Spirit 100 vs Spirit Elite

[Steve Boone]

I'm considering one of these two for aero-tow and winching. Which ever I get will be ARF this time. How do they compare? Any opinions good or bad will be appreciated. I've also looked at the Wills Hobby model but it's a bit large to fly at my runway so I wouldn't fly it as much. Plus there's mixed reviews on this guy. link (http://cgi.ebay.com/Will-Hobby-157-Sail-Plane-Sailplane-Balsa-Glider-NIB_W0QQitemZ260206885748QQihZ016QQcategoryZ19164Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) I like the look of the plane though.

[Soar_dude]

Get the 100 the Elite is a little portly for a 2 meter. On my 100 I replaced all the metal fasteners with nylon. The bigger the plane the easier it is to aerotow!

Soar Dude

[Steve Boone]

What are you running for servos in your 100? I'm considering using all HS-81MG servos and running a 2600mah, 6v Fromeco pack. What do you think?

[Tim Wolff]

Ditto what Soar Dude said. The Elite also looks very short-coupled (short tail moment).
I used HS-85MG in the wings on my 100 because I had them and they fit. I've seen them flutter in a dive. You prob. want the most robust servo that will fit on the flaps. It's a fairly easy full-house plane to setup.

[Soar_dude]

What are you running for servos in your 100? I'm considering using all HS-81MG servos and running a 2600mah, 6v Fromeco pack. What do you think?


85mg for the flaps and 81mg for the ailerons works just peachy!

Soar Dude

[Steve Boone]

Soar Dude, is that on 4.8v or 6v you're running? What about running the RES on HS-81's as well? I lose weight which allows for a larger battery on board. I have plenty of time to decided on setup as I can't find a Spirit 100 ARF anywhere right now.

[Soar_dude]

I am using 4.8 volts 2500 mah NiMhh duracell I used standard size servos for the rudder and elevator weight is not issue up front saves me stuffing lead in the nose. On my sport wing I used some futaba microservos in the wings. I don't use 6.0 volt because I would rather take the penalty in torque but have less chance of my pack dying while I am flying. That is the trade off of having more power but the shorter time the charge lasts.

Soar Dude

[aeajr]

For Aerotow I would definately go for the 100. The larger plane can be towed higher.

[Steve Boone]

I finally gave up trying to locate a Spirit 100 ARF. Nobody has one in stock. I put an order for one in at Northeast Sailplane Products and will just have to wait. :( In the mean time I had a Spirit wing given to me we're converting. No polyhedral, less dihedral, flaps, ailerons and CF tow on the top & bottom of the spar. I also ordered a Sophisticated Lady kit because at $35 you can't go wrong. It's going on my pile for later builds.

[Steve Boone]

I really wanted to get the ARF version of the 100 because of the FG fuse. (just thought it looked better) Now they've pushed them back until April. :( With winter dragging on and boredom setting in, I built the Sophisticated Lady and an Alula. The Alula is done and had her maiden last weekend. The last little bit of the SL will be done today. So I'm thinking, if I have to wait another 6 weeks maybe I'll just build the 100 as well. I won't get the FG fuse. With a bit of added wood however, I will get two wings and two different airfoils. Acording to Towers site it also builds about a pound lighter than the ARF comes. Lighter is always better in my book. Any input?

[aeajr]

If you want a Spirit 100, I would suggest the kit. It is significantly lighter.

Kit Weight: 50-65oz

ARF Weight: 4-4.5lb - 64 to 72 ounces

That is a big difference.

[Steve Boone]

I just did the math and there's a big difference in wing loading. ARF=9.74, kit=7.61. I don't know anything about the comparison between the Selig 3010 and the Selig 7037 but I will if I build it as I'll end up with both. :D I'm assuming the 3010 is the same flat bottom foil used on the ARF version. Why they didn't make the ARF with the 7037 like they did in the kit is beyond me. Then again, I still can't understand why some of these older kits haven't been updated to allow for todays lighter gear. :confused:

[Soar_dude]

I just did the math and there's a big difference in wing loading. ARF=9.74, kit=7.61. I don't know anything about the comparison between the Selig 3010 and the Selig 7037 but I will if I build it as I'll end up with both. :D I'm assuming the 3010 is the same flat bottom foil used on the ARF version. Why they didn't make the ARF with the 7037 like they did in the kit is beyond me. Then again, I still can't understand why some of these older kits haven't been updated to allow for todays lighter gear. :confused:

the ARF is a 7037 its a misprint on the tower site and NEsail. The weight difference is not that big a deal my kit fuse and the FG fuse weigh the same I did do alot of lighting in FG fuse takeing all the metal fasteners out and replacing the metal pushrods with Sullivan CF rods. left the spoiler servo out. I am down around 8.3 oz sq ft. The 3010 is the sport wing airfoil which is the same as the 2 meter Spirit.

Soar Dude

[dwells]

Steve,

The last time I looked, about 2 weeks ago, there was a Spirit 100 ARF at Roy's Toys for Big Boys in Hurst TX. Roy's Hobby Shop - 1309 Norwood Dr - Hurst, TX 76053 - (817) 268-0210.

Don