Soaring in an Airplane (Katana DA-C1)

[Mark James Boyd]

It seems that FAI sporting code section 3
definition 1.0.5 is very liberal in its
definition of a motor glider

"Motor glider - A fixed wing aerodyne equipped
with means of propulsion (MoP) capable
of sustaining soaring flight without thrust
from the means of propulsion"

So it seems that even a 737 can be considered
a motor glider if one can find enough lift
to provide "sustained soaring flight" without
the MoP.

Even more interesting, it seems that an ASEL
pilot (without a glider license and without a
self-launch endorsement) could get badges and
set records in something like a Katana
(14:1 glide, best glide around 70 knots).
Of course the lift would need to be quite
strong (I'm guessing min sink is 250-300 fpm)
but mtn wave is a likely candidate.

I once soared a Katana DA-C1 in Reno wave this way,
quite accidentally, with the engine at idle.
Hmmm...with an engine noise level GPS Volklogger,
perhaps I could stop the prop instead, and
use the DA-C1 to get an altitude part of a badge?

Can anyone see any reason a DA-C1 airplane could
not be used for soaring badges and records, assuming
the engine and prop were stopped? :-) Sure
beats three rope breaks on tow ;-)

[Tom Serkowski]

I know a pilot who got his 5 hour duration on a Cessna 180 back in the
1960's. He has over 150 hours enging off time flying in the Sierra
wave. One thing he found was that after a couple hours of cold
soaking the engine, it just wouldn't start. So he also had quite a
few dead-stick landings :)

The barograph was attached to the firewall behind the instrument panel
and provided a good indication of engine on/off.

-Tom

[Robert Ehrlich]

Mark James Boyd wrote:
> ...
> Can anyone see any reason a DA-C1 airplane could
> not be used for soaring badges and records, assuming
> the engine and prop were stopped? :-) Sure
> beats three rope breaks on tow ;-)

I don't know for the US, but in France the regulation
doesn't allow a pilot flying an aircraft registered as an
airplane rather than a (motor)glider to stop the engine
in flight. And of course the pilot should hold an airplane
license.

[BTIZ]

we've got a picture around here of a Piper Tomahawk wave soaring with the
prop stopped.. about 8000MSL in at Jean NV,

BT

"Mark James Boyd" > wrote in message
news:3fbc9259$1@darkstar...
> It seems that FAI sporting code section 3
> definition 1.0.5 is very liberal in its
> definition of a motor glider
>
> "Motor glider - A fixed wing aerodyne equipped
> with means of propulsion (MoP) capable
> of sustaining soaring flight without thrust
> from the means of propulsion"
>
> So it seems that even a 737 can be considered
> a motor glider if one can find enough lift
> to provide "sustained soaring flight" without
> the MoP.
>
> Even more interesting, it seems that an ASEL
> pilot (without a glider license and without a
> self-launch endorsement) could get badges and
> set records in something like a Katana
> (14:1 glide, best glide around 70 knots).
> Of course the lift would need to be quite
> strong (I'm guessing min sink is 250-300 fpm)
> but mtn wave is a likely candidate.
>
> I once soared a Katana DA-C1 in Reno wave this way,
> quite accidentally, with the engine at idle.
> Hmmm...with an engine noise level GPS Volklogger,
> perhaps I could stop the prop instead, and
> use the DA-C1 to get an altitude part of a badge?
>
> Can anyone see any reason a DA-C1 airplane could
> not be used for soaring badges and records, assuming
> the engine and prop were stopped? :-) Sure
> beats three rope breaks on tow ;-)

[Buck Wild]

I stopped the prop on a Pawnee at 8000 in sierra rotor, and climbed to
14,500
at an average of 1500fpm one day. Outclimbed several gliders who
weren't quite in it, much to their suprise.
Can I get some kinda badge for that?

-Dan

[BTIZ]

Silver Altitude?

"Buck Wild" > wrote in message
om...
> I stopped the prop on a Pawnee at 8000 in sierra rotor, and climbed to
> 14,500
> at an average of 1500fpm one day. Outclimbed several gliders who
> weren't quite in it, much to their suprise.
> Can I get some kinda badge for that?
>
> -Dan