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| Fuselage Material type Another simple criterion for classifying gliders is fuselage material. Experienced pilots know that Whitewings fuselages come in two varieties: balsa and fiber (paper). The biggest difference between balsa and fiber fuselages is in assembly time. Balsa gliders go together in much less time because the fuselage is a single piece of wood instead of several pieces of paper. Fiber bodies typically require cutting, which also adds to assembly time. For this reason, balsa planes are more popular with beginners. On the other hand, most advanced Whitewings pilots would say that fiber-bodied models perform better. Why? Well, as you know, tuning your plane precisely is the name of the game when shooting for great flight times. The all-fiber body is sturdy (and in fact heavier than the balsa body) and yet pliable, which means you can actually adjust your fuselage along with the wings. Balsa doesn't bend at all, so any compensation for small imperfections in the wood begins and ends with wing adjustment, which sometimes means compromising the aerodynamics of your plane. While balsa-bodied planes are common in most kits, you have to look harder to find the all-fiber planes. Examples include Racers 519, 520 and 525 from the Classic AG031, as well as the six Tri-Linear Models included in the AG731 Red Tips and AG732 High Tech Kits. |
