickwilliamson_gpspiritmods.htm

[KevinW]

Just a note about the CRRC site and the Spirit. I have emailed some of the guys there and they tell me that the tips were not meant for the Spirit Elite. They were for the the standard Spirits and Arf's. He didn't seem to think that they would do too much for the Elite.
BTW...I've got one in the building process. Wish they would sell the glass fuse by itself! I like the way it looks over the wood fuse.
Let us know how it flies!

[Don Cohn]

Originally posted by KevinW
Wish they would sell the glass fuse by itself!

They do sell it... it's Part Number: GPMA1995

Don

[KevinW]

Originally posted by Don Cohn


They do sell it... it's Part Number: GPMA1995



Don,
Thanks!:D The last time I checked, they weren't offering it yet. I'll have to get one!

Kevin

[Don Cohn]

What servos are you going to use?

I am considering the Hitec HS-85BB's all the way around. I was hoping that I wouldn't need the metal gears. What do you think?

Don

[KevinW]

Don,
I was thinking about using the HS-81's. There's a slight weight savings and I think they should be strong enough for the job. I don't think I'll go with the metal gears on this one... I have flown other 2m types and have been pretty rough on them and they did fine with the nylon gears.
Keep me up to date on how you're doing! I'd be interested in seeing some pics!!
BTW, what radio are you using? I have a Flash 5 that I like alot, so I'll be using that in it.

Kevin

[culiv]

As a beginning glider guider, I flew a Spectra (motorized version) which weighed in at 52 oz at an altitude of about 6000 feet. Flew very nice and handled well (except under power). Didnt' have any trouble thermalling it flight times of 20 - 48 minutes easily (quit at 48 minutes cause of lower back problems).

It will fly even at 40 oz. Tell the guys that insist you have to have a 10 oz, 3-meter to thermal well, to go jump of a slope.;)

[ICTHRMLS]

Originally posted by Don Cohn


I am considering the Hitec HS-85BB's all the way around. I was hoping that I wouldn't need the metal gears.

Don

A suggestion here would be the JR-341 servo. Lightweight but good torque. The plastic gears are strong enough as I have used them on my 2-meter ship for years (flaps & elevator). In the event you do strip one they are repairable in about two minutes as the same two gears break under extreame loads. The gear sets come two to a package for about $6.00. You may have to solder your connector of choice to match the radio but this is a good servo for your plane. Good luck........

[Don Cohn]

Originally posted by culiv
Tell the guys that insist you have to have a 10 oz, 3-meter to thermal well, to go jump of a slope.;)

:D Ha! Right on....Besides, I've always believed that it's a poor musician that blames his instrument.

Cheers,

:cool: Don :cool:

[ramair]

i think the plane your flying is in a great category,,its full house so you can learn a lot about all its features and it does quite well also,,in response to the 3m ships;;;i seen a guy total one the other day! im just guessing but he wasnt having fun,,dont get me wrong ,i love the big birds but to get that level of performance there is always a trade off!!enjoy that little plane and dont worry what the big guys say,there just trying to justify the money they have spent.
we all know that real good thermalling happens in real gliders...full scale!! my 2 cents ramair

[KevinW]

Don,
Ya got any pics of your Spirit yet?

[Don Cohn]

Originally posted by KevinW
Don,
Ya got any pics of your Spirit yet?

I haven't started building yet. I will order servos next week. I decided on HS-81BB's with HS-81MG's for the flaps. So the only pic I have, so far, is this one:

Don

[tempest411]

I see from the picture you must have a full-house Optima 100 which begs to ask the question...why the two meter? Having had some experience at 1.5, 2, and 3+ meter planes I can honestly say that if you've got the room to fly'em, the big ones are the way to go! How do you crash a thermal plane anyway? Slopes always offer more hazards, but you just gotta be careful...I'll keep saving my pennies for a molded plane, for the slope...I already got one for thermal flying...an Amethyst:)

Rick

[Don Cohn]

Originally posted by tempest411
I see from the picture you must have a full-house Optima 100...

Hey Rick...

It's actually an Optima Pro. While it is about 2.5 Meters, it is a RESA ship. Not quite full house.;)

I can appreciate the larger ships and will probably have one some day. For now, I'll be happily learning how to mix and fly 6 channels on my $130 full house ship.:D

BTW, today I hand launched my 2M Sagitta 600 and proceeded to sky out. :cool: We don't need no stinken motors!

Don

[giheli]

Ahh the Sagitta 600: One of my faves back when I first started. Took me a long time to get use to that advanced airfoil after a Gentle lady, Wanderer, and Paragon. Did you buy a DC short kit or is it an Airtronics original? The stabilator set-up is supreme on that kit.

Nothing beats the convenience of a 2M bird-so much easier on the shoulder. Always a great feeling to put a bird skyward by a quick handlaunch. ..Boinnnggg :)

Can you guys tell me if there is any difference in the wing joiner/box arrangement on the Spirit Elite/wood build-up fuse kit vs the Spirit Elite ARF/glass fuse kit? I have the wood kit but the glass fuselage is on order and would like to get started on the wing construction. TIA

--Gi

[Don Cohn]

Originally posted by giheli
Ahh the Sagitta 600: .... Did you buy a DC short kit or is it an Airtronics original? ...
Can you guys tell me if there is any difference in the wing joiner/box arrangement on the Spirit Elite/wood build-up fuse kit vs the Spirit Elite ARF/glass fuse kit? ... --Gi

I have the Elite ARF with the glass fuse. It uses two 5mm wing dowels up front, two 8-32 cap screws/washers in the back and one 7mm steel rod wing joiner.

Hope this helps...:)

Don

[giheli]

yep thats the ticket! I'll have to wait for the fuse to match the configuration. More stick time..
Thanks 10^6

Gi

[culiv]

And once you get ready for a little more capable plane, consider replacing the wings on that Spirit. Check out http://www.racores.com/current_products.html#2MWings for thier S3021 or SD7037 Spirit (or Gentle Lady) replacements.

[ejett]

Hi!

After reading the thread, I decided that I would add to the discussion. I do a lot of "sport" flying by myself using a high start because it is more convenient for me than dealing with a winch.

I prefer to fly a 2M ship in such situations, especially if it is breezy, because a standard class or larger ship can be quite a handful in such conditions. The 2M planes are just easier. Plus, they are more challenging than a std. or open class plane.

I expect the Spirit Elite is somewhat on the heavy side compared to the newer composite planes. It is my opinion that this plane (Spirit Elite) should offer improved handling compared to the Spectra I have and I look forward to getting my kit finished and in the air. Of course I will try to build it as lightly as possible.

Will it be the most competitive ship at a contest? No. Will it be satisfying to fly? I'm sure it will.

Ed Jett

[giheli]

The Elite's performance less than a composite kit?

Of course, but it only cost 60-70 bucks for the U build it kit and 130 bucks for the ARF at Tower. A bit cheaper than a comprable composite, I am sure.

Contest winner. Well probably not, but in the right hands, I have seen the Global 2M Easy Answer and the Goldberg 2M 2 ch Gentle lady out-perform many. Indeed, build it as light as you can- which one could say of all gliders. The Great Planes Kits are Notoriously heavy for there wing span, but that is in favor of a more robust design. I have one on the work table and I am contemplating a V-tail mod for that very reason. I need to see one with the FG fuse in action to decide if I want to go with the V-tail. Stiffness of the boom and tracking are in question.

Yes, I hear you and concurr on the the benifits of 2M vs open class. I too favor a heavy duty High Start 100 vs 500 bucks and batteries to charge and haul around. I have to haul so much stuff out to the field just to spin up my heli rotors, that I prefer to keep the sailplane arsenal to a minium. My shoulder likes me a whole lot more when I favor my 2M kits.

--Gi

[sizam]

Way old post, but I was doing research before I bought one. These kits are on clearance at towerhobby for $50 and there is a coupon for $10 off a $50 order in the month of january so thats only $40 for the kit.

[Brew Glider]

Hey Don Cohn,

I love my Elite Arf. I bought mine after reading the many threads on others who had one. I just put mine back on the bench for some work after the "rock" mishap.

Anyway, my first flight was awesome. It flew real nice and smooth. The full house is real cool to play with. I am learning alot about the computer radios! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am. My bird is on the heavy side even with light weight servos(41 ozs). She really slips through the air and actually glides to well on final.

Let us know about your progress.

What settings are you using on Butterfly and launch?

Brew Glider

[Don Cohn]

The Spirit Elite ARF was my 1st "Full House" glider. It took a while to get it setup to where I was happy with it's flight characteristics. Dialing in the aileron differential, setting up a launch mode and elevator compensation were relatively new tasks for me.

In answer to your questions:

Launch mode: Flaps dropped about 3/8 of an inch.(My Hitec Eclipse cannot camber the entire trailing edge.)

Crow/Butterfly: Ailerons are up 40% .. Flaps are down 90% and Elevator is down 10%

I'm using HS-81's in the fuse and HS-81MG's in the wing.

Over time I've been removing lead from the nose and moving the CG back. This has helped to slow the plane down a tad and signal lift a little better.

It's been a great six servo trainer and the price was right.

Don

This is what I graduated too....