| The most basic radio controlled model airplanes are | | | | rotating the model around and then releases hold of |
| gliders which are a great way of gaining radio model | | | | the model allowing it to launch at high speed. DLGs are |
| airplane flying experience before moving on to | | | | a fairly new type of gliders. They are gaining popularity |
| powered craft. A radio controlled glider uses the | | | | due to their ease of launching and efficient flight |
| natural air currents and basic aerodynamics to fly. The | | | | characteristics. |
| flyer controls adjust the various control surfaces on | | | | OK, so we are now in the air with our glider. Things |
| the glider. | | | | you can do now that you are in the air. The most |
| Getting into the air. | | | | basic of course is to learn how to fly your glider. Try |
| By hand, which must be the simplest way to get a | | | | and find the warm rising air currents or thermals, to |
| model glider into the air. Throw it horizontally, giving it | | | | gain hight. For the more aggressive and quite |
| sufficient speed to get it to fly. A slope or hillside | | | | entertaining, there is combat. Combat, is quite simply |
| comes very useful too. | | | | trying to knock the other guy out of the sky. |
| Towline launch. A person runs along the ground with | | | | Another activity is Ridge racing or pylon racing when |
| the glider,pulling a long piece of string with the glider | | | | using marker. Use the slope lift to race along the "lift |
| attached to the other end, while the pilot steers it. | | | | zone", which where you can gain hight. Here 2 to 4 |
| Bungee launch. This launch use an elastic band | | | | planes compete against each other on the same |
| attached to the ground. | | | | course. The first pilot to complete the course receives |
| The spectacular 'Piggyback' launch. | | | | one point, second two and so on, with lowest score |
| This method uses a 'tug', which takes the glider into the | | | | winning. |
| air. A 'tug' is powerful radio controlled airplane which | | | | For the dedicated radio controlled glider racer using the |
| either tows or carries the glider into the air. This just like | | | | is F3F. This is one of many competition categories for |
| the real thing but it requires a very experienced pilot to | | | | model and full scale aircraft that are defined by the |
| steer the 'tug' or towing airplane. | | | | FAI. Here the pilot is against the clock, timed on the |
| For more advanced flyers, there is what is known as | | | | course for 10 legs of 100 meters for a total distance |
| the Discus launch. | | | | of 1 kilometer. |
| This uses a special type of glider - a DLG (Discus | | | | If you thought fly a radio controlled glider was dull, try it |
| Launch Glider (DLG), Radio Controlled). Here the pilot | | | | it may surprise you. |
| holds the model by the tip of a wing, spins 360°, | | | | Have fun. |