Volantex ASW-28 Glider Maiden

Check out the assembly recap and maiden flight of the Volantex ASW-28 Glider. This is my first time flying a full fledged sailplane. Everything on the model is bone stock with the addition of a 3s1300mah LiPo and FrSky G-RX8 receiver with built-in vario. Lots of people refer to this plane as the AWS-28, but it's an ASW-28.
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#asw-28 #aws-28

[@Jakefrc]

I used to fly full size gliders (ask21 mostly) and this reminds me very much of what it was like to fly that. You really had to push it down to land, and use your air brakes to spoil lift (unfortunately these don’t have those). In the turns you really do have to use a lot of rudder to keep it coordinated unlike a powered plane. I’m definitely going to have to pick one of these up myself soon. The vario sound brings back memories.

[@RCVideoReviews]

For people more experienced than me with gliders, this one seems to be well regarded. Very graceful model.

[@RobBobMar]

What you need to get it down is 'Crow braking' Create a mix so that when you deploy full down flap, you then simultaneously add up aileron (say 35%) to both sides. This still leaves sufficient aileron authority but brings it down sharply! You may also wish to add a little down elevator to the mix as flaps tend to raise the nose. You can add this mix to a slider, so you can 'cosy' it in.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thank you Robin. I'm collecting up all these tips and putting them in a notepad for when I get time to sit and work on the radio. Thanks for taking the time to add yours.

[@Jamesn-js1zp]

I like my ASW28, I’ve had it for about 5 years now and experienced up to 4 hour long thermal flights with it, using the motor to launch only. Modified it for FPV with head tracker cam and using a ground tracking system have done up to 20 km out and return and triangle courses. Can’t say what altitudes I’ve experienced :-)

[@Jamesn-js1zp]

@@jimsnodgrass8454 Outback northern QLD Australia, in the middle of nowhere. Dry dusty and hot, big lift and lots of it. Just gotta pick the days without wind otherwise she's a big drive to fetch your glider. Have tried long distance a couple of times, wife driving while I fly but there's not many roads about so it can only be done in a couple of wind directions

[@RCVideoReviews]

Wow, 4 HOURS! That's amazing, and 20km out--nice. We're kindred spirits. I love going down range.

[@rcaviator8408]

Good to see you flew it. Brings smiles to my face.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Great recommendation. Opens a whole new avenue and set of experiences. Thanks for watching/commenting. Good call!

[@stevebarrett8544]

Great flight nice review thanks mate

[@RCVideoReviews]

You’re welcome.

[@alantoseland6629]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, there's only one thing better than a glider and that's another one. Good review

[@RCVideoReviews]

Right after we picked this one everyone said to get the Phoenix 2400. There are some neat looking gliders @ Aloft too. Thanks for dropping by.

[@alantoseland6629]

Hi John, I think someone asked the same question is it possible to have a copy of the model file please. I did try to look for it on Discord with no luck

[@peterdeacon4085]

Great to see you enjoying the experience of soaring flight with your new ASW28. Gliding is a whole different ball game from powered flight and is very addictive - beware. A few suggestions to increase the fun factor and your flying pleasure. Try mixing in a touch of elevator compensation with throttle as most gliders pitch up with increased power and pitch down when power is reduced. This can be managed by holding in down or up elevator as required but is easier with a mix. Dont need a lot and you will have to play around with it to find the optimum mix for the glider/motor/centre of gravity position. You definitely need to use rudder in turns to compensate for the adverse yaw of those long thin wings - ideally done with rudder stick - but again you can set up as an aileron to rudder mix. I have mine on a switch so I can disable it if needed as there are times when the mix is not desirable, such as on final approach or during aerotowing. Use of airbrakes if you have them or 45 degrees plus of flaps will increase drag and so steepen the descent and get the glider on the ground sooner if desired. You may want to close the airbrakes or flaps just before touch down to make for a smoother arrival. Elevator compensation when the airbrakes or flaps are deployed and retracted may be needed as there can be a tendency for some gliders to 'balloon' and go nose high and stall or go nose low and dive. Try the flaps or airbrakes at a good height first to see which applies and then programme in some up or down elevator accordingly. Finally resist the temptation to use the motor too often when flying and practice circling instead! You flew straight through several small thermals during your flights which could have been used to gain height for free. Looking forward to seeing more gliders reviewed on RCVR.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Great tips! Thanks for taking the time to put them down in comments. I'll be going through them one by one with my radio. Now that I've got a flight under my belt, I have a frame of reference to say, "yup, need that!"

[@MrZeek101]

Great flight John man of many talents flying and playing the Tonnet at the same time lol loved the review Keep them coming take care

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks Robert--more to come for sure :)

[@FL_Engineer]

So I found my way back here while thinking about getting a glider. I like this one and the Phoenix series.

[@RCVideoReviews]

I like this glider. It flies so gracefully and gets off the ground very easy. Hard to beat the price too.

[@jimworley7385]

Hey John, great video and lots of great responses. Mine showed up this week and will be putting together this weekend. Really looking forward to my maiden. Like the “crow braking” idea. Jim

[@RCVideoReviews]

This is a very easy flying plane. It does like to float in ground effect though, so be ready for that when you want to land.

[@jimworley7385]

@@RCVideoReviews Fun fly! Yep, it really wants to float near the ground. Great thermal seeker. Stayed up for the best part of 40 minutes. Sore neck! Thanks for all your videos! Extremely helpful! Jim

[@dougmcpheters1546]

Hmm, maybe a catch net to bring 'er in? lol...Love that model!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Yeah man, I got low to land and she just kept going and going....low to the ground it definitely had no interest in landing.

[@a10nmw]

A great glider that flies gracefully. I use 4S, 1300mAh and it is sensational. You need flaps n elevator compensation for it. Have fun

[@RCVideoReviews]

I enjoyed flying it. Thanks for the tip.

[@rafaeltorres2886]

I have one of these and the Volantex 759-2 both are extremely fun and relaxing to fly I don't use stabilization it just doesn't need it.

[@RCVideoReviews]

I like flying this glider. I may take it out next weekend.

[@duainrothman7930]

Hey nice flt one thing I learned from an old timer on gliders is on takeoff to do a zig zag (left then right) pattern to altitude into the wind so that you dont loose lift if you go dwnwind then turn back into the wind, as he said to me is dwnwind is for landing. I've used that ever since & its the best advice I'll pass on, landings you'll work on the set up. Happy flying

[@RCVideoReviews]

Good tip. I'll try it next time. Thanks!

[@dankeith6756]

I liked the video! I got one used a while back and finely got it figured out. It had a Hitec Flash 8 radio with it and I had trouble with it. Maybe take it on it's maiden this weekend. I had to mute your video because your radio was driving me crazy.

[@airhammer6203]

Now that was different. Cool, but different. AirHammer out!!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Yeah man! Lots of fun with that thing.

[@vancestechcorner4532]

at 13:22 when you say there's a little bit of up the thermal was coming off the dark trees and slightly over your field mid field would drop Alt slightly up wind and maintain Alt down wind until far left over the trees again but over the field line revers if wind reverses

[@FASTFREDDIE-R.C.]

Not bad for your first time I think you might be ready for your first helicopter

[@RCVideoReviews]

LOL! I'm not making the connection...???

[@FASTFREDDIE-R.C.]

@@RCVideoReviews that’s because there isn’t lol

[@rcaviator8408]

Yes! He is now ready..... Lol

[@RCVideoReviews]

Freddie, I think it would be faster and easier for me to just light a couple hundred dollars on fire and record that.

[@FASTFREDDIE-R.C.]

@@RCVideoReviews you’d probably get more views from that video but I wouldn’t get as big of a laugh

[@deancooper5513]

they are a graceful glider, quite efficient and yet have a good turn of speed. Flaps definitely required to bring it in. Volantex make great gliders, I have the Phoenix 1600 and it's my absolute favourite as it will thermal and slope soar yet is very quick and aerobatic still, and on full throttle it will climb almost vertically. I refurb'ed my old balsa 2 channel 2 meter glider I built back in 1997 with 9gm servos and a 2212 EMAX motor and flew it yesterday....its going to be a great calm weather thermaller but it's nowhere near as smooth as these modern Volantex designs.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks Dean. I had a lot of fun flying this. I think it can easily be a "chill and fly" type of plane. I like it.

[@deancooper5513]

@@RCVideoReviews like others commented, these are great thermal hunters, try finding thermals without the vario by watching how the glider responds to lift and sink, also take cues from any birds that are seeking lift nearby too.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Roger that!

[@tnrcpilot6895]

Great video, looks and sounds like you where having a blast.. Do you have your battery readings? I would guess you can get very long flight times.. Just wondering about what you got on the battery..

[@RCVideoReviews]

Both times I came down at storage--~3.83/s. I was lucky. It's a very different experience flying these. I can imagine how peaceful it can be.

[@davidsmith5975]

If you want to control the sometimes annoying Vario beeping, add some logical switches so that the vario is only on when certain parameters are met. For example, vario is off when VSpd > 2m/sec, which would eliminate it going crazy when you are climbing under power. I also have two more logical switches to create a "dead band", so in relatively neutral lift (e.g. between -1.5 m/sec and +.6 m/sec for my scale sailplanes), the vario doesn't beep. When it's quiet, you know you're just generally cruising along at minimum sink rate. I also have the LS's linked to a three position physical switch so that I can have vario off, vario behaving as described above, or vario always on. Vario is a great thermalling tool, but it can drive you crazy :-) Enjoy your glider and that vario will help you have some great long thermalling flights!

[@RCVideoReviews]

That's an excellent tip, thanks for sharing. I have some radio work to do on the glider soon...

[@billdivine9501]

I have a Radian. Haven’t flown in years but similar to this, it never wanted to come down to land! So much fun, think I’ll buy one of these. Needs 6 ch. radio?

[@RCVideoReviews]

6 channel at least if you want to do all the fancy stuff with flaps/sport flaps/spoilers/crow etc.

[@winecountryrc2143]

Sweet glider. Let's see it with some L.E.D'S flying at night! WS2812, 5050 SMD W/ WS2811 IC Built in144 RGB LEDs per meter $20 on banggood. Runs on 5v. Thanks for the great videos!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks Manny. I may look into those LEDs.

[@Ayare4]

Where can I get the reviver battery and charger?

[@jeremyp9161]

How about a ts16 open tx snippet on flaperons set up using the radiothere are videos on this but they use companion I have a couple of large sailplanes without spoilers or flaps and sometimes its hard to get them on the ground thanks Jeremy

[@RCVideoReviews]

This is the same thing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml7Mk3ewpbVrraM Instead of up, go down. All the logic and mix info applies to flaperons.

[@davidpiper3652]

These powered 'gliders' are rigged for beginners, so they climb on power and wallow a bit on the glide, so it's useful to mix some elevator trim. I also mix rudder to aileron and have that switchable. You get used to beeping vario ...

[@RCVideoReviews]

Yeah, I can see a real use case for mixes on these planes. Much more so than on traditional sport/park flyers.

[@jeremyp9161]

Will the radiomaster ts16 work with the new frsky archer gr8 reciever with vario I just ordered my ts16 the open tx is a little scary so I will gratefully be watching all your videos

[@RCVideoReviews]

FrSky ACCESS devices do not work with the TX16s and I believe the GR8 is ACCESS.

[@ernestjesly]

what is the propulsion system used?

[@RCVideoReviews]

It's a PnP.

[@wadedittus3552]

I have only flown drones. I want to get in to winged. Is this a easy to learn?

[@RCVideoReviews]

Gliders do fly well because of light wing loading, but if you want to learn how to fly, I would take a look at the Crash Test Hobby Albatross: www.crashtesthobby.com/albatross-46.html

[@sladelefty]

I programmed the flaps to also go up and act like spoilers which works good to lose altitude.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Ya, I have spoilerons too. As I get more familiar with the plane's handling characteristics, I'm sure I'll start to use them to get down to the ground. Thanks for the tip!

[@johanopperman8039]

Hi John I bought e the G-RX8 reciever but cannot get it bind to my tx16s . I have to use the non EU firmware I think FCC. Living in South Africa Can you maybe give me a link of which firmware to use I have been on Frskys webpage but I don't know which one to download Please

[@RCVideoReviews]

Johan, Here is the link for all the FrSky firmware for this rx: www.frsky-rc.com/g-rx8/ This link is the latest 2.1.2 and it has both LBT (EU) and FCC (US) firmware inside: www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content/uploads/Downloads/Firmware/ACCST-2.1.x/FW-G-RX8_v2.1.2.zip

[@johanopperman8039]

@@RCVideoReviews ah thank you so much John. I really appreciate it 😊

[@robertomanzoni5204]

Is good only under engine power.on free flight is not efficent as multiplex

[@justvinno]

What is that tone sound thing mean?

[@RCVideoReviews]

It’s a Vario. It indicates the rate of change in altitude.

[@StrangerInAStrange]

The higher pitched bip-bip-bip-bip indicates climbing - either under power or hitting rising air (thermal). The low pitched boop-boop-boop-boop indicates descent.

[@nickhayley]

You hand throw this yourself at some point? These volantex gliders are easy as pie to hand chuck. Check out my Volantex Phoenix 2000mm videos for a different perspective. Nick

[@RCVideoReviews]

Not yet. I will be taking it out soon. When Chris launched it for me, I saw how easy it took off. It should be plenty easy as you say.

[@itzjoeylo4501]

Wait, spectrum didn’t work the first time. Noooo.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Hmm

[@digger0319]

Sieht der etwas mit dem Maulkorb über den Augen

[@RCVideoReviews]

I don't follow..?

[@srevinUreuqnoC]

The whole America is fighting China while the RC industry promotes all Chinese. I get weird vibes LOL.

[@RCVideoReviews]

That's what we're left with. It's all made in China.

[@srevinUreuqnoC]

@@RCVideoReviews I think our industry needs to start making RC stuff at affordable costs away from China. Otherwise if things go sideways, our industry will suffer quite harsh!

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@srevinUreuqnoC I have no argument with making things outside of China, but the reality of the world we live in at this moment in time is that China has what's called a comparative advantage in labor cost. So worldwide production of goods gravitates to China as labor is often the most expensive single component in production of goods. Until the other countries (BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India (China)) that can compete with China on labor costs add the infrastructure and business policies to compete with China, you need to embrace the reality that China will be manufacturing our products for a very long time to come. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

[@RCVideoReviews]

@Planet CEO They are exploiting a very significant advantage in the marketplace: Cheap labor. Until the next up and coming economy finds a way to beat China at this game, they're going to be a major producer of consumer goods.