1: STALL SPEED: Every glider has a stall speed where the wing stops flying. Trainer gliders and gliders with a flat bottom wing have much lower stall speeds compared with aerobatic models. When a trainer glider does stall it recovers quickly with little input from the pilot and a minimum loss of altitude.

PERFORMANCE Trainer gliders are slower than other glider types. Lower speeds give the student pilot more time to think and react. Trainers are not very aerobatic and will not perform more complicated manoeuvres. This keeps students mistakes from turning in to out-of-control disasters. As tempting as the looks are of the Racers and Scale gliders, you will only do yourself a favour by learning to walk before you run. We recommend the Sparrow ARF as a first glider.

BUILD UP KITS These are popular because of there relative initial low cost. Most do not include complete hardware i.e. you will normally need hinges, pushrods, glue and covering material. These take the longest time to build and are usually constructed from balsa and plywood. Average finishing times are between 25 and 50 hours.

ALMOST READY-TO-COVER KITS With an ARC kit you will receive an airframe that is immaculately constructed and finished airframe. You would need to be a master builder to build to this standard from kit form. Best of all is that you can finish off an ARC glider with any materials and colours you want to give it your own style. Most ARC kits will need some hardware and covering material to complete. Average finishing time is 8 to 20 hrs.

ALMOST READY-TO-FLY GLIDERS this is the most complete form of kit available. The glider will be built and covered and come with a complete hardware package and instruction manual. Most ARF gliders today are built from moulded plastic and fibreglass and covered with an iron on film like Ultracote. These gliders are the quickest to get in the air. Average time to finish 4 to 10 hrs.

TRAINER GLIDERS- most trainer gliders have a high mounted wing with a flat bottom section (Clark-Y airfoil) providing maximum lift and slower speeds. Construction is simple and these gliders usually accommodate the most cost effective radio equipment.

SPORT GLIDERS- these gliders are designed for the intermediate pilot and can have high, mid or low mounted wings. Most have a semi symmetrical airfoil (both top and bottom of the wing is curved, but the bottom is less curved than the top.) These gliders will perform most aerobatic manoeuvres.

SCALE GLIDERS– These gliders are designed with the experienced pilot in mind and can have a variety of wing types depending on the full size aircraft it is replicating.

AEROBATIC GLIDERS– These are for the experienced pilot and are good for sharpening your piloting skills. They will perform all aerobatic manoeuvres and are fast flying aircraft, usually with fully symmetrical airfoils. (Top and bottom of the wing is curved the same, aiding inverted performance and speed)

COMBAT AND FUN FLY GLIDERS- these are generally used for combat flying and fun flying (e.g. limbo) and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common features of these gliders manoeuvrability and ruggedness, they are o built to take a knock and common materials are EPP and other indestructible foams.

THERMAL GLIDERS– These can often be similar in appearance to trainer gliders with long wings and low weight. Competition Thermal gliders however can cost many thousands of rands as often use composite materials in their construction. Additional functions such as flaps and spoilers are fairly common to aide precision landings. A more advanced radio would therefore also be needed.