Topic: Natural Progression

I have been flying IC for 8-9 years, and consider myself a competent flyer, I have just started having a go at soaring, I've been faffing about with a Fusion 48, which is a great laugh, but I want something more precise and sporting, My knowledge in this area is totally non existant, what should I be looking at next, I'm toying with the idea of a 2m mouldie, but which one? am I biting off more than I can chew? should I be looking for a something else.


Keith

One of our gang has a Ripmax Espresso, and it's very nice in the air. Are you looking for a scale/sports? Do you want to consider foam or wood as well as glass?

Give those friendly chaps at T9hobby sport a shout (Rich) or call Tony Fu at sloperacer both have 2 meter esq models.
They typhoon is a great model.
Dont be scared with 2 meter + mouldies, there easier to fly then most 50" sport power planes.

Jon

Typhoon

I must admit Typhoon/Luna11/Alex are high on my want list 

One of our gang has a Ripmax Espresso, and it's very nice in the air. Are you looking for a scale/sports? Do you want to consider foam or wood as well as glass?

Deffo sports! is there such a thing as a real sports foamie? ( not trolling here, I really don't know!)

+1 for the Typhoon or similar.
I suppose there is the Multiplex Blizzard or the ST Blaze(foamish) but then you will still want for more sooner rather than later. If your landing area is good I would recommend going straight for the moulded glider.

John.

The phoon is fully aerobatic, has a fair turn of speed, there are loads of them out there for spares, and they also thermal quite well from what I have seen.
Good value for money, but dont count other stuff out untill you have spoken to the boyz at t9 and sloperacer.
J

+1 for the Typhoon or similar.
I suppose there is the Multiplex Blizzard or the ST Blaze(foamish) but then you will still want for more sooner rather than later. If your landing area is good I would recommend going straight for the moulded glider.

John.

you can't compare stuff like the blaze to a typhoon - I have let a couple of people who have got these types of models fly my typhoon and they really wanted it.

Typhoon is excellent - fast, aerobatic, good looking.  I have bigger models, but I have been flying it a lot lately.

you can't compare stuff like the blaze to a typhoon -

I'm not, it was answering the question raised about sports foam models

Deffo sports! is there such a thing as a real sports foamie? ( not trolling here, I really don't know!)

Closest thing to a sports foamie is a fast plank like an M60 or Bluto, but they are more about tough speed than aerobatics, and there's a lot of building to do on both of them.

The Typhoon has a very good reputation, so does it's smaller brother the 60" Sunbird. Smaller gliders tend to fly twitchier and appear faster - a 3m mouldie will shift about the sky but seem to be flying quite slowly. A 60" can be chucked around rapidly but isn't actually as fast.

If you want a cheap glider that will be aerobatic in most winds from 5 to 35mph, get a little Speedo from Slopeside - but really it all depends on your budget... a Typhoon is a lot to lose if it goes badly wrong.

No real limit on budget except I'd prefer a second hand airframe if possible, but do many 2m mouldies tend to turn up?
I've only flown off a couple of slopes so can't really answer about landing areas, but at best my landings are going to be eventful

No real limit on budget except I'd prefer a second hand airframe if possible, but do many 2m mouldies tend to turn up?
I've only flown off a couple of slopes so can't really answer about landing areas, but at best my landings are going to be eventful

Hmm... mouldies do break. Both of mine are bust at the moment. EPP is easier to fix, actually so is balsa, you could always get a Middle Phase or something. Mouldies like Typhoons don't come up second hand all that often.

As a fairly tough, fairly cheap mouldie to buy new, I can recommend the 60" Flying Fish from T9. £180 with flaps (you want flaps), reasonably strong, nicely aerobatic. No rudder, but I haven't really found that much of a limitation.

No real limit on budget except I'd prefer a second hand airframe if possible, but do many 2m mouldies tend to turn up?
I've only flown off a couple of slopes so can't really answer about landing areas, but at best my landings are going to be eventful

A phoon will break on tje first eventful landing.

If you want a sports foamie get a gulp. They are the dogs. Forget the planks, gulp sv 60 has a tail so flys like a proper machine. I love mine. Here's a vid of the maiden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGdHP7izDLY

I know its not a Moldy ,
                  But i would buy a Middle phase advanced if i was you , Learn your slope soaring on something that's Easy to repair ,which a Middle phase is .
         Then after you get addicted to Slope soaring good and Propper , go out and spend 300 on either a Typhoon , or a Luna . Both most excellent planes (although the Phoon is faster and a little better IMHO).
            Good Luck ,
                           but just because you can flip around a slope with a fusion , and fly power models . Please don't think flying a moldy is a quick step thing . You wouldn't take out a Piper Cub for your first flight , then go straight onto 3D Aero machines and expect it to come home in 1 piece , if you get my drift 

                       Bob

Difficult question, but if you consider yourself a "competent power flier" I don't think you should be looking at foam.

Of course, that depends a bit a bit on your definition of "competent..."

It also depends a LOT on how you like to fly.

I've never owned a Typhoon, but I have flown one and they are lovely, all you could want from a sports model.

The Lunar is more suited to light conditions from what I have seen, but I haven't had hold of one. In the same conditions my Erwin DS seemed to be more fun though, and perhaps has a greater ability to cope with changing conditions.

I had a 2m(ish)  Alex variant, badged TopLight Mega, and although it looks great it didn't really do it for me, and I sold it on.

If you want to build, I would say absolutely go for a Phase 6 Sport, not a Middle Phase, or if you really enjoy a build, get yourself the Phase 5 plans.

The 60" mouldies perhaps fly more like a power model.

The Bird is Great

The Sunbird is also Great

Never seen a Flying Fish go, so can't comment.

If however you are looking for something 2m ish to blow your mind when the wind is too much for the power models, and if budget is not a huge issue,

I have one word for you.

And the word is...

Opus 

Others might prefer D80s or D60s   

HTH

Tim

............. Please don't think flying a moldy is a quick step thing ..........  Bob

Sorry Bob, but I strongly disagree.  After not touching the sticks for 25 years, a Wildthing got me back into things and a Luna II followed within weeks.  No traumas.  Set up carefully and with some experience gained from simply watching others use CROW, it's efficiency and good nature made it a doddle to fly from moment one - and in 16 months it's just shrugged off some ungainly arrivals that would have grounded a more traditionally built machine.

I would have chosen a Typhoon because of the looks and extra nimbleness, but there were none available at the time - but I've never regretted getting Luna.

Ro.

PS. She flies light and duff lift well - but also goes just fine in a howler with a belly full of lead.

I would go a slightly different way in advising you to go for a secondhand mouldie for as cheap as you can find, dont worry if its a bit tatty. I bought a Shooting Star at the begining of the year for £80 off of the BMFA first flight the fus broke in half and I learnt how to repair one, after that ive flown the B$$$$$$s off it, learnt about ballest, reflex, speed settings loads of stuff, its nice to have a pristine model in the colour you want it, but its better to learn stuff on a cheapish hack.

BMFA Classifieds, Ascot F3B, stunning 3 meter model

BMFA Classifieds, Ascot F3B, stunning 3 meter model

Looks a bit of a handful for a relative soaring novice

K

Please don't think I'm knocking the Fusion/Wildthing , I'm not at all 

   But i thought the OP has flown power and is now just having a dabble at slope .
                                                                        It is a different kind of flying than power , Yes left right up down , but as a slope flyer i think we would move the sticks naturally in a different way than to a power flyer i think .
          Maybe I'm wrong , but i have seen power flyers struggle at times , not in a nasty way.
                     But in the same way i would struggle with a Power model ,
               No offence meant . So don't take offence 

                         Bob

Mouldies are not hard to fly. A typhoon is easier to fly than a fusion 48. The only problem is that it breaks if you crash. It's not like going from a trainer to a 3d model.

Ascot - well it's the easiest handling model I have flown.  I'm sure Jon will agree that it has incredibly easy manners.  If you want a model that doesn't bite back that is it.  Great model.

Please don't think I'm knocking the Fusion/Wildthing , I'm not at all 

   But i thought the OP has flown power and is now just having a dabble at slope .
                                                                        It is a different kind of flying than power , Yes left right up down , but as a slope flyer i think we would move the sticks naturally in a different way than to a power flyer think .
          Maybe I'm wrong , but i have seen power flyers struggle at times , not in a nasty way.
                     But in the same way i would struggle with a Power model ,
               No offence meant . So don't take offence 

                         Bob

Non taken, the reason I asked the question to start with, was to get different opinions

K

I can assure you that the ascot is not a handfull.
There are one of the most stable flying F3B models I have ever flown.
Super powerful breaks, will fly on the lightest of lift and have a real nice pace when ballasted up.
They have a forgiving nature and are very nicely behaved even right down to the stall.
And for a three meter model, there so aerobatic.

Stunning model.
I have one as a slope hack. Which I love to bits.
It's the model I take on holiday.
Its a model that can and will fly in any conditions given confidence.
Do you have a tx that can do full crow mixing without using programme mixes ?

The build quality if the ascot is up there with miller models.
vaclav is a real nice guy too who is passionate about his designs.

+1 for the Luna 2.An excellent allrounder,not as fast as the typhoon but better allround and will easily handle 35mph+ winds.I flew mine the other day in a measured 35 constant with a pound ballast.
Its a superb thermal machine too with its MH32 section.With a little camber on all its trailing edge it will be one of the last ones flying on a nowind/thermal day in the 2m class...Chris.T

All round? Sounds like the (terrible).wing joiner....!

35mph isn't that much. I have flown a weasel in more on a poor hill. I don't know what relevance that really has. Most models will handle wind if you can get them away. Up to a point.....

All round? Sounds like the (terrible).wing joiner....!

Oi , nowt wrong with round wing joiners especially on my lovely carbon Sword 

btw, the joiner system on the Luna is utter pants...4 bolts which can knack the fuz, and a cranked joiner which is a bugger to rig in wind on the hill 

Oi , nowt wrong with round wing joiners especially on my lovely carbon Sword 

btw, the joiner system on the Luna is utter pants...4 bolts which can knack the fuz, and a cranked joiner which is a bugger to rig in wind on the hill 

yeah mate - nothing wrong with round, but round and bent doesn't work. 

What's the general concensus on an Alex?

Keith

Flies lovely, but too skinny for mybtastes...looks like a flying pencil, but despite that, they have no vices...

Oi , nowt wrong with round wing joiners especially on my lovely carbon Sword 

BTW, the joiner system on the Luna is utter pants...4 bolts which can knack the fuz, and a cranked joiner which is a bugger to rig in wind on the hill 

Utter pants..don't know what you mean?.....I leave one half tightly fitted into one half(thin cyno until its stiff)then just push them together when assembling....works a treat..BTW..satinet..allrounder means good at everything master of none...just to confirm.

christ.T

Oi , nowt wrong with round wing joiners especially on my lovely carbon Sword 

btw, the joiner system on the Luna is utter pants...4 bolts which can knack the fuz, and a cranked joiner which is a bugger to rig in wind on the hill 

Buster,If your that bad a pilot that you can scrap the fuz from the bolts on a Luna wing then I suggest you give up flying.The Luna lands so easy and slowly its impossible..and if that's not enough ...use plastic bolts if you must!...Chris.T

Yeah, I'm Carp me...





















Apparently

Yeah, I'm Carp me...





















Apparently

QED

Well I did spank it in, but anyhoo...wotevs...
1. If you don't break 'em occaisionally, you ain't trying hard enough
2. If plastic bolts are better, then why supply metal ones?
3. Landing zones are not always like bowling greens...
4. I'd NEVER cyano a joiner in...

the concept of supergluing in a joiner is a bit of an eyebrow raiser!

Personally I would have the typhoon over the luna. The typhoon gets a lot of positive comments - it really does fly well. 
Built in ballast tube, fitted horns etc.  Fast and aerobatic.   

Well I did spank it in, but anyhoo...wotevs...
1. If you don't break 'em occaisionally, you ain't trying hard enough
2. If plastic bolts are better, then why supply metal ones?
3. Landing zones are not always like bowling greens...
4. I'd NEVER cyano a joiner in...

1.depends on skill and flying site.
2.metal are better but use plastic if unsure and refer to 1.
3.see 1. also
4.neither would I..I mean cyno the joiner out of the wing..ie wiping the cyno over it..let it dry then sand to a tight fit and leave in one side.

Ahh, I see now

I would still rather by a second hand ascot the get a brand new alex.
They never floated my boat, but I do note that they fly very well, and have even seen one winched.

Jon

I would still rather by a second hand ascot the get a brand new alex.
They never floated my boat, but I do note that they fly very well, and have even seen one winched.

Jon

I've seen an Alex fly at rhossili. Tbh I was not that impressed. Better ways to spend that sort of $$ IMO.