Jetfire Twin Packs

Jetfire Twin Packs hand-launched glider (Pelikan)

This is a hand-launched glider, that is, a small unpowered glider released by hand. According to its name it comes as a twin pack, which is useful if you want to fly with someone else or to have a spare straight away. It is not a plastic model to be glued and painted for a display case, nor a radio-controlled model: the point is to fly. The span, the material used and the exact degree of assembly are given on the packaging.

How a hand-launched glider flies

A hand-launched glider has no engine and no controls. The whole flight is decided by the trim of the aircraft and by the way it is released: the glider is thrown upward at an angle, goes into a glide and comes down smoothly. The duration of the flight depends on the trim, on the launch angle and on the weather; in calm air in the morning or toward evening a hand-launched glider flies far better than in the gusts of the daytime. Simplicity is exactly its strength: nothing is charged, nothing is paired, and a meadow or a playing field is all you need to fly.

Flying and maintenance tips

• Fly in an open space with no trees and no wires; over a hard surface the model wears faster
• Try a gentler level throw first and watch whether the glider climbs or drops on its nose
• Adjust the trim in small steps, as even a slight change in balance alters the flight path noticeably
• In wind, fly into the wind and the model will come back closer to you
• After landing, check the leading edges and treat any scuffs with a glue suitable for the material

Who the hand-launched glider is for

It suits children under adult supervision and adults alike as undemanding afternoon flying in a meadow, and equally as a first acquaintance with how an aircraft behaves in the air before moving on to radio-controlled models. Thanks to the twin pack it is a practical choice for a trip or for siblings.

This is a flying model, not a collectible plastic model. Check the exact contents of the package, the material and the recommended age against the information on the packaging.