I've been searching for options to replace the Phoenix after its disastrous crash. It may be repairable, however with its foam wings already susceptible to deformation in the warming weather and combined with a massive crash repair, I don't think it would be flying very straight.
Hence looking at composite gliders, although one soon realises that carbon wings are very expensive, with a two metre ARF carbon glider in the region of five hundred smackers.
The Raptor, therefore, provided an intermediate solution, with a fibreglass fuselage and fibreglass/balsa combination wing hopefully providing more durability than EPO, and the ARF package coming in at just over a hundred bucks.
It'll need six servos, more expensive metal-geared bearing units being recommended, and I'll probably use the spare Phoenix motor I have along with the carbon prop which survived the crash.
To that just needs to be added an appropriate spinner and we should be good to go using a trusty 2200 3S pack to get the Raptor soaring into the air...
Hey there man, i'm thinking about entering the rc gliders world and can't decide which motorized glider to buy. Between the Phoenix 1600 and the Walrus wich one would you advise best for learning as a first plane? and wich one has the best gliding/soaring ratio?
ReplyDeleteCheers, and cool blog, by the way!
As a starting glider I would definitely choose the Walrus any day of the week; it's a manageable size and does exactly what you expect it to do. Additionally it's got good performance and comes with flaps which is a nice-to have. Only minor hassle is where to put the battery - I made a battery tray to sit just behind the motor with ESC underneath (usual glider setup).
DeleteThe Phoenix, however, is a lovely glider in either 1600 or 2000 versions and the moulded fuselage is a nice step up from EPO.
Hope that helps & have fun!