Hi-start Towing an RC Glider With No Bungee or Help

I need more friends....

Scratch-built FT Simple Soarer. Mine was a little tail heavy. It was also my first proper RC plane (first one that didn't come with a dedicated controller).

Buying a ~$50 elastic cord for a $5 plane seemed a little unjustifiable, so I made due with what I had.

[FFNDN]

Awesome work! THAT--is 'how' R/C flying models, gliders & scratch built planes are DONE! You don't start off all 'perfect, smooth flying' & zooming around the way you ultimately wish: you engage a fair bit of trial & error, then modify & learn from mistakes.
Or use 'better materials & design adjustments.

I've not built the FLiteTest DTF planes, but I appreciate their principles. As yo noted, your plane was very slightly 'tail heavy'--likely only a centimeter or two...and you actually could hold another 10 - 18 grams of nose weight.

Your vertical tail fin seemed a bit small, or else you didn't have enough dihedral/polyhedral bend in your wings--that caused the yawing & rolling to either side, almost unpredictably.
Instead of a rectangular, simple shape wing, that design would benefit from having a swept L.E./leading edge & slightly narrowed wing tips--plus a hint of 'washout'/down twist on each.
That would act as added dihedral and reduce the stalling/'porpoising' coming from those tips catching all that lift.

I see you mentioned to the other poster that you added a motor: cool. However, if you were worried about buying those $50+ 'Hi-Start' kits sold online form hobby sources, you can always source good rubber tubing from hardware stores[..Home Despot, Lowe's...]

---and, if you find they are too $$$/per foot of rubber(..I think I investigated them & found that out!..), you can always make effective bungees using the elastic silicone rubber bands that come from yoga/exercise equipment 'Stretch Resistance' Bands. I find A LOT of these at thrift stores, like Goodwill...among their used sporting goods; different lengths and for only $2 - $5, depending upon how long/thick they are.

You just cut/pull off the foam handgrips & plastic doo-dads...unfurl the rubber & remove the knots = you've got great bungee rubber for a cheap Hi-Start!

Also...your release hook/pin shape & position could have been adjusted--so your plane wouldn't get caught up on the line near its release point at height. You caught some serious height--then lost it when the plane followed the line down!?!

Best wishes with whatever R/C projects you're pursuing now. But revisit gliders/soaring--it is thoroughly satisfying, sublime & creative!

[masbeetleboy]

I hope you rebuild your airplane and keep flying.