Old school glider launch with Hi-Start or Bungee 

40 years ago we had no choice, hi start or winches. Hi start was the norm for weekend flying. I had a much more powerful hi start. At full stretch I could hardly hang on. In fact, sometimes an assistant was necessary. The wings would bend so much it was worrisome. It was awesome.

40 years ago I would launch simply by a towline ! Much simpler than a bungee, and damn good for fitness... Greetings from Calcutta, India

I learned to fly RC from high starts 35 years ago. Thanks for the fond memories!

I've had a lot of fun with hi-starts. Specked out a 2.5m glider from a high-start launch - very satisfying.

I fly both types of gliders - motor-powered and bungee "powered". Indeed, flying with a motor is less hassle and you can get the glider really high at no time, but there is some special thrill (magic if you want) in launching a glider with a bungee - -it rises up fast but gently at the same time - a rare form of balance, which exists only in nature (birds). I even enjoy the bungee set-up process more than playing with the batteries. The modern world, however, is all about convenience.

I’ve done this recently - got the kids really engaged chasing after the end of the line and bringing it back to me!

Used to fly at the Delyn model flying club in early 90s here in Wales. The singing kettle field (named after a nearby pub) had a noise restriction after 1pm. So before 1pm it was powered flight. After 1pm. The gliders would come out and the bungee. I used to take my os max.25 powered 3 channel Yamamoto trainer up at 12:50. Fly power till the my digital watch would beep. Then cut the throttle and glide. In summer with decent thermal I managed a 45 minute flight. Began to worry the reciever battery pack on the old futaba set was going to give out and so brought her down. We laid back in the tall grass. Me and instructor just single stick flying. Was a hell of a flight. The gliders came out to join me but for some reason I found lift they didn't. And most were on their second or third launch by the time my I structor Paul. Said.. better bring her in.. good times. High starts are still a handy tool in the right spot. A parachute is very good to help you find the line between launches. Safer too as slows the lines decent if you do happen to have walkers around. And if you accidentally let the line go whilst hooking up the parachute will open and slow the recoil across the ground.

You'll get it. It takes practice. Thicker rubber, a reel for the line and get a parachute. We get 8,000 - 15,000 steps when we fly.

I love my high start! Use it for my f3j Maxa 4m and my Zenith 3.6m. When I don't feel like setting up my winch, the bungee works great

I prefer this to powered gliders. It’s a learning curve. Luckily, my flying club has a dedicated strip for bungee launches

I used to 'bungee' lightweight gliders as my main hobby. I gave up because I lost the use of the field and flying in a public place caused problems. People tripping on the line, general safety. Now I have motor gliders, it's not the same.

Eres un dios amigo! explicas todo tan bien,detallado y al grano! y tu ingles es muy fluido, de hecho me gusta mas este estilo gringo, te hace ver mas profesional! saludos!

Motors, batteries and propellers are heavy. Hi start/bungee is great when you get used to it. Keep your gliders light friends 😃

excellent video!

All that inconvenience and work, and walking as well! That must have been tough.

I've been doing it for 45 years. Good exercise! The new F3-RES /F3L contest class uses only hi-starts: 15 metres rubber, 100 metres line, < 4 kg pull when rubber extended to 45 m. That's quite a pull for 2 metre wooden gliders weighing typically 400 g, but hi-starts are much gentler and safer than winches. Note that the rubber is either latex or silicon tubing, typically available from medical or fitness equipment suppliers. For sport flying, the rubber can be extended to ~ 3 - 4 times its relaxed length (e.g. walk 50 paces from relaxed for rubber 15 paces long when relaxed). A hi-start is decidedly better in some wind (less extension then needed). A larger spool makes it easier to lay out and roll up the line and rubber together, rubber over line. Kept in a bag in a dark place, a hi-start can last many years. Beware of kids trying to steal one at the flying field ... I lost one that way at the Pasadena Rose Bowl many years ago.

Try Furry Glen at the Chapelizod end of the park; the treeline area is good for thermals in the evening after a sunny day.

Very good video! Your content is always very informative! I just bought an old style towline glider with the thoughts of adding a folding prop and battery, but not 100% sure where to start. It’s heavy with loads of old lead weights, so taking a big battery and motor should not be an issue, I think, but converting it… Well that’s the next project. If you have any pointers, I’d appreciate it! Keep up the good work!

I love the Phoenix Park

Trading the battery, engine, and whatnot for leaving that weight on the ground can't be a bad thing!

A few weeks ago, I was hit by the propeller on a flying wing I was hand launching. Now I use a peddle operated bungee and launch ramp. It works perfectly every time. So I would say that bungee launch systems are still relevant. Here is a link to a short video if you would like to see it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q_pTwPabEKE.html

Use those wet floor sighs, place an a4 paper RC plane in this area, to cover yourself, people do see the sign and don't care.

Didn't know you were allowed to histart in Phoenix park!

discus launching a dlg and it would go higher and stay up longer because there glide ratio is insane !!! (if you are any good at it :D )

I thought the glider club I joined was using bungee but they use the pulley cable system used on real gliders. Most of the guys use electric assist propeller gliders. The Exion glider is no longer available, thats too bad. I really liked the quality. Most gliders now are foam. Custom built gliders can cost a fortune.

love it

cool music

Great

First LOVE YPUR CONTENT

I like it, but I do believe the concept of a glider should be as light as possible. Not adding weight but another design could give you much more time to fly.

Cool

I have jury rigged a hi-start system to a non-RC foam glider, the wings fold up worryingly. I am wondering if the parachute is used to slow down the launch speeds so the glider is less in danger of snapping a wing on launch.

Sooo yesterday use a nose hook aeron glider and launch at 120 mph

Hi you are using the wrong size jelly rubber, too small, the one we use is 5/8 hollow with dowels inside to take the line and attach rings thats 20 metres and 120 meters of fishing line , a mig welder empty reel with handles to wide the fishing line on, the jelly rubber was put in a large container and lid with powder. (baby powder is no good) (use chalk line powder) GILDER BUILDER AND FLYER FROM THE 1980S to 2023

Is that the sig riser 100?

Gliders with motors are not gliders .might as well fly power !

Your*

Unlike a glow-engine it worked first pull every time. There is lost technique to wind up line and tubing that does not tangle ! Back in those days one was out of the car into the air in under ten minutes; the end close to the airplane has a large steamer or parachute so it drifts down to the starting point. Seems a lot “tech” has been lost - I like glow engines and Electric but elastic work first pull every time. No fuss or muss !!!! LOL!!!!

Two minutes in and I won't finish. search was for a GUIDE to bungee launching, Not a naysayer who plainly knows less on the subject than I. You may call it inconvenient, I just call it process.

You describe 'Hi-Starts' as a nuisance/inconvenient & time consuming. I beg to differ. That 'set-up' time of 20mins is no more than what many people use up after first getting to the field and bantering/joking with their companions...let alone doing a FOD-walk around & examination of your flying space, no matter HOW small it is. The whole world over, hobbyists are losing 'free space' to manicured 'sports' parks, industry and housing developments; shorter & more powerfully 'sprung' 'Hi-Starts' CAN be used in smaller spaces, often with smaller, lighter gliders than many 2 - 3M ones. I encourage young, beginner flyers in Western Horn of Africa nations, where cost & 'easy' access of RC components still reaches many months wages & more. I will be sharing your vid with them and hope they are not discouraged, as 'space' is one thing they still have access to!

It’s not old school it’s always been the easiest and cheapest way.

Red badge looks awfull!