balsabozo
Jan 01, 2007, 07:13 PM
Hello folks,
And happy new year!
I don’t lurk in this forum often although I probably should. Ive been a slope junkie the last few months.
I have a question which I have fielded amongst my fellow local club members and I want to solicit more opinions and options: What is a good newbie 2nd thermal plane? Ive seen some posts along this line, but wanted opinions given my experience and desires (sorry for protracted ramble…)
I am a novice pilot since spring 2006. To date my experience has been
- at least 1x/wk out on field/slope
- summer: primarily flatfielding with my self-built Gentle Lady
- since fall, primarily sloping with a red herring, easyglider, and Arthobby falco (60” aileroned v-tail, pretty sweet and fun!)
I am not a natural although I am not a complete kluzt. The GL is cake to fly for me now, although occasionally (and less and less so) I get disoriented when head-on or too far away. I can generally land it to within say 10-20’ of where I want it.
I have had some hard lessons, as of late esp with a 100” Hobie Hawk which does not seem to be a good fit at this time – too unstable, hard to land, and just plane bad luck! I have a Super Hawk (RES) which was going to be my next plane until Tony Johnson decided NOT to do serial runs on this model (so no spare parts!) – it sits now in storage untouched until I get more experienced.
I use an Aerofoam 2m competition high start or the club winch which I do gentle taps with (haven’t learned zoom starts yet, no reason to). I have a JR 8103 which I know pretty well how to program except full houses. I don’t mind doing repairs, infact they are kinda fun once I’m over the grieving.
I’d like to get a crunchy that I can repair easy or a current production model that has available spare fiberglass/carbon/kevlar/wood parts.
My line of thinking: I want a RES or REF floater, >100” span. I don’t think full house is the way to go at this time, well perhaps if it were a 2m. I know I would still ding such a plane though often and badly.
I have limited my spending on this to <$800
So:
What are characteristics to consider when comparing RES vs REF? Seems to me that with a REF you could dial in some reflex and have something more versatile. People though really advocate a RES but I haven’t heard rationale for this except perhaps that spoilers are more effective at reducing lift and getting a plane down in a hurry.
Planes that have been suggested and I am considering:
Ava or AvaF – seem too delicate, esp pod/boom design. Otherwise HIGHLY regarded.
Mini-Ava – 100” version. Should I consider this 1 instead to be more conservative?
Big bird – my basement is undergoing renovations so I cant do expansive builds, may not be option unless ARF (yes, there was a beautiful ARF Bird up for sale that I know I probably shouldve gone for).
Soprano – seems more solid but (hence) heavier vs the Ava and Bigbird.
Arthobby 3m RES lineup – Ive heard the polyhedral on these are very weak and not very good to winch, otherwise the price/parts aspect is right on!
Any advice? (from experienced veterans or like-minded newbies only please!)
And happy new year!
I don’t lurk in this forum often although I probably should. Ive been a slope junkie the last few months.
I have a question which I have fielded amongst my fellow local club members and I want to solicit more opinions and options: What is a good newbie 2nd thermal plane? Ive seen some posts along this line, but wanted opinions given my experience and desires (sorry for protracted ramble…)
I am a novice pilot since spring 2006. To date my experience has been
- at least 1x/wk out on field/slope
- summer: primarily flatfielding with my self-built Gentle Lady
- since fall, primarily sloping with a red herring, easyglider, and Arthobby falco (60” aileroned v-tail, pretty sweet and fun!)
I am not a natural although I am not a complete kluzt. The GL is cake to fly for me now, although occasionally (and less and less so) I get disoriented when head-on or too far away. I can generally land it to within say 10-20’ of where I want it.
I have had some hard lessons, as of late esp with a 100” Hobie Hawk which does not seem to be a good fit at this time – too unstable, hard to land, and just plane bad luck! I have a Super Hawk (RES) which was going to be my next plane until Tony Johnson decided NOT to do serial runs on this model (so no spare parts!) – it sits now in storage untouched until I get more experienced.
I use an Aerofoam 2m competition high start or the club winch which I do gentle taps with (haven’t learned zoom starts yet, no reason to). I have a JR 8103 which I know pretty well how to program except full houses. I don’t mind doing repairs, infact they are kinda fun once I’m over the grieving.
I’d like to get a crunchy that I can repair easy or a current production model that has available spare fiberglass/carbon/kevlar/wood parts.
My line of thinking: I want a RES or REF floater, >100” span. I don’t think full house is the way to go at this time, well perhaps if it were a 2m. I know I would still ding such a plane though often and badly.
I have limited my spending on this to <$800
So:
What are characteristics to consider when comparing RES vs REF? Seems to me that with a REF you could dial in some reflex and have something more versatile. People though really advocate a RES but I haven’t heard rationale for this except perhaps that spoilers are more effective at reducing lift and getting a plane down in a hurry.
Planes that have been suggested and I am considering:
Ava or AvaF – seem too delicate, esp pod/boom design. Otherwise HIGHLY regarded.
Mini-Ava – 100” version. Should I consider this 1 instead to be more conservative?
Big bird – my basement is undergoing renovations so I cant do expansive builds, may not be option unless ARF (yes, there was a beautiful ARF Bird up for sale that I know I probably shouldve gone for).
Soprano – seems more solid but (hence) heavier vs the Ava and Bigbird.
Arthobby 3m RES lineup – Ive heard the polyhedral on these are very weak and not very good to winch, otherwise the price/parts aspect is right on!
Any advice? (from experienced veterans or like-minded newbies only please!)