🚀 go-pugleaf

>>fhage@rap.ucar.edu (Frank Hage) writes:
>>>Make sure the on/off switch is nowhere
>>>near where your launch hand sits on the model. Always turn on the model
>>
>>And make sure that all ON is toward the tail!!! It feels wrong, but anything
>>that hits the switch in flight will be moving toward the tail and won't 
>>be able to turn it off in flight.
>>--

  >I disagree with you on a hand launched glider.  How many times have you been
>hit by something in flight that COULD have turned off the radio.  I tink it is
>best to have the switch ON in the forward position so if during lanuch you hit
>it, it will be turning it on.  Ever since I knocked my Segitta's radio off on
>launch, I flipped all my switches.  On powered planes, I set them the other
>way.

I would have to agree with this.  But, I would also add another possibility.
All my sailplanes and hand-launched powered planes (electrics) have the
switch mounted inside the fuselage.  On the sailplanes, I make the hatch
'quick-removable', and just open the hatch to flip the switch on/off.
This way, there's less drag, and no chance of fingers or ??? flipping
the switch unintentionally.

On my power planes, I still mount the switch inside, but I run a wire
to the outside to actuate the switch - this solves the problem of 
goo getting inside the switch mechanism.  On one plane, I rigged up
a tiny spring-loaded hatch to cover the switch - best of both
worlds.  The hinge was about 1/3 along the length of the hatch (about
1/2" by 1") and room was made under the 1/3 portion to be able to
press on it to open the other side.  (Does that make sense?)  It
was very clean and aerodynamic.  It was also a hassle to make, but
what can ya say?  I enjoy my building efforts.

  -swb- (Steve Bixby, sbixby@cup.portal.com)