Electra Glide-in Blue II is an improved glider over my first plane of the same name (https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/HeICIE/Electra-Glide-in-Blue-EGB-FC1). This second version improves the original's glide-time by a factor of 3!

I redesigned it specifically for my "How Slow Can You Go?" contest (http://www.reddit.com/r/SimplePlanes/comments/306621/how_slow_can_you_go/). It doesn't fly near as well as my first attempt, but it's not designed to; I made it to glide for as long as possible. Given this, it still flies OK, it just takes a bit more effort. Be warned, it tends to fly in a parabolic trajectory, but the more level you get it before releasing the controls (part of the contest), the smaller the effect (this can be minimized by moving the front landing gear 1 "notch" towards the nose, but it won't glide as long).

This glider currently holds the contest's glide-time record (stays aloft for 32 minutes from 1 mile up).

Just like Electra Glide-in Blue, I have a few recommendations to help you get the most out of it, if you decide you want to try it:

* A few seconds after liftoff (it will take off itself at ~200 MPH), cut the throttle back to 85% and remember to retract the landing gear.
* Before releasing the engine (button 1), it helps to level the glider or you may stall (the glider will continue to climb as it looses speed and could begin a backslide; this is common in SimplePlanes and not unique to EGB-FCM1).
* During ascent, try not to apply any roll (EGB-FCM1 performs adequately with thrust applied, but really shines as a glider).
* If you need to bleed off a bunch of speed quickly (otherwise, it pops up like a cork), fully apply the air brakes (do this first!), then point the nose all the way down. Done right, your attitude will not change, but your speed will rapidly decrease.

If my glide-time record of 32 minutes is not beat within a few days, I may calculate the glide statistics, but for now, the glide ratio is approximately 24:1 (travels ~24 miles horizontally from 1 mile up).