How To - Simple Bungee Launch Set-up

Introduction

Several have asked how I launch my wings and the answer varies depending on the wing, the weather and the location. One method I use and really like is this simple launch set-up which, so far, has worked flawlessly. I previously used a ramp with a launch trigger but I found that carrying this extra gear around was a pain I then saw a fellow RCG poster do it this simple way and gave it a try.

The Gear

The gear is simple enough:

12' (3.5m) braided poly chord

33' (10m) HobbyKing Red 6mm Bungee Chord

1-1/2" (40mm) Key ring

A stake to pound into the ground

The Hook

The hook can be simple and it must be pretty small. Below is a picture of the hook on my C1 Chaser wing which is very low profile:

This style of hook will work on just about any airframe and for this type of launch it should be well ahead of the CG. In the case of the C1, it is about two thirds the distance to the nose.

Layout and My Method

The layout is simple, put the stake in the ground and make sure you have 75' (23m) of flat, level space to launch into the wind.

My Method:

• Set your FC to a stabilized flight mode with about 20% up elevator (I program a switch for this)
• Have your transmitter on a neck strap so you can use both hands for the launch
• Hook the key ring to the launch hook and walk 20 paces or more. 20 paces is perfect for my ~1kg C1 wing
• Make sure the bungee is pulling the plane into the wind
• Hold the plane at eye level pointed up just slightly and let it go
• As soon as the plane is clear of the chord, throttle up and fly!

Video Sample

Here is one of my first videos:

Enjoy!

See Also

TBA