RE: pilot weight and gliding

[John Lee]

Goneill wrote
>As a single seater consider the Lak 12 ,a bear to rig
>if you >don't have the
>rigging gear but is a huge cockpit and
>a max placarded weight 140kg - 150kg without tailballast.and
>>50/1 ld

I would guess you do not have much experience/knowledge
of the LAK 12. It is not 'a bear to rig', just very
heavy like all gliders of it's type; the cockpit is
in fact small, both in length and height, and it is
not as wide as it looks due to the intrusion of the
undercarriage and flap rods. Anybody who reaches the
max cockpit load is likely to be very uncomfortable.
It also has no facility for tailballast.

In answer to john's original question; look at say
std cirrus or nimbus 2. Iwould think the limiting issue
is likely to be maximum cockpit load rather than your
height or other dimension

[goneill]

I have tried both the Lak 12 and the Nimbus 2 and found the nimbus seatpan
is narrow on the hips and I need the
buckles that secure the straps to the anchor points on longer loops to stop
them digging a hole in my sides
The lak is shaped differently and I have more room on egress and ingress.
The levers seem to be in a different position in relation to my body so is
easier for me. At my best weight when I played icehockey I am 105kg(230lb)
1.83m (6ft) so any glider is a squirm to fit in.
My reference to tail ballast in the lak is a chunk of lead bolted to the
vertical spar.
I know Lak 12 owners are touchy re any adverse comment and I actually rate
it better handling/performance than a nimbus 2 and is a top contender for my
next ship but the 4 piece wing of the nimbus 2 is a big drawcard.
The comment about a bear to rig a lak 12 was with the comment "without
rigging gear" they are no different if you have the equipment.

"John Lee" > wrote in message
...
> Goneill wrote
> >As a single seater consider the Lak 12 ,a bear to rig
> >if you >don't have the
> >rigging gear but is a huge cockpit and
> >a max placarded weight 140kg - 150kg without tailballast.and
> >>50/1 ld
>
> I would guess you do not have much experience/knowledge
> of the LAK 12. It is not 'a bear to rig', just very
> heavy like all gliders of it's type; the cockpit is
> in fact small, both in length and height, and it is
> not as wide as it looks due to the intrusion of the
> undercarriage and flap rods. Anybody who reaches the
> max cockpit load is likely to be very uncomfortable.
> It also has no facility for tailballast.
>
> In answer to john's original question; look at say
> std cirrus or nimbus 2. Iwould think the limiting issue
> is likely to be maximum cockpit load rather than your
> height or other dimension
>
>
>

[BPattonsoa]

Just two letters: MG

[time2fly]

He must fly with very light clothing. Maximum cockpit load for my PW-5 is 110kg (242lb).

"Bill Thar" > wrote in message ...
> It may come as a surprise, but the PW-5 has a very roomy cockpit. We have a
> co-owner that is 6ft 4in and 240lbs who fits very comfortable in the PW-5.
> And it trims very nicely with tail ballast.
>
> G8
>
> "goneill" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have tried both the Lak 12 and the Nimbus 2 and found the nimbus seatpan
> > is narrow on the hips and I need the
> > buckles that secure the straps to the anchor points on longer loops to
> stop
> > them digging a hole in my sides
> > The lak is shaped differently and I have more room on egress and ingress.
> > The levers seem to be in a different position in relation to my body so
> is
> > easier for me. At my best weight when I played icehockey I am 105kg(230lb)
> > 1.83m (6ft) so any glider is a squirm to fit in.
> > My reference to tail ballast in the lak is a chunk of lead bolted to the
> > vertical spar.
> > I know Lak 12 owners are touchy re any adverse comment and I actually rate
> > it better handling/performance than a nimbus 2 and is a top contender for
> my
> > next ship but the 4 piece wing of the nimbus 2 is a big drawcard.
> > The comment about a bear to rig a lak 12 was with the comment "without
> > rigging gear" they are no different if you have the equipment.
> >
> > "John Lee" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Goneill wrote
> > > >As a single seater consider the Lak 12 ,a bear to rig
> > > >if you >don't have the
> > > >rigging gear but is a huge cockpit and
> > > >a max placarded weight 140kg - 150kg without tailballast.and
> > > >>50/1 ld
> > >
> > > I would guess you do not have much experience/knowledge
> > > of the LAK 12. It is not 'a bear to rig', just very
> > > heavy like all gliders of it's type; the cockpit is
> > > in fact small, both in length and height, and it is
> > > not as wide as it looks due to the intrusion of the
> > > undercarriage and flap rods. Anybody who reaches the
> > > max cockpit load is likely to be very uncomfortable.
> > > It also has no facility for tailballast.
> > >
> > > In answer to john's original question; look at say
> > > std cirrus or nimbus 2. Iwould think the limiting issue
> > > is likely to be maximum cockpit load rather than your
> > > height or other dimension
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[JohnH]

JohnH wrote:
> time2fly wrote:
>
>> He must fly with very light clothing. Maximum cockpit load for my
>> PW-5 is 110kg (242lb).
>>
>> "Bill Thar" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> It may come as a surprise, but the PW-5 has a very roomy cockpit. We
>>> have a
>>> co-owner that is 6ft 4in and 240lbs who fits very comfortable in the
>>> PW-5.
>>> And it trims very nicely with tail ballast.
>
>
> Ok guys, I'm down to 218lbs from 232 and still on the decline. Thanks
> to Liam for ****ing me off :))
>
> Sometimes you have to get mad about something to accomplish anything :)
>
> I go up Saturday at 1pm for my first instruction...wish me luck :)
>
> john
> orlando fl
>

OK, I went up yesterday in a Grob 103, and at 6ft, 224 lbs (accurate
scale :), the cockpit was very comfortable with respect to dimensions.
The instructor did remove a weight ballast from the front seat.

So, I'll just keep shaving off the weight till I get to around 205 or so.

This is sure fun...I've got too many 'diversions' as it is :)

john
orlando fl