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Other Sailplanes

Other Sailplanes

Other sailplanes is the collective of most every other type of radio controlled sailplane, besides handlaunch, slope, and combat sailplanes described on other pages.

Airworld 'Fox' Fast Fly-By (c) Mike Shellim These sailplanes or gliders range in size from 2-meters in wingspan to 'open class' sailplanes of wingspans greater than 100". Some open class and scale sailplanes have wing spans greater than 3 meters, but you better have a large car and friends to help get that plane in the air.

Typically, planes with wing spans of about 2 meters are the most popular as they're smaller (they fit in the car) and a bit easier to manuever and anticipate their movements in the air. The 'standard' and open class sailplanes have the greatest potential for high performance, thermal hunting or other types such as those that resemble full-size sailplanes.

There is a short list below of electric-assist or powered sailplanes that have electric motors. Additionally planes on this page encompass very speedy, contest-style planes, very snazzy-looking scale sailplanes, and even ornithopters (flapping bird-style planes). Some of the scale sailplanes look remarkably like full-size sailplanes that carry people aloft. At some point all sailplanes become 'other' in that you can fly these planes on a slope, or even handlaunch them like that class of sailplane. Use your judgement carefully, especially with some of these very expensive aircraft.

There are many different plane sizes in the lists below. If you're a beginner, it's probably best to consider a sailplane that is near the 2-meter size as trying to learn to fly a 10-foot wingspan mega-sailplane can be disasterous if you crash while learning. Also you need to decide what might fit in your car or even your house before considering any of these planes. Some of the larger, open class sized sailplanes are not only difficult to build, but some can be fairly difficult to fly as well, even for an expert pilot. If you are desiring performance, some of the planes in the 'Advanced' category below can offer a challenge that can be truly rewarding.

Here's a list of lots of R/C sailplanes that I consider 'other' sailplanes: (These links change often or disappear, I will try to keep updating this list when I can)

2-Meter (or less wing span) sailplanes:

Novice / Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced/ Contest/ Not For Beginners

  • Art Hobby "Boar-RES 2M" - 79" span, also handlaunch
  • PCM "Erwin 5" - 2 Meter span, All Carbon
  • RnR "Evolution" - 78.8" span, molded 2M ARF
  • NSP "Epsilon 2M" - 78.5" span, molded construction
  • NSP "Sisu C" - 78.75" span, composite construction

Standard sailplanes (wing spans beyond 2 meter or 78", but not over 100"):

Novice / Beginner

  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Big Bird" - 100" span, wood construction
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Windfree" - 100" span, wood construction, Nostalgia class

Intermediate

  • Art Hobby "Evolution 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF
  • Art Hobby "Orion-V 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF F3F, v-tail
  • Art Hobby "Orion-C 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF F3F, conventional tail
  • Art Hobby "Serenity 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF F3F
  • Art Hobby "Thermic 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF, multi-purpose
  • Art Hobby "Vortex 2.5M" - 98.4" span, 80% RTF F3F
  • RNR "Summa" - 99" 3-piece wing, all composite kit or RTF
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Olympic II" It's BACK! - 99" span, Nostalgia class
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Legionair" - Nostalgia class
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Viking" - 118" span, Nostalgia class
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Dark Star" - Nostalgia class
  • NSP "Avocado" - 102.3" span
  • NSP "Opus" - 100" span, composite construction

Advanced/ Contest/ Not For Beginners


Open Class sailplanes (wing spans beyond 100 inches):

Novice

  • Dynaflite "Bird of Time" - 118" span, LSF Nostalgia Legal
  • MM Glider Tech "Marauder" - 115" span, wood construction
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Challenger" - 145" span, Nostalgia class
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Sky Bird" - 132" span
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Paragon" - 118" span, Nostalgia class

Intermediate

  • Art Hobby "Ibis 3M" - 118" span, F3B, multi-purpose
  • Art Hobby "Odyssey 2.7M" - 106" span, F3B, multi-purpose
  • FVK "Rival Rippe" - 110" span, thermal competition/electric
  • PoleCat Aero "EZ Bubble" - 122" span, built-up No longer available!
  • PoleCat Aero "Thermal Dancer" - 122" span, carbon & kevlar construction No longer available!
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Astro Jeff" - 151" span, Nostalgia class
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Cloud Bound 4" - 144" span, Nostalgia class

Advanced / Contest / Not For Beginners


F3J (The ultimate in thermal duration [not for Novices!]):

Advanced/ Contest/ Not For Beginners


Scale sailplanes (or near scale):

Intermediate

  • AMS "ASW 28-18" - 99" span, sheeted balsa/ply covered scale sailplane
  • AMS "DG-1000" - 102" span, sheeted balsa/ply covered scale sailplane
  • FVK "ASW 24" - 64" span, mini-semi-scale
  • Hobby Lobby "ASK-21" - 79" span, semi-scale sailplane
  • ICare "Blanik L23 2.7M" - 106" span, sheeted foam covered scale sailplane
  • ICare "Jantar 2.4M" - 97" span, foam/carbon/glass or molded scale sailplane
  • ICare "Ventus 2c 2.5M" - 98" span, sheeted foam covered scale sailplane
  • Sky Bench Aerotech "Baby Bowlus" - 122" span, scale vintage sailplane

Advanced/ Contest/ Not For Beginners


Electric Sailplanes (a selection of electric planes similar to sailplanes):

All Skill Levels


Ornithopters (flapping bird-like planes):

Intermediate/Advanced (not for beginners!)

  • Neuros "Cybird" - 39" span, carbon spars, G-10 fiberglass body
  • Ornithopter Zone "RC Phoenix" - 16" span, 1/2 ounce weight (Indoor)
  • Ornithopter Zone "Fenice" - 16" span, ARF w/ Radio
  • R & R Model Aircraft "Kestrel" - 48" span, fabric wings, G-10 fiberglass body
  • Sean Kinkade "Park Hawk" - 42" span, carbon spars, G-10 fiberglass body, ARF
  • Sean Kinkade "Slow Hawk II" - 48" span, carbon spars, G-10 fiberglass body, ARF
  • Sean Kinkade "Yard Hawk II" - 26" span, carbon spars, G-10 fiberglass body, ARF (Experienced Pilots only)

Other Stuff