Sls Gliders

[danielsp]

Dear all,
I need some help....
Any one of you flies a SLS (self launch system) glider? I'm thinking about buying a Duo Discus 4m (from Icare) with belt driven prop.
The point is that I heard that the system is not very reliable, there were many crashes because of the prop not folding properly, besides it needs very frequent manteinance, etc....and it takes you a lot of money, so I want to be sure before buying it.
You experiences/suggestions/ideas will be very welcome !
Thanks,
Daniel

[veritus]

Better late than never, I guess...hope this helps you!


I have an SLS in a ASH-25mi with a 22 foot span. I have had about 5 flights so far and have had no problem with my SLS. The difference with mine and the type you may have seen, is that it is a 4 blade prop, and when stopped, the props spring folds forward and then the unit retracts into the fuselage; it is basically flawless.
I have had the other 2 blade type that waits for the prop to stop rotating, then a rubber drum stops the prop in a vertical position as the SLS is partially retracted. A sensor see that the prop is in the vertical and retracts the unit totally. The problem with this type, the prop can hang up in a horizontal attitude or short of vertical, and the unit only partially retracts. I had this happen on my Nimbus 4DM a good number of times and it eventually led to my losing that model completely.

Newer SLS's like those put out by JK and a really neat single blade deal you may find on a number of HKM model sailplanes, are very efficient and also seem quite flawless. The JK type is alot like mine but with a 2 blade very powerful system that seems to lift anything!

Hope this helps.

[Zhaokun Deng]

Daniel

Please see my thread " about a JK SLS install in a 6.6m Nimbus 4". I hope it will give a little information to your project.

I really learn a lot during my project and find a lot of fun in it. But it spends too much time and take more risk. If you just like to fly, I personally think that the factory fitted SLS will be a good choice.

kun