Spirit of 76 Source?

[MtnGoat]

Anybody know if the old Spirit of '76 kits Hobby Shack and Global used to sell are still available somewhere?

I know, not exactly the peak of performance or looks, but I still liked mine and it was a nice slow hands off stable flier, which actually thermaled pretty well even if it lacked in penetration. One thing I did find handy was increasing rudder area about 40% with some extra foam so it would actually turn.

Being mostly a foamie slopehead I'm not really interested in a built up plane or crunchie, and I liked the cheap price and brainless build. Anyhow, anybody know who manufactured these and if there are any still around?

[jhopkins]

Hobby People, http://www.hobbypeople.net, used to carry the Spirit of 2000, an updated? version of the '76. Just went to their web site and couldn't find it though. You may want to call them directly and see if one sits on the shelf. If not, then the MAD Highlander or DAW 1-26 are your other foamy options.

Jay

[MtnGoat]

I looked at that one and it's 'nother EPP foamy, so I'd be gluing and taping and all that good stuff, which is kind of what I liked about the '76, injection molded and with everything ready to go.

I've got a TG3 which does OK, and a batch of other foamies, but I really just liked the slow speed of the '76 and it's torpid handling, I could just run it up the high start and basically mostly watch it fly itself. Was my real lazy mood flyer.

I'd bounced it a time or two and it had a fair amount of epoxy on the fuse, but it lasted me a good 5 years until the cats knocked it from it's perch in the garage and a box of books followed it down. It's totalled and then some, I couldn't have planned a more thorough demolition job than random chance did for me. Crushed the fuse in the center 20" or so including the wing saddle, and the wing is demolished as well.

I'm kinda surprised no one sells a decent cheap injection molded job, with a decent foil and a larger tail I'd think it would be a popular trainer for the price you can get an injection molded styro down to after the molds get paid off. From the number of folks who love messing with the $5 wal mart versions, I'd think a good flyer for $30-40 bucks that is a quick build would do well. I've considered one of the Lanier U2's but that undercambered foil is kind of a dog when I flew my buddies, believe it or not even less speed range then the '76.

[AirBornOne]

Normally I wouldn't do this,but MtnGoat,if you insist on buttin heads with
this 'creature' called an RC glider,Sheldon's hobbies had one on the rack
just this past saturday 11-10-02.
I believe they do mail order and online ordering.
Happy skies.
Jay.

[bjaffee]

I occasionally still see a Spirit of 76 on the shelves of my local Hobby People (in Encino CA). You might want to call the stores and see if maybe they can ship you one.

I actually learned on a Spirit of 76. Rather then increasing the rudder size, I increased the dihedral quite a bit, and then it turned pretty good.

Not sure what the deal was with the Spirit 2000. I haven't met a single person that owned one, or had ever seen one fly. I took a look in the box of one and it was pretty weird. The fuselage seemed to be made up of a bunch of EPP blocks, rather then a single profiled piece like the TG-3 or MAD Highlander are.

[Spaceship13]

I still have mine . i just loaded it to a hobby store to display. i like them very much. if you find a good lead id like to order one too!:-)

[MtnGoat]

thanks for the tips folks, I'm going to check them out. with luck I'll get some info on if they are still in production somewhere and let you know, those of you who won't gag anyway!

[Spaceship13]

I called chino and they have a spirit of 2000 . he said it was basically the same.it was 60 bucks. not bad.::-)

[bjaffee]

The Spirit 2000 is a completely different airplane...it's not even close.

[Spaceship13]

WHATEVER! ill be the judge of that.

[bjaffee]

Hmm...let's see:

Spriit of 76: Fully injection molded styrofoam plane with 2 piece fuselage, full flying stabilizer. Costs around $20.

Spirit 2K: EPP, tape covered airplane with conventional stab. Costs $60.

[Duane]

I had one about 20 years ago too. They were advertised at Hobby People a couple of years ago again, so I think you may just call them and see.

[Spaceship13]

they dont have them anymore . production of the 76 went out several years ago. i seem often on ebay. but man! they are going for wing prices. heheh . oh well too bad to! it was a cheap fun plane. ive got anothe ridea i can use on it if i can get another.

[Spaceship13]

Trouble is . I have sooooo many kits and scratch building to do i wont live long enuff to get them done. Iam gonna give it my best tho. As far as any power, they will never get built. So my family will get them. And people are constantly giving me unfinished kits , wrecks to repair. My shop is near full.

[ktoey]

I too remember Spirit of 76 glider. About a year ago, I saw one in Hobby People in Lakewood, CA. I believe that these are manufactured by Sureflite in Lake Elsinore, CA. in 1976 when I started RC, Hobby Shack sell other foamies, Skylane, Cessna 150 etc.