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Overview of the Mystique 2.9M glider, its quality, build ease, and value.
Guidance on the pre-built kit, electronics installation, and initial covering care.
Advice on careful building, avoiding damage, and specific techniques for linkages.
Recommendations for low-profile servos, linkage setup, and flap deflection limits.
Specific adjustments for control rod bends and linkage exit holes for flap/aileron.
Essential step to secure the elevator control rod to prevent high-speed dive issues.
Recommended transmitter settings for sport gliding, including flap and dual rates.
Recommendation for a forward CG position (100-110mm) for safer sport flying.
Guide to soldering Multiplex connectors for easier wing servo connections.
The Mystique 2.9M Glider is a high-quality, pre-built (ARF) sport glider designed for enthusiasts who appreciate a well-crafted and capable aircraft. It's an excellent value, offering performance comparable to more expensive gliders on the market. This glider is primarily intended for sport flying, thermal soaring, and general recreational use, providing a rewarding experience for pilots of varying skill levels, from those comfortable with basic glider operations to more advanced flyers.
The Mystique 2.9M Glider is an electric-powered sailplane, meaning it uses an electric motor for launching and gaining altitude, after which the motor is typically shut off, and the glider relies on aerodynamic lift and thermals for sustained flight. This "hotliner" style allows pilots to quickly reach soaring altitudes without the need for a winch or tow plane.
Its primary function is to provide an enjoyable and responsive flying experience. The glider is designed with a "full house" wing configuration, which means it has both ailerons and flaps on each wing. This advanced control surface setup allows for a wide range of flight maneuvers and enhanced control, particularly for thermal soaring and landing. Ailerons are used for roll control, enabling turns and banking. Flaps are crucial for increasing lift and drag, which is especially useful during launch to gain altitude quickly and during landing to slow the aircraft down for a controlled descent and precise touchdown. The ability to deploy flaps significantly improves the glider's versatility and ease of operation in various flight conditions.
The electric motor, typically a brushless outrunner, provides ample power for quick and efficient climbs. Once the desired altitude is reached, the motor is idled, and the folding prop collapses against the fuselage, minimizing drag and allowing the glider to transition smoothly into soaring flight. This design maximizes the glider's efficiency in unpowered flight, extending flight times and allowing pilots to effectively search for and utilize thermals.
The Mystique 2.9M is equipped with multiple servos to control its various surfaces: four for the wing (two ailerons, two flaps), and two for the tail (elevator and rudder). These servos translate commands from the pilot's transmitter into physical movements of the control surfaces, allowing for precise manipulation of the glider's attitude and trajectory. The receiver, connected to the servos, processes the radio signals, ensuring reliable control.
The glider's design emphasizes aerodynamic efficiency and stability. Its large wingspan (2.9 meters) contributes to its excellent soaring capabilities, allowing it to catch and ride thermals effectively. The overall structure is robust yet lightweight, contributing to its performance and durability.
The Mystique 2.9M Glider is largely pre-built, making the assembly process focused on installing the electronics and power system. This "Almost Ready to Fly" (ARF) format significantly reduces the build time compared to traditional kits, allowing pilots to get airborne faster.
One of the key usage features is its "full house" control setup. This allows for advanced flight modes and mixing capabilities on a compatible radio transmitter. For instance, a "camber" mix can be activated during thermal flight, where both ailerons and flaps are slightly deflected downwards to increase the wing's curvature, thereby increasing lift and improving the glider's ability to climb in thermals. Conversely, a "crow" mix (also known as butterfly or spoileron) is invaluable for landing. In crow mode, the flaps deploy downwards, and the ailerons deflect upwards, creating significant drag and allowing for very steep, controlled descents without gaining excessive speed. This enables precise spot landings, even in confined areas.
The recommended radio setup includes specific dual rates and exponential settings for ailerons, elevator, and rudder, allowing pilots to tailor the glider's responsiveness to their flying style. These settings ensure that the glider is not overly sensitive for sport flying, providing a smooth and predictable flight experience. Additionally, mixes like "coordinated turn" (aileron to rudder) simplify turns by automatically applying rudder input when ailerons are used, resulting in smoother, more efficient turns. A "down thrust" mix (throttle to elevator) helps to counteract the pitching moment caused by the motor's thrust, ensuring a straight climb.
The glider's large size, while contributing to its excellent flight characteristics, requires careful handling, especially when moving it through doorways. The wing's thin profile necessitates the use of low-profile servos to ensure proper fit and prevent binding of the control rods.
For convenience and reliability, optional Multiplex connectors can be installed for the wing servos. This allows for a single, secure connection per wing, simplifying setup at the field and reducing the chance of incorrect servo connections. These connectors can even be glued into the fuselage to enable automatic connection as the wing slides into place.
The Mystique 2.9M is designed to be flown in "AIRPLANE mode" on the transmitter for simpler programming, offering thermal, landing, and cruise modes. While a "speed" mode involving reflexing the wing (negative flap and aileron) is possible, it is noted that its effect might not be significantly noticeable for sport flying.
Maintaining the Mystique 2.9M Glider primarily involves routine checks and minor adjustments to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
One crucial maintenance aspect is the covering. Temperature changes can cause wrinkles in the covering material. Regular ironing with a covering iron and a cotton sock is recommended to keep the covering taut and smooth, which is important for maintaining aerodynamic efficiency and the glider's aesthetic appeal. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the covering during this process.
Before every flight, a critical maintenance step is to check and balance the Center of Gravity (CG). An incorrect CG can lead to unstable flight or even a crash. The manual provides a starting CG, but for sport gliding, a slightly more forward CG (100-110 mm aft of the trailing edge) is recommended for increased stability and easier handling. A balance machine is a valuable tool for accurately setting and checking the CG.
The control linkages, particularly for the ailerons and flaps, require careful installation and occasional inspection. The control rods should be bent precisely to avoid binding, and the servo arms should be positioned correctly. Any binding in the control system can lead to sluggish or unresponsive controls, which can be dangerous. The elevator control rod, specifically, requires a critical modification: it must be glued down inside the fuselage about 12 inches aft of the servos using epoxy and micro balloons. This prevents flex in the rod during high-speed flight, which could otherwise cause an unrecoverable dive. This is a vital preventative maintenance step that should not be skipped.
Regular inspection of all electronic components, including the motor, ESC, servos, receiver, and battery, is important. Checking for loose connections, damaged wires, or signs of wear on the servos ensures reliable operation. The ESC programming, particularly the "BRAKE ON [hard]" setting, should be verified to ensure the prop stops spinning at idle, reducing drag.
The folding prop and spinner assembly should also be checked periodically for any damage or wear. A damaged prop can cause vibrations and reduce efficiency.
When working on the glider, especially the wings, it's recommended to lay down thin foam or cloth on the workbench to prevent scoring or damaging the covering. This simple practice helps preserve the glider's finish.
Using canopy glue (not CA) for the flap and aileron linkage fairings allows for a more secure and flexible bond. Leaving a small "foot" at the base of these fairings when cutting them out provides a larger gluing surface, enhancing their durability.
Overall, the Mystique 2.9M Glider is designed for ease of use and enjoyment, with maintenance primarily focused on ensuring the integrity of its structure, the functionality of its control systems, and the accuracy of its setup for safe and optimal flight.
General| Product color | Red, White, Yellow |
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Weight and Dimensions| Width | 2900 mm |
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