Need recommendation: acrobatic glider for close-in flying (motorized)

[smirkracing2024]

Hi all,

Looking for a recommendation for a nice acrobatic glider that's good for close-in flying. I'm not a thermal guy, and I have enough high-speed planes, and I want something casual and low-stress for the days when I can just make 20 min to fly on the way to work (which is most days).

Here's an old video by Paul Naton that sort of captures how I might like to fly:

That's with a 2m Radian which most people fly WAAAAAAY up in the sky. I want something I can fly in rather small box, call it a baseball field or a soccer field. Since this is for the local park, it needs to be motorized.

Open to lots of options, thanks in advance for any tips or ideas.

 

[Wayne]

Well, a lot of planes could fit that bill. Funny thing is I would never have thought of the Radian.

Get the Bullet, I think you will have a lot of fun with it at a park.

My favorite small space planes we offer are the Silly Stick and the Carbon Falcon. Eventually we will have some variations of the Silly Stick to better fill this need. (wood and EPP wings have been built and flown) The Gentle Lady and Mini Wanderer also would excel at what you showed in the video. The Ridge Runt as an electric is a hoot too.

That just stuff we make here. There are a ton of other options out there. Didn't they make a baby Radian?

 

[Yotaman1985]

I have a UMX Conscendo that is a blast. I know you told me you dont like the micro servos and I agree but I havent had any issues with this one yet. Its quick but also can fly slow, has great control-ability with ailerons and you can pull full elevator at full throttle for some super fast tight loops or spirals which is fun. I run 3s 300 mah packs and get 5-10 mins depending on how I fly.

 

[zeo0nie1]

The (powered) Shaka might fit the bill. I'll try to make it to RSA on Thursday to show you. Not exactly "floaty", though.

 

[smirkracing2024]

Thanks guys!

Yes, @Wayne the Radian (at 2m) and with RE only control did not seem like a viable candidate but I love how Paul flies it, and being forced to really take the inertia into account seems like fun. However, your Wanderer and Ridge Runt are appealing, looking into them. I've had the UMX radian, it is a little wisp of a plane... gave it away.

@Yotaman1985 I have loved the UMX-C many times, had 4 of them, I guess if they go on sale this Thanksgiving I might be tempted back into one... I do love the size and how they fly, but for now I am holding off on them.

@zeo0nie1 thanks! Unfortunately I won't make it out to RSA this Thur but I'd love to see your Shaka sometime soon.

 

[smirkracing2024]

Hey all, does anyone have anything they want to sell along these lines? I watched some Gentle Lady Evo videos and I guess I see what @Wayne meant, definitely does lazy (gentle) acrobatics very gracefully. I'd like to try something new here but my build queue is way too long to keep adding... I think I'm well into the next decade already...