Glider for heavy Pilot

[Hank Nixon]

We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
Ant experience out there?
Thx
UH

[Ed Gaddy[_3_]]

On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 9:55:24 AM UTC-4, Hank Nixon wrote:
> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> Ant experience out there?
> Thx
> UH
SGS 2-23, Front seat maybe, rear seat dual for sure.

[Ed Gaddy[_3_]]

On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 10:16:22 AM UTC-4, Ed Gaddy wrote:
> On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 9:55:24 AM UTC-4, Hank Nixon wrote:
> > We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> > Ant experience out there?
> > Thx
> > UH
> SGS 2-23, Front seat maybe, rear seat dual for sure.
Make that a 2-32

[Chris Behm]

On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 6:55:24 AM UTC-7, Hank Nixon wrote:
> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> Ant experience out there?
> Thx
> UH
UH-

I have been wondering if anyone in the past has modified a dual seat glider into a single seat for heavy pilots.
I would think it would be possible and an option, although getting it done and approved might be a bigger problem.
Doing this to a high performance 2 seat glider seems like it would be an attractive option for large and heavy glider pilots.

Regards,
Chris Behm

[Martin Gregorie[_6_]]

On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 12:32:55 -0700, Chris Behm wrote:

> On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 6:55:24 AM UTC-7, Hank Nixon wrote:
>> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross
>> weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits.
>> Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
>> Ant experience out there?
>> Thx UH
> UH-
>
> I have been wondering if anyone in the past has modified a dual seat
> glider into a single seat for heavy pilots.
> I would think it would be possible and an option, although getting it
> done and approved might be a bigger problem.
> Doing this to a high performance 2 seat glider seems like it would be an
> attractive option for large and heavy glider pilots.
>
Bear in mind that many (most) German gliders design straps and their
mount point requirements to match the maximum per-seat load, so adapting
a dual seat glider for a 200kg pilot would need cockpit structural
changes to (roughly double the max load on straps and their attachment
points as well as seating position changes to keep the CG within limits.

All in all, it sounds to me like a job needing the expertise of Bob K or
the Streifeneder team at Glasfaser.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

[Nicholas Kennedy]

280 is alot
Would a Grob Speed Astir or one of the Grob single seat models work?
My Grob Twin Astir had large seats....
Nick
T

[JAB]

On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 06:55:22 -0700 (PDT), Hank Nixon
> wrote:

>Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.

ASK21B - 286 lbs with parachute...Front seat single seated

[Frank Whiteley]

On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 6:04:26 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> 280 is alot
> Would a Grob Speed Astir or one of the Grob single seat models work?
> My Grob Twin Astir had large seats....
> Nick
> T
There are a few that would be within CG range, but very few that would allow that margin with non-lifting parts. Genesis 2 could probably be 'weighted' to work using the rear ballast weights and may still be in the non-lifting parts range. IIRC, Open Cirrus CG range is good to about 350lbs, but it would exceed the seat weight restraint limit of 242lbs, yet still be within the max dry weight and non-lifting parts range (551lbs) of 882lbs. BGA allows a LAK12 to put lead in the tail to allow 130kg in the cockpit, but the cockpit may be tight in other dimensions.

Frank

[[email protected]]

On Monday, March 22, 2021 at 2:55:24 AM UTC+13, Hank Nixon wrote:
> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> Ant experience out there?
> Thx
> UH

I know it is not a early solo glider but there have been a number of Nimbus 2 (A model, all flying tail,big cockpit)
advertised over the years in Europe with 130kg cockpit loads, my own nimbus, my engineer says that
136kg in cockpit would fit in the envelope + another 20kgs in the fuselage .
Straps and anchorages are the issue , depends on your local CAA FAA etc rules
Gary

[[email protected]]

I have flown a twin astir at max front seat weight ,
You run out of back stick to get speed down ,
NOT a glider to fly over max weight ,you run out of elevator
Gary


On Monday, March 22, 2021 at 1:04:26 PM UTC+13, wrote:
> 280 is alot
> Would a Grob Speed Astir or one of the Grob single seat models work?
> My Grob Twin Astir had large seats....
> Nick
> T

[Tango Whisky]

Tha Caproni Calif A21S will do that. No limits on the belts, just a max total cockpit load (typically around 400 lb). As it is a side-by-side, CoG is not an issue.

Le dimanche 21 mars 2021 Ã* 14:55:24 UTC+1, Hank Nixon a écritÂ*:
> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> Ant experience out there?
> Thx
> UH

[Frank Whiteley]

On Monday, March 22, 2021 at 2:29:22 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> I have flown a twin astir at max front seat weight ,
> You run out of back stick to get speed down ,
> NOT a glider to fly over max weight ,you run out of elevator
> Gary
I've heard a heavy pilot can fly it solo from the back seat. Should help with the elevator.

Frank

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 9:55:24 AM UTC-4, Hank Nixon wrote:
> We are looking at what gliders may be suitable for heavy pilots. Gross weight, max mass of non lifting components, and forward CG limits. Subject pilot weighs 280 lb.
> Any experience out there?
> Thx
> UH
I have no clue...but for others, decades ago I remember a "large pilot" that forced the front cockpit panels of a 2-33 against the rudder cables.
I usually flew with him due to my light weight. I believe we were within weight/CG limits.
Check ride required some "things" to allow slow flight stalls.

Tough for larger pilots (size and weight). Just throwing in cockpit panel deformation as regards to control cables as well as possible lack of back stick for flare. Maybe thin back cushions to allow full aft stick movement....best to check on ground!!!

[AS]

On Monday, March 22, 2021 at 10:07:42 AM UTC-4, Tango Whisky wrote:
> Tha Caproni Calif A21S will do that. No limits on the belts, just a max total cockpit load (typically around 400 lb). As it is a side-by-side, CoG is not an issue.

Not an issue is not quite true but it has far less of an influence when compared to a conventional tandem seat configuration. The seats are still a little bit ahead of the CoG.

Uli - Calif-wrangler
'AS'

[[email protected]]

I have an opportunity to buy a glider with a parachute, both of which are weight limited. That’s all the motivation I need ... diet started .... 40lbs to go!

[2G]

On Monday, March 22, 2021 at 3:07:11 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> I have an opportunity to buy a glider with a parachute, both of which are weight limited. That’s all the motivation I need ... diet started .... 40lbs to go!

Here a couple of possibilities:
1. Put him in a 2-seater solo.
2. Get a DG400 and remove the engine (this requires a new weight & balance and likely adding lead weight in the tail.

Tom