GLIDER FAILSAFES

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

With the new 2.4 radios, its common to have even the basic reciever with a throttle failsafe, but, how should a glider be set? by its very nature, the beast will soar up, rather than down, with the over 20kg glider, there must be a way of curtailing its flight, now, i have NEVER been a fan of the hard over and in brigade, but what would you do with a glider? even a basic rudder elevators jobby?

[John Greenfield]

Interesting question.
Historically the preferred option is full airbrakes, flaps down or crow braking. Basically whatever is fitted that normally is used for glide angle control.
If you are flying a basic rudder / elevator model I hope it is not over 20 kg !!!

John

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

i used the rudder elavator variant as a point that any aircraft that carries a spectrum reciever has a built in failsafe that has to be activated by CAA rules and regs, this goes for any size of model that has a 2.4 fitted (thinks, does futaba have a FS fitted as specky?) looking at the raft of replies looks like others either dont fly gliders, arnt interested, or plain dont know

[Simon Willey]

My third scale 35lbs ASK13 has air brakes set fully on and controls to neutral. Also tow release released
When the air brakes are on it has a nose down attitude so this is what I have set the failsafe to. It certainly wont want to climb with the air brakes deployed.
The FRsky Rxs failsafe's on all channels .
Once I had trimmed the glider out I reset the failsafe.
I felt this is the best I could do.

Simon

[John Greenfield]

Alan

Can't help you with just Rudder / Elevator types but as I guess that the model(s) in question are under 7 kg and therefore the CAA requirement re failsafe’s is not applicable I can only suggest you contact the BMFA for clarification as it was they who made the rule re failsaf’es on ALL models.

John

[Chris Bradbury]

I guess that the model(s) in question are under 7 kg and therefore the CAA requirement re failsafe’s is not applicable

A word of caution here as many people don't realise this, although you must fit a fail safe to any model over 7kg regardless of radio being used, if you are using a radio where a failsafe can be set e.g. all the new 2.4ghz systems, then it's a requirement to have the failsafe set regardless of size or weight.

[Rob Buckley]

The requirement to have the failsafe set if fitted to models under 7Kg only applies to powered models - there is no requirement for gliders.

Although that said, it would be a good idea to set the failsafe of any glider to stop the model flying away & into the windscreen / engine of a passing airliner. Full up & full right on a rudder / elevator model should dethermal it nicely (or full up & left in the southern hemisphere).

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

interesting one that, it was my thoughts that if any model had a fail safe receiver, then it had to be set, Hmm, more enquiring to be done, me thinks