Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?

To further elaborate with its low weight it could probably self launch

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 6:55:07 PM UTC-4, Kevin Christner wrote:
> To further elaborate with its low weight it could probably self launch

It already does in 13.5 m configuration, shortened wing tips and modified cone.

http://soaring.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/14358699_756821794458985_771461467721054993_n.jpg

Are these being produced / would it be possible with the 15m?

Stephanos glider, as I understand, can fly 13.5 or 15.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?

Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?

Il giorno mercoledì 19 ottobre 2016 05:27:35 UTC+2, Tony ha scritto:
> Stephanos glider, as I understand, can fly 13.5 or 15

for the moment at least, you need to have your own Diana2 and modify it. Alisport I think already modified two existing Dianas

Aldo Cernezzi
www.voloavela.it

Per Carlin wrote on 10/18/2016 11:15 PM:
> On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
>> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?
>
> Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?

Performance advantage over what? There are many higher performance
gliders than the Diana! ;^)

A Diana with an FES has a slightly lower gliding performance, but it's
performance by other measures is increased. It's self-retrieving
performance allows it to have good flights in marginal weather that
would have a standard Diana back on the ground in short order, and in
good weather, it let's a pilot practice fast flying more aggressively
than he would otherwise dare to.

And if it's self-launching, it's soaring performance from airports
without towplanes would be spectacularly better!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://si
tes.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

On Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 9:12:01 AM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Per Carlin wrote on 10/18/2016 11:15 PM:
> > On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
> >> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?
> >
> > Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?
>
> Performance advantage over what? There are many higher performance
> gliders than the Diana! ;^)

Not in the 15 m class.

>
> A Diana with an FES has a slightly lower gliding performance, but it's
> performance by other measures is increased. It's self-retrieving
> performance allows it to have good flights in marginal weather that
> would have a standard Diana back on the ground in short order, and in
> good weather, it let's a pilot practice fast flying more aggressively
> than he would otherwise dare to.
>
> And if it's self-launching, it's soaring performance from airports
> without towplanes would be spectacularly better!
>
> --
> Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
> email me)
> - "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
> https://si
> tes.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1
> - "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
>
> http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/Guide-to-transponders-in-sailplanes-2014A.pdf

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 2:15:27 AM UTC-4, Per Carlin wrote:
> On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
> > Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?
>
> Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?

So I can drive 20 minutes to an airport and self launch, rather than 2+ hours to a towplane.

Also, you can always take the FES nose cap off and put on a clean one if you thought you could win a national championship. I am unlikely to be there any time soon.

would be cool as long as you can keep it on the runway.

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 6:55:07 PM UTC-4, Kevin Christner wrote:
> To further elaborate with its low weight it could probably self launch

On Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 3:12:01 PM UTC+2, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Per Carlin wrote on 10/18/2016 11:15 PM:
> > On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
> >> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?
> >
> > Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?
>
> Performance advantage over what? There are many higher performance
> gliders than the Diana! ;^)
>

The Diana2 is solely built for high performance in competitions and they succeeded, for a period was it dominating the 15m class and still should if there were more of them in flying condition.
If you build a best in class glider for competition, why destroy the advantage by putting a drag inducing propeller in the nose? If you need a FES, go for a LAK 17, LAK19 of Discus2 or one of all those new UL. If you need best performance in the 15m class go for a Diana2, but don’t combine them.

There's no clear answer man. does a millionare who only drives in the city need a lambo? no. but he buys one anyway. not that kevin is a millionare... and not that a diana is the lambo of gliders... my point is, suppose the guy wants a diana and isn't a hardcore racer. suppose he also wants the flexibility of having a engine. he's only asking a hypothetical question...holy smokes i'm defending kevin X'D

anyway, you have to ask if a pilot's attitude changes when he has an engine.. People with engines tend to push and take more risks, and guess what? they don't land out all the time. that suggests that the majority of us are too conservative in our soaring techniques. tilo has also said the drag penalty of the FES is minimal. i think that taking a glider with a performance edge and adding an FES would be a tough one to beat. cant wait to see a V3 with one.

-Andy

On Friday, October 21, 2016 at 2:16:49 AM UTC-4, Per Carlin wrote:
> On Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 3:12:01 PM UTC+2, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> > Per Carlin wrote on 10/18/2016 11:15 PM:
> > > On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 12:46:41 AM UTC+2, Kevin Christner wrote:
> > >> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?
> > >
> > > Why spoil Dianas performace advantage with and FES?
> >
> > Performance advantage over what? There are many higher performance
> > gliders than the Diana! ;^)
> >
>
> The Diana2 is solely built for high performance in competitions and they succeeded, for a period was it dominating the 15m class and still should if there were more of them in flying condition.
> If you build a best in class glider for competition, why destroy the advantage by putting a drag inducing propeller in the nose? If you need a FES, go for a LAK 17, LAK19 of Discus2 or one of all those new UL. If you need best performance in the 15m class go for a Diana2, but don’t combine them.

According to posts on Facebook at least one Diana with FES is headed to Benalla. Perhaps reducing the risk of landing out in a known fragile glider is worth the performance reduction of the propellers, whatever that might be. At least one pilot thinks so.

BTW, the Diana 2 IS the Lambo of 15m gliders.

On Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8:23:42 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> BTW, the Diana 2 IS the Lambo of 15m gliders.

Good point. Many of us don't fit in Lamborghini cockpits either.
Jim

On 10/21/2016 10:37 PM, JS wrote:
> On Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8:23:42 PM UTC-7, wrote:
>> BTW, the Diana 2 IS the Lambo of 15m gliders.
> Good point. Many of us don't fit in Lamborghini cockpits either.
> Jim
You could remove the seat back in the Lambo... :-D
--
Dan, 5J

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 1:46:41 AM UTC+3, Kevin Christner wrote:
> Does anyone else think this would be an unbelievable combination?

There is one new model similar to Diana2 with incredible performance and weights which is getting to be introduced in spring 2017!
GP15 JETA Self-launch with 25kW top-retractable electric engine.

http://www.gpgliders.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/GP15E.pdf

Hi there,

I have good news for anyone who thinking seriously about Diana 2 FES.
This is ongoing project, which has been announced in Friedrichshafen Aeroexpo
couple of weeks ago by new manufacturer AVIONIC.
First self-launcher of Diana will be ready to fly next year (2018).
Keep eye on Diana 2 UK Agent website for any forthcoming news.
www.diana2sailplane.co.uk

I love the side stick...