Kits seem reasonably cheap... but I thought I'd ask the experts first if anyone has tried one sans motor.

http://www.nitroplanes.com/techone.html

Hi jokeane. I had the same question.

I am deciding between the Bee 2 and the Pop Wing 1200 (both are 4 ft span). I will learn sloping in rocky terrain with no landing zone. So I like a slow glider for easy catching. Also a tough glider for diving into rocks, bouncing off rocks, and cart wheeling over rocks.

The main Pop Wing thread is on http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1428598

I am guessing that a Pop Wing 1200mm glider's wing loading would be 3.8 to 3.9 oz/sq ft (see http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=484)

Personally, the Bee is a far better choice for a slope introduction ,it will take you from newbie to Combat to DS without any drama ,the pop wing even has foam ailerons which on the slope would last around ten minutes . IMHO

Originally Posted by steve wenban

Personally, the Bee is a far better choice for a slope introduction ,it will take you from newbie to Combat to DS without any drama ,the pop wing even has foam ailerons which on the slope would last around ten minutes . IMHO

You're probably right. From reading Slope forum I gather that the Bee 2 is the toughest glider ever made. Why do balsa elevons last longer than EPP elevons? Balsa airplanes crunch on rocks where EPP airplanes bounce.

hard balsa is used in the TE stock and when fibre taped and covered are vastly stronger and stiffer than any foam at the same thickness can ever hope to be . So they remain responsive in all condition and don't flex at speed

Thanks for the explanation Steve.