Air Land Sea Hobbies

If I could transform into an animal – just for one day – it would undoubtedly be a bird. I’ve always admired the soaring majesty of the eagle as he lazily circles hundreds of feet in the air. In the animal kingdom, birds are rulers of all they survey. The only predators they need to worry about are humans and occasionally other birds. Most of all, they are free to fly where and when they desire.

I don’t have any delusions about sprouting wings, but I have tried to replicate the feeling of real flight by using my RC sailplane. I climb on top of the tallest hill in town, facing out toward the sea, and set the plane into motion with the deep blue sky providing a perfect backdrop. As the plane circles gracefully through the gentle air currents, I can’t help but wonder how Icarus must have felt.

Discus Launching:

Discus Launched Gliders (DLGs) are a fairly new breed of RC glider, designed with a particular launch method in mind.

One wingtip is held by the pilot, who then spins around 360 degrees before flinging the glider up wards - in the same way a discus is thrown in the athletic field event. 
The centrifugal force produced by the pre-launch spin is enough to launch the glider to a surprising height, and the design characteristics of DLGs are such that the aircraft naturally goes into a steep climb immediately after launch. 
The good thing with this form of glider launching is that you don’t have to be strong, because the power comes from the technique.

DLGs are perfect for thermal soaring on a flat field

 Bungee launching:

Bungee launching Radio Controlled Gliders can either be done on a gentle hillside or level ground. The bungee system is a long length of elastic cord extended further by an even longer length of non-stretch cord (anything up to 10x the length of elastic). The bungee is pegged into the ground at one end and attached to a hook on the bottom of the glider at the other end. A small parachute is attached to the glider end of the bungee. To launch, the pilot walks backwards with the glider in one hand and the transmitter in the other, so stretching the bungee. When a suitable stretch has been reached, the glider is released and the bungee then pulls the glider up to a good height.
With a small pull back on the elevator stick at the top of its climb, the glider releases itself from the bungee and your flight commences. The bungee then falls back to earth, slowed by the parachute.

Like discus launching, bungee launches are perfect for thermal flying over a flat field, provided that you have the length to lay out, and stretch, the bungee.