Just be sure to check the center of gravity. If you would prefer to fly with the motor on for longer durations, the battery bay provides a lot of extra space to accommodate a larger-capacity battery. In my experience, you’ll need a big-lift day to really extend the flights beyond 15 minutes or so. I found lift, but the additional weight inherent in this aircraft is noticeable. The 2,200 mAh 4S battery is a great solution, providing motorized boosts in altitude while carrying reasonable additional weight. The duration of these flights depends entirely on your success in finding lift. This makes it perfect for when you don’t have all day to spend at the flying field but want to get a few flights in. Its ease of use more than makes up for the setup time for a hi-start. Of course, you carry this extra weight with you for the rest of the flight, but for a casual sailplane experience, it’s hard to beat. Servo connections are automatically aligned when placing the wing into the fuselage. Two screws hold each wing panel to the fuselage. The solid aluminum wing spars do a great job of both reinforcing the root of the wing, as well as lining up the servo connection points. This will ensure that you pair the appropriate (color-coded) wire connections. Use a set of tweezers to pull out the servo connection prior to connecting the elevator. The build instructions were easy to follow, and no glue is required! The aircraft is packaged well, and all components arrived safely. Rather than resetting your hi-start before every flight, you simply engage your motor and off it climbs, ready for the next thermal hunt. ![]() That’s one of the best parts of having an aircraft that can propel itself. This capability ensured that I had plenty of time to hunt for thermals three or four times before I eventually ran out of altitude and battery life. ![]() My initial flight required only a couple of rudder clicks to find its balance point, with the motor providing plenty of thrust to swiftly gain altitude. Be prepared to counteract any roll on climbout. To take off, you provide a firm launch at a 30° angle of climb paired with 3/4 throttle. At a GlanceĬomponents needed to complete: Receiver six-plus-channel transmitter and 4S 2,200 mAh batteryĬomponents used: Spektrum AR8020T receiver iX20 transmitter and Spektrum 2,200 mAh Smart LiPo The 2,200 4S battery is a great balance between power and weight-the latter being the bane of sailplane pilots who are trying to thermal. I added in 5% down-trim for 20mm of flap travel, and 11% down-trim for 40mm of flap travel in my setup. ![]() I used no exponential on my setup and used 100% throws. I used several online videos to better understand this aircraft’s setup and, depending on the system you use, you can add crow onto the throttle with a switch to activate the motor (a more traditional sailplane setup) or go the route I took with setting up traditional flaps on a switch with the motor paired to the throttle stick. The iX20 radio, paired with the AR8020T, provides great telemetry and connection, while ensuring that you have access to the most modern setup options available. I chose to use a Spektrum system for both the battery and radio system. Setting up your radio will take longer than the build. Newcomers will have an easy time getting this aircraft built in a short period of time. The build process will take experienced builders a few minutes. The Tower Hobbies homage to this incredible aircraft does a good job of replicating those lines, as well as the docile flight mannerisms of the full-scale aircraft, while adding flaps. The aircraft was designed by well-known German designer Gerhard Waibel, with production beginning in 2000. The undercarriage is retractable, utilizes a water ballast system, and is a highly regarded sailplane known for both its beautiful lines and its docile yet nimble flight characteristics. The full-scale ASW 28 is a single-seat composite sailplane with a 15-meter wingspan. ![]() Launches are easily accomplished with a firm toss and 70% to 80% throttle. As such, any new release with Tower Hobbies branding is cause for celebration! Tower Hobbies has long been synonymous with quality model aircraft, but it hasn’t had many recent releases. The other thing that caught my attention was the brand associated with this model aircraft. MY ROOTS LIE in hi-start 1.5- and 2-meter sailplanes, so when I saw the new Tower Hobbies ASW 28 release, I was naturally excited to get it into the air. A trusted brand offers a new take on a beloved sailplane-this time in 2 meters!īy Kyle Jaracz | seen in the September 2023 issue of Model Aviation.
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