Yep, and you can always add a strip of flat carbon fiber to help it all stay put. I have a wing that I inserted flat carbon on edge for a little further than the spar. It works like an I-Beam and keepsthe wing very straight ans
and rigid.

Hey Ty ! Built any micro's lately?

Interesting post on the soaring forum of RCGroups on the Radian's lack of ailerons:

"It's a bit strange for me to see people ragging on the Radian for not having ailerons -- because, the fact that it doesn't have ailerons is its primary attraction for me! RE is the classic recreational glider setup -- think 'Gentle Lady'.

If you want ailerons, there are a ton of models out there. In the electric-powered foamie category, there is, for one, the very popular Easy Glider Electric.

For thermal soaring, ailerons actually aren't particularly useful. A properly designed sailplane with a polyhedral wing will pretty much automatically coordinate your turns for you [with the pilot only using rudder]. Aside from that non-use (coordinating turns, that is), there's not much to do with ailerons on a sailplane besides fine-tuning the wing camber and making final approaches (particularly when deflected up as spoilerons) and spot landings. Actually, that is quite a bit, isn't it?! That's of course why many people fly "full house" [REAF] gliders. With non-electric gliders, slightly drooping the ailerons can give extra height on a hi-start launch. This kind of wing chamber can also be useful thermalling. When traversing an area of sink, ailerons might be used to put the wing in a different camber so you can get through the sink faster. Okay, so there's a lot you can do with ailerons! However, this is really very much 'fine-tuning' sort of stuff.

If you're really into the performance of your sailplane like that, you'll want to invest in the appropriate [full house] aircraft and radio. The Cularis [and an appropriate seven channel-or-so radio] might be a good way to get yourself started in this area.

Also, ailerons can be used to amuse yourself with aerobatics on the way down. If you're slope soaring, ailerons-enabled aerobatics might be the main purpose of your flight. Or you can just motor around with the motor on and use it as an airplane. If that sounds good to you, then the Easy Glider Electric is probably the way to go.

BUT, the basic idea of a thermal sailplane is that you go up a few hundred feet (which in our case is more than solved by the electric motor), and then you glide around [in a pattern] searching for lift. This gliding is done basically in a straight shallow descent, and then eventually with a shallow to medium bank turn to enter a new leg of the pattern. When your aircraft indicates lift, you [attempt to] turn into it and go up! You then continue turning (in circles), attempting to keep your turns centered in the rising (and expanding) bubble of air (that is, the thermal). If you're skillful and/or lucky, you can ride the thermal all the way up until the aircraft is becoming in danger of disappearing from your sight. Either when you lose the thermal or are forced to abandon it (because of going to high or too far downwind), you enter a level glide (probably after turning back toward your field, if you've gotten far away) and resume a search pattern for another thermal. The point is, thermalling generally involves long minutes staring up (with your neck craned backwards) at a small shape in the sky that you control to turn circles. With appropriate dihedral, ailerons aren't important for this. In fact, if you have a flat wing and ailerons, it's a lot of work to keep the plane level and coordinated when it is so far away (which is hopefully most of the time). Remember -- hopefully it's way up there and you can barely see the thing!

For sloping though, where the aircraft is right there in front of you, ailerons definitely make things more interesting. The Easy Glider isn't a dedicated sloper, nor is it a dedicated thermaler. It's more of an all-arounder. It can be used to thermal, and it can be used to slope, both with good results. In the electric version, it can be flown around as a park flier airplane too.

I have and enjoy an Easy Glider Electric (actually two of them, plus a third non-electric Easy Glider), but what I'm looking for now is more of a dedicated thermaler. Basically, I'm looking for a[n electric-powered] foamie version of my Sophisticated Lady. Or you could say, a more dedicated glider version of my Easy Star. Something that's inherently stable -- an RE ship. Something where I can just concentrate on the hunt for thermals and staying within them, while the plane meanwhile basically flies itself. I want something relaxing, where I also don't have to worry about all sorts of complicated mixes on the radio. It's looking to me like the Radian is the plane for me!

Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to explain why a lot of people are going to think the Radian is a cool ship. Parkzone didn't "drop the ball" by "leaving out" ailerons, but rather RE for Thermalling is a legitimate, established sailplane category. It's a category especially suited for beginners or those who want to have very relaxing flights -- which is the category of pilot that the Radian is aimed at. If you're looking for a glider with ailerons (which is also a very legitimate category!), simply look for a different aircraft. Maybe Parkzone will eventually put out a model in that category too. But the rudder -elevator Radian is in a different category, one that many pilots will enjoy."

I just bought the Easy Glider Electric, flew well....but way under powered, if you plan to add cam...extra batteries etc. Flew great, was nice to have ailerons, which I mixed in with rudder...sweet. Anyway, after one flight, went right home and ripped out engine..and dremeled out the nose some and stuffed in a brushless...epoxied in place. Will test fly tomorrow.

That's what I like about the Radian, you don't need to change anything on it, it's got a decent power setup already!

yeah the boiling water trick works awesome!!! I just run it under my bath tub faucet on high heat and watch the foam go all soft. Then work it fast before it cools down and hardens. Fixed a few bent nose that way... elapor or similar is amazingly forgiving!

I'll remember that trick! I think when I get the Radian I'll stick to rudder only for now, it doesn't seem to need ailerons except if you want to really throw it around up there.

Originally Posted by gwh

I think the Eflite Apprentice has alot of potential for FPV also. The fuseage is huge and the 63" wing has some leading edge droops to aid low speed stability.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=EFL2725

I'm doing FPV with the Apprentice and think it is great..

We flew the Radian again today, here's some video:

http://www.vimeo.com/2001194

How tight is the battery compartment ? Is it possible to jam higher mAh batts in ? Am looking at getting one as Easy Star's havnt been available here in Aus for well over 6 months !

There's definitely space for larger batteries, you can upsize quite a bit without modifying the fuselage.

Thanks Best. Order a Radian today. You fitted yours out for with a cam yet ?

That one isn't mine unfortunately, it's the supplier's demo model that we flew. They should get their stock in soon, then I'll have mine to FPV-alize to my heart's content! Can't wait...

It would be cool to see a picture of the inside room.

Should have mine mid this week igorp.
Will upload some happy snaps ASAP

OK guys. Got a prezzie in the mail today. Ordered the PNP version.
First mistake is I probably should have opted for the AR6200 instead of the AR500 and given myself some more options. Anyhoo.....

I should say first up that this will be the first ' stationary ' winged aircraft I've flown in a long while, and it will ( eventually ) be my first foray into FPV.
I've had a RV 900meg 500mW rx/tx setup and KX191 for a while on my nitro heli a few times and have come to the conclusion that helis are not made for cams. The amount of vibration is ridiculous !

I paid only $209 for the PNP version of the Radian from Parkzone, so I wont complain too much about the pin striping and decals that were peeling off, or the black and brown scuff marks on the wings.
What I WILL complain about is the fricken bow in the fuselage !! Looking from the prop down the fuse, the tail kicks out to the left.

As I mentioned earlier, its been a LONG time, and my only other fixed wing was a Parkzone Stryker, but this bow surely cant be normal !?!
I've attached a pick looking down the length of the fuse, as well as picks of a 2170mAh FlightPower 3C Battery in and out of the fuse. I'm quite happy that this battery fits in with no modifications, as the recommended battery is only a 1300mAh 3c.

One other thing that concerns me is that the wings are keyed to lock together. Is this thing going to fall to pieces if I pull the wings apart every time I want to pack this in the car and go flying ? I suppose only time will tell.

Any comments on the bow would be appreciated. Will it fly ? Should I return it ?

Note : In the pix you'll see Deans connectors. The AC came with blue shrouded round pin connectors.

Cheers,

Tim