The New Glider Pilot's Handbook

[AEAJR]

THE NEW GLIDER PILOT'S HANDBOOK
Second Edition
by Ed Anderson

If you are just getting started in thermal duration gliders in any form, then there are many things you will want to know. The New Glider Pilot's Handbook is here to try and make that easier.

In the first edition of the New Glider Pilot's Handbook, I compiled the resources based on a series of articles I wrote for RCEzine.com. Unfortunately the magazine went under so the info is no longer available. I have rewritten much of the material and posted it in a variety of places around the forums.

This is a compilation of many of those articles and threads, some of which are right here on wattflyer.com. While many of the articles are mine, I have included some excellent work by other authors. Also, I have provided links that go to various forums and locations so the new glider pilot can discover the breadth of on-line resources that are available. The articles are rich with links to other resources as well, so this listing is deceptive. There is much more behind the links than you might expect.

Some of the links go to threads that I started when I had a question. I felt the content of those threads was helpful, so I have included them here as resources. Have you ever sat in a class hopeful that someone else will ask the question that you don't want to ask? Well, I asked for you. Take a look at the responses.

I invite other pilots to contribute to the thread to expand and supplement what I have compiled here. I invite those with questions to post them in this thread or one of the threads referenced below. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

To new and experienced flyers alike, I hope you find something here that will be useful and will contribute to your soaring experience.

=============================================

GETTING STARTED

Getting Started with Gliders
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=217

Sailplane terms
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185385


Discus Launched Gliders
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=230

Why Join a Club?
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232

Welcome to the Novice Lounge
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=224

Other Pilot's Recommendations for First Sailplanes
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211753



TIPS

Learning to Use a Hi-Start
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8922

Plane Locators
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=237

Performance Tuning Gliders
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=227


Using Ballast
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=232

Test Flight Procedures
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=226

Workshop Ventilation
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=235

Tip Stalling and Wing Washout
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1120310/tm.htm

Getting Planes out of trees
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=239

Sample Set-up for a Full House Glider
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=233

Weather - Knowing When to Fly
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=236




RADIOS

Choosing a Sailplane Radio - What to Consider
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=223

First Time Servo Set-up
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=248


What Goes on Which Stick
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=234


EPA/ATV
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=247

Dual Rates and Exponential Compared and Explained
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=249

What you need to know about receivers
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=72964#post72964

THE JOY OF SOARING

Trying to explain the thrill of gliders to friends
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175969

The Joy of the Hunt
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=225

Soaring is more fun with friends
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=228

Follow me, silently, and I'll show you where there's lift!

For all you electric guys:

First Electric Gliders
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235

[AEAJR]

What should I add to the glider pilot's handbook?

[Tonywjones44]

Are we talking about a conventional book as well as the links to all the forums/threads? If so, where can I buy it. I do a lot of my reading in the bath and already dunked one laptop.

[AEAJR]

I am talking about the articles I write and post on the interent, or articles that other people have found on the internet. Really good discussion threads might be appropriate as well, but I tend to shy away from them.

I would add links to the first post.

I have enough for a book but have no planes on going to hard copy print at this time.

[Lil-Snoopy]

Wing type, pollyhedrial, dihedrial etc... and rudder angle or deflection might help people new to the scene to understand why each is used for differant styles of sailplane flight.

[TeamTigerPaw]

AQEAJR
Thanks for the great info. As a long time modeler (competitive controline and intermediate R/C ) I'm new to gliders. Got the hi-start down but once your up it's the now what do I do. This is where we need the help of experienced people like your self. Thanks for your time and effort and know there are many that benefit but may not take the time to say thanks.
Keep it up. pun intended :>)
Joe

[Murocflyer]

Once again Ed, you're always there with plenty of info to share. I don't know how you can continually find the motivation to do so. Great job.

Frank

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by Murocflyer

Once again Ed, you're always there with plenty of info to share. I don't know how you can continually find the motivation to do so. Great job.

Frank

TeamTigerPaw and Frank,

I accumulate info for myself. As I do so I write it up, organize it and offer it up to my students, and all of you. There are lots of people doing this.

Its fun to learn new things and I find I learn them best if I write them down. By helping others you really help yourself.

Glad you find it useful.

[Murocflyer]

So true Ed, so true. I often thought of cutting and pasting info onto a word .doc for future reference, just haven't gotten a "round toit" yet.

Thanks for taking the time to help us out.

Frank

[AEAJR]

Now you have one!

[Murocflyer]

Good one!

Dang, no excuse now!

Frank

[Hand-Eye-Guy]

I've been flying for a little while now and have had my first thermal last august. I was flying my Wing Dragon at a local private flying field and had read about hunting thermals.

I had placed my Dragon into the wind @ about 300-400' and had noticed the stick getting, what I would call, "light" & started to climb clockwise. It was climbing in a perfect spiral like the birds we see on the highways. This was also over our main st. asphalt.

I'm looking to get a Multiplex Cularis, just need to save some money. This board has given me a constant supply of information, thanks guys!

[AEAJR]

We sound like we started in a similar way. I started on an Aerobird which I learned to thermal. A Spirit was my first glider. Now I fly gliders 80% of the time.

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

We sound like we started in a similar way. I started on an Aerobird which I learned to thermal. A Spirit was my first glider. Now I fly gliders 80% of the time.

Small world. I started on an AeroBird, which I may have thermaled<Sp?> once or twice without knowing it (it did stay up for an unusually long time without any power). And I'm currently putting together an Easy Star as an E-glider.

(Cue "twilight Zone" theme now)

[AEAJR]

You will enjoy the Easy Star.

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

You will enjoy the Easy Star.

So I've heard, it was the many WattFlyer recommendations that lead to my choosing it in the first place.

[AEAJR]

Tips on Easy Star as an e-glider.

Balance -

Many people have their Easy Star's too nose heavy. This makes them more stable for beginners, but it also leads to a common complaint that the rudder is ineffective. Nose heavy means less responsive. If your rudder seems ineffective, before you modify it, try moving the CG back a little.

In relation to thermal soaring, moving the CG back is even more important. In order to detect a thermal, the plane must be very sensative to small changes in the air currents.

You climb to height, power off and glide, as smoothly as possible. If you are nose heavy, the plane will "plow" right through a thermal. Move the CG back and the plane will read the air much more easily.

So, I would suggest you set the CG according ot the Multiplex instructions. Then, once you have it trimmed out, move the CG back. Typically that is most easily done by moving the battery back.

Try 1/4" and take a few flights. Glide the plane. Are you having trouble keeping it under control? No? Move it back another 1/4".

Over time, the further back the CG, the more responsive the plane will be come to hte rudder AND the more easily it can report lift and rise in it.

I hope that makes sense.

[AEAJR]

For all you budding RC Soaring guys, you should make a point of subscribing to RC Soaring Digest. This is a free publication on the topic of RC Soaring, both thermal and slope.

http://www.rcsoaringdigest.com

You just download the PDF. Great content. I have an article in the March issue.

But even when I don't have anything in it, I highly recommend it.

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Tips on Easy Star as an e-glider.

Balance -

Many people have their Easy Star's too nose heavy. This makes them more stable for beginners, but it also leads to a common complaint that the rudder is ineffective. Nose heavy means less responsive. If your rudder seems ineffective, before you modify it, try moving the CG back a little.

In relation to thermal soaring, moving the CG back is even more important. In order to detect a thermal, the plane must be very sensative to small changes in the air currents.

You climb to height, power off and glide, as smoothly as possible. If you are nose heavy, the plane will "plow" right through a thermal. Move the CG back and the plane will read the air much more easily.

So, I would suggest you set the CG according ot the Multiplex instructions. Then, once you have it trimmed out, move the CG back. Typically that is most easily done by moving the battery back.

Try 1/4" and take a few flights. Glide the plane. Are you having trouble keeping it under control? No? Move it back another 1/4".

Over time, the further back the CG, the more responsive the plane will be come to hte rudder AND the more easily it can report lift and rise in it.

I hope that makes sense.

Excellent tips, thanks. Right now I have the pack velcro'ed all the way forward and this puts the CG right at the "5 mm ahead of the rear edge of the spar cover" position as per MultiPlex's recommendations. I had to add a little extra weight to nudge it forward. I've just started flying this bird and right now I want stability. It handles very well this way under power. but I can see what you mean about how this would hinder gliding, as she does seem to "plow" through the air very quickly balanced this way. A slower "floating" flight is what I think would want for thermalling.

One question. When she's weighted back as you described, how do you handle this plane's tendancy to porpoise under power?

[AEAJR]

If you are getting porpoise, then you have a trim problem. Likely too much up elevator is trimmed in.

The elevator ends up getting trimmed up a bit to support that heavy nose. As you move the CG back you can trim the elevator down a touch. Porpoising under power is caused by the elevator, not the CG.

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

If you are getting porpoise, then you have a trim problem. Likely too much up elevator is trimmed in.

The elevator ends up getting trimmed up a bit to support that heavy nose. As you move the CG back you can trim the elevator down a touch. Porpoising under power is caused by the elevator, not the CG.

My CoG is currently about 5mm ahead of the rear edge of the spar cover. Again, that's with the extra weight of the Alti under the hood. Remove that and it's spot on it. Right now the elevator is trimmed down slightly. However, this was determined while under power. I'd rather have her fly level at the lowest power or dead stick. I can always nudge the elevator down a little more when "putting the hammer down", right?

[AEAJR]

If your CG is forward of the recommend point then your plane is REALLY nose heavy.

With these parkflyers, most people will trim elevator so the plane flies level at 1/2 throttle. I like to trim and balance the plane such that it flies level in a glide.

[FlyWheel]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

If your CG is forward of the recommend point then your plane is REALLY nose heavy.

With these parkflyers, most people will trim elevator so the plane flies level at 1/2 throttle. I like to trim and balance the plane such that it flies level in a glide.

Oops, I goofed, right now it is on the recommnded CG point, (I had to add the extra weight to get it there, my bad).

But Elfi did put a little down elevator trim on her, this will push the nose down in a glide causing her to drop faster as well, right? If so, should I remove the trim and try flying her with the elevator "neutral"? Or put her up first and untrim her in the air and see how she flies?

[AEAJR]

Depends on how you fly. Your plane will normally climb under power but how much is up to you.

Since I tend to fly my planes more as gliders than as aerobats, I tend to tune for neutral glide at neutral elevator setting.

This way you use throttle to cntrol altitude as well as speed.

[AEAJR]

Glider pilots often talk about flying in contests. Many new pilots shy away from this because they feel they are not interested or not ready for competition. However, what I have lreaned is that flying in contests is one of the best learning experiences you can have.

Read my article here. Then, if you are interested, read the article at the link below. Flying contests is about learning new skills, making new friends and having a whole lot of fun. Oh, yea, maybe about winning too, but I don't worry about that too much.



BUILDING PARTICIPATION IN CLUB AND ESL CONTESTS
by Ed Anderson

David Beach’s article ( link below ) talks about the League of Silent Flight Soaring Achievement program. Over the past few years I have had many people encourage me to give this program a try. I finally took a look and decided to start the LSF program myself. It looked like an interesting set of challenges, some of which would expose me to parts of soaring that I would not otherwise experience.

As I looked at the tasks and the flow of the program I also saw an opportunity to work with the LSF program as a way to prepare and encourage pilots to participate in contest flying at my club. This would be in the context of training rather than competition.

Starting at LSF level II, the pilot must participate in a minimum of 6 contests in order to test their developing skills and demonstrate a level of proficiently. The contests become the way the pilot measures their training progress. This takes the concept of contest flying from the area of competition into the area of pilot training.

I believe, if properly approached, the developing pilot will be eager to enter contests in order to measure their progress and to allow them to advance to the next LSF level. This is a great way to introduce new pilots into the fun of contests.

Starting at level III, contests must have a minimum of 10 participants. At this and the more advanced levels, ESL contests would be a very attractive way to meet these requirements.

I have begun to encourage members of our club to sign up for the LSF program. Our club now has a newly appointed LSF club coordinator who will help speed up the registration process. Working the program will become a club project that supports the individual flyer as they progress through the levels.

Since introducing the LSF program at the last club meeting several members have submitted their applications and some have already completed level 1. We are having active discussions on the field about the tasks that we will perform at the higher levels. And we are counting the contests to see when we will be able to advance to the next level.

I believe this is going to be a positive addition to the activities of our club. If you do not currently have an active LSF program in your club, you may wish to consider incorporating the LSF tasks into your club's regular activities. As members move through the tasks and levels, they will gain confidence and will look forward to the contest portion of the program and flying in the ESL contests.

If you have experience with integrating the LSF program into your club's activities I would really like to get your tips and ideas on how to make this work. I am also looking for ideas on how we might be able to incorporate the LSF program into the ESL. The more active the LSF program is in the clubs, the more likely those club members will join the fun at the ESL contests.


THE ESL, THE LSF, AND YOU
by David Beach
http://forums.flyesl.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=342