I would like to chime in about tip launching, conventional launching, and discus launching. For a bit of explanation on my terminology, tip launching is done with a smallish span glider (unless you are really tall). You generally follow an underarm type motion, like pitching a softball. You can release the glider at arm parallel with horizon, or arm perpendicular (pointed straight to the sky, or close to it). The span has to be a bit smaller else you would smack the opposite wing tip on the ground. Conventional launching is your standard javelin overhand throw. Discus launching is what Dick previously described, you hold your ship by a wing tip, spin 360 degrees around and use the momentum you have built up from spinning to whip the glider airborne. I have spent this entire last year tip launching. I have put in a lot of stick time on Chinooks (newest member of the Red Herring family) and recently Ionospheres (future member of previously mentioned family). When you first start tip launching, there will be parts of your arm that will be sore, this is true. However, I don't feel you have any joint soreness. I originally had some soreness in the area from your thumb back to the top part of the bend in your elbow and the bicep. However, after several flying sessions I no longer experience this soreness. One thing that seems to help my launches is taking a few running steps forward while completing the underarm "swing". I picked this idea up from watching women's softball on ESPN. All I can say is that a durable flying wing (Chinook)that can be thermaled that you can easily fit 3 of them into an airline carry on bag is way cool. It many not perform quite as well as the Ionospheres, but given it's price, durability, and compactness, it is an economical way to learn tip launching. Ryan Woebkenberg _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
