Had to get this Alula clone epp kit including battery and two servos for $40. Nice complete kit, well made and easy to put together. Wings already covered with laminate and balsa elevons. I laminated the tail feather just for security and also the fuse. Had to get this as I live on a mountain now.
Ready to fly. Raining today. Weighs about 150 grams.
Please note, I am in China - (am an ESL teacher here) - that is why the prices are so cheap on some things. Imported items to China are usually 100% markup (import duties) so you guys can get good quality cheap shoes and nice cars, I can't.

can you share the Link to that plane ?

Originally Posted by Charles B

can you share the Link to that plane ?

Charles, I feel really bad - when I brag about how cheap I get something I should always post that I am in China (ESL teacher). Here is the link, I don't know if they can ship to the US, I'm sure they can but not sure what the shipping or import duties might be. You could send them an email and Im sure they would respond. This dealer is in china but very reliable, I have used him before. If you are interested in finding out - I could get his email for you.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm...id=36570301593

In fact, I will find out for you if they can ship to US and what the price will be. I will repost here when I find out.

Yes I'm . Every year we go to the Beach for a week it should be a good one for that.

Originally Posted by FeiJi

Charles, I feel really bad - when I brag about how cheap I get something I should always post that I am in China (ESL teacher). Here is the link, I don't know if they can ship to the US, I'm sure they can but not sure what the shipping or import duties might be. You could send them an email and Im sure they would respond. This dealer is in china but very reliable, I have used him before. If you are interested in finding out - I could get his email for you.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm...id=36570301593

In fact, I will find out for you if they can ship to US and what the price will be. I will repost here when I find out.

I'm interested in this glider, too. Thank you for checking on this for us! I'm sorely tempted to get an Alula-TREK, but without a throwing peg in its wing for discus launching (which I don't want to engineer, as tailless designs can be touchy to modify), I have visions of the "gripping area" of its foam wing becoming soft and over-flexible with use, and finally tearing off during a discus launch! Also:

I'd get a Weasel-TREK, but there are no slope soaring-compatible hills nearby, so I need a glider that can thermal. The Chinese-made Alula clone looks plenty durable for discus launching. At worst, if they can't export them, *but* if you're on friendly terms with any diplomats, smuggling some of the kits out in a diplomatic pouch would be a feasible option. (A British friend of mine did just that when he needed to get some specialty Eastern European model rocket motors that were made for contest use, but which were otherwise quite impossible to import into the UK without the requisite--and difficult and expensive to obtain--licenses, safety test results, and other documents! :-) )

-- Jason

Sorry to give you the bad news but the shipping from the seller is 226rmb for 5-7 days (almost 40 bucks) so not a good deal. And Im not even sure that includes import duties.

Originally Posted by FeiJi

Sorry to give you the bad news but the shipping from the seller is 226rmb for 5-7 days (almost 40 bucks) so not a good deal. And Im not even sure that includes import duties.

Well...that's not terrible; it could have been much worse. Would they ship, say, three of the kits for an incrementally larger amount (something like $50 - $60)? Depending on the Chinese postal rates, maybe they offer a slower but cheaper postal class (or perhaps even a flat rate).

-- Jason

I will check.

Originally Posted by FeiJi

I will check.

Thank you. The manufacturer could sell many of those kits here; if you mentioned the interest of folks on this forum to them, they might be persuaded to also take steps to make it happen.

-- Jason

My friend checked and said that shipping price is for 2kg. Not sure how many planes they can package in 2kg. But I will check again with them to see if they are really interested in shipping to the US and/or they could make plane available on Alibaba. The problem is I dont think this is the manufacturer so will see if I can contact them.

My friend contacted the seller. He makes the kit himself but doesnt know how to go about marketing to US so probably no chance of getting easily through Alibaba. Only private shipping available. I still don't know if there would be import duties. When I have anything shipped to me from US I have to pay heavy duty tax. I imagine it would be the same to ship from here to US.
Also, I imagine they might get beat up pretty good if they arent shipped in bulk.

Originally Posted by FeiJi

My friend contacted the seller. He makes the kit himself but doesnt know how to go about marketing to US so probably no chance of getting easily through Alibaba. Only private shipping available. I still don't know if there would be import duties. When I have anything shipped to me from US I have to pay heavy duty tax. I imagine it would be the same to ship from here to US.
Also, I imagine they might get beat up pretty good if they arent shipped in bulk.

Thank you (and your friend) for gathering this information, FeiJi. If the seller is interested in private sales, I suppose (as long as it isn't against the RC Groups rules) his address and shipping particulars could be posted here, along with a one- or two-page illustrated online flyer (a PDF version could be printed out easily) about the glider kit. I've received many parcels from Mainland China and Hong Kong (containing items I've bought on eBay), and they've always arrived in pristine condition. I wouldn't be surprised if two of these gliders (and perhaps three) would come in at under 2 kg (4.4 pounds).

-- Jason

FeiJi, I'm not sure if this is the same glider, but while looking for FMS planes' spare parts online, I came across this "Alula 1000mm EPP DLG RC Glider" (see: http://www.porcupinerc.com/Alula-100...ics_p_866.html ) on PorcupineRC's website (they're in Hong Kong).

Yes that is the same model. I sent them a request to see if they will tell me who the manufacturer is and how much the shipping will be to the US. Also I will send this guy I bought from a message (through my friend) and see if he will accept orders directly and will supply his email address.

I checked right away and the seller is not interested in selling to US because he doesnt know how to do that kind of business (his words) and doesnt know how to accept payment and language is a problem.