Sailplane Buyer's Guide?

[Itsaplane[_2_]]

I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found are:
- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I sell some books (some inexpensive and some more expensive) which may be
useful.

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/SSA/SailplaneDirectory.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/Simons/Sailplanes-V1.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/Simons/Sailplanes-V2.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/Simons/Sailplanes-V3.htm

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books-subject.htm#Sailplanes

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Itsaplane" > wrote in message
...
> I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
> can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
> vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
> reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>
> The closest resources I've found are:
> - Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
> )
> - manufacture's websites
> - the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>
> but nothing really comprehensive.
>
> Anything I'm missing?
>
> Eric

[Christopher Hollywell]

Good point,

If you want to buy a car you can quickly compare performance, handling,
comfort, costs, reliability, many more people buying cars than gliders but
some objective comparisons would be useful


At 19:24 02 August 2009, Itsaplane wrote:
>I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
>can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
>vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
>reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>
>The closest resources I've found are:
>- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
>)
>- manufacture's websites
>- the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>
>but nothing really comprehensive.
>
>Anything I'm missing?
>
>Eric
>

[glidergeek]

On Aug 2, 12:24*pm, Itsaplane > wrote:
> I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
> can dream can't I?). *It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
> vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
> reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>
> The closest resources I've found are:
> - Sailplane Directoery (http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
> )
> - manufacture's websites
> - the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>
> but nothing really comprehensive.
>
> Anything I'm missing?
>
> Eric

Here you go http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/MnfList.cfm?MnfID=all
doesn't look like it been updated for a while but if you're looking fo
an older glider this might help.
Russ

[Darryl Ramm]

On Aug 2, 12:24*pm, Itsaplane > wrote:
> I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
> can dream can't I?). *It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
> vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
> reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>
> The closest resources I've found are:
> - Sailplane Directoery (http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
> )
> - manufacture's websites
> - the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>
> but nothing really comprehensive.
>
> Anything I'm missing?
>
> Eric

Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
practical options and moves you straight to...

Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29
Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
right)
Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
range will fit your flight profile).

You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.

Darryl

[BT]

SSA Soaring Sailplane Directory.. July 1997, well used, stays by my computer
as a ready reference.
There is also a CD of the directory.

BT


"Itsaplane" > wrote in message
...
> I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
> can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
> vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
> reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>
> The closest resources I've found are:
> - Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
> )
> - manufacture's websites
> - the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>
> but nothing really comprehensive.
>
> Anything I'm missing?
>
> Eric

[Guy[_7_]]

ETA
ETA
ETA

Just dreaming.\

Guy "DDS"

[Guy[_7_]]

Actually,

ETA.
Red trim.
Bright red corinthian leather interior.
Mirror tint to canopy.
Solar panels in fuse to supply avionics.
Full IFR with CleanNav.
Small frig to supply cool drinks during flight.
Pee system that does not contaminate airframe.
Cobra trailer with self rigging system.
Self launch system that is actually/really/confirmably/proven to be/
reliable without an hour of fussing before each flight.

My dream.

Guy "DDS"

[Larry[_5_]]

On Aug 2, 7:49*pm, Guy > wrote:
> Actually,
>
Derek Piggot's book "Gliding Safety" has a somewhat dated chapter on
the suitability of a number of gliders for pilots of various skill
levels.

If you do a search on this usenet for any specific glider you'll
typically find a number of opinions posted over the years. Things like
"pilot satisfaction scores, flight reviews, safety track record" seem
to be a standard part of the postings.

Larry

[Al[_7_]]

On Aug 2, 7:49*pm, Guy > wrote:
> Actually,
>
> ETA.
> Red trim.
> Bright red corinthian leather interior.
> Mirror tint to canopy.
> Solar panels in fuse to supply avionics.
> Full IFR with CleanNav.
> Small frig to supply cool drinks during flight.
> Pee system that does not contaminate airframe.
> Cobra trailer with self rigging system.
> Self launch system that is actually/really/confirmably/proven to be/
> reliable without an hour of fussing before each flight.
>
> My dream.
>
> Guy "DDS"

You gotta drill a lot more heads to get one of those Guy

Al

[Robert Frith]

The Johnson reports give a complete if not up to date review of some
"practical" sailplanes.

My Reality

Rob

At 07:25 03 August 2009, Al wrote:
>On Aug 2, 7:49=A0pm, Guy wrote:
>> Actually,
>>
>> ETA.
>> Red trim.
>> Bright red corinthian leather interior.
>> Mirror tint to canopy.
>> Solar panels in fuse to supply avionics.
>> Full IFR with CleanNav.
>> Small frig to supply cool drinks during flight.
>> Pee system that does not contaminate airframe.
>> Cobra trailer with self rigging system.
>> Self launch system that is actually/really/confirmably/proven to be/
>> reliable without an hour of fussing before each flight.
>>
>> My dream.
>>
>> Guy "DDS"
>
>You gotta drill a lot more heads to get one of those Guy
>
>Al
>

[TonyV[_2_]]

Guy wrote:
> Actually,
>
> ETA.
> Red trim.
> Bright red corinthian leather interior.


You, sir, have obviously never gotten into a car with leather seats
that's been sitting out in the summer sun for a while :-) . An
experience you're not likely to forget for a while.

Tony LS6-b "6N"

[Andreas Maurer]

On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:35:52 -0700 (PDT), Darryl Ramm
> wrote:

>Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
>practical options and moves you straight to...
>
>Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29
>Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
>right)
>Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
>Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
>range will fit your flight profile).
>
>You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
>hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.



.... not to mention the PW-5.


Andreas

Bye
Andreas

[Guy[_7_]]

Tony,
A believe an ETA comes with your choice of an umbrella girl or
umbrella boy as standard equipment. No worries.

Guy

[Darryl Ramm]

On Aug 5, 6:33*am, Andreas Maurer > wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:35:52 -0700 (PDT), Darryl Ramm
>
> > wrote:
> >Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
> >practical options and moves you straight to...
>
> >Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29
> >Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
> >right)
> >Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
> >Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
> >range will fit your flight profile).
>
> >You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
> >hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.
>
> ... not to mention the PW-5.
>
> Andreas
>
> Bye
> Andreas

Eric said he was dreaming, not having a nightmare about flying a
pregnant guppy. :-)

Darryl

[KevinFinke]

Best quote I ever heard about the PW5 came from Terry Delore...

"Flying a PW5 is like masturbating with a cheese grater- vaguely
amusing but mostly very unplesant." Terry Delore

[Darryl Ramm]

On Aug 5, 3:54*pm, KevinFinke > wrote:
> Best quote I ever heard about the PW5 came from Terry Delore...
>
> * * * * *"Flying a PW5 is like masturbating with a cheese grater- vaguely
> amusing but mostly very unplesant." Terry Delore

That may be more about Terry's personal experiments than we want to
know.

But now the secret is out everybody is going to want to try. I do hear
both Cumulus Soaring and Wings and Wheels will be stocking cheese
grater "pilot supplies". Lets hope for a detailed product comparison
web page from Paul Remde.


Darryl

[Al[_7_]]

On Aug 5, 6:33*am, Andreas Maurer > wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 19:35:52 -0700 (PDT), Darryl Ramm
>
> > wrote:
> >Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
> >practical options and moves you straight to...
>
> >Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29
> >Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
> >right)
> >Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
> >Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
> >range will fit your flight profile).
>
> >You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
> >hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.
>
> ... not to mention the PW-5.
>
> Andreas
>
> Bye
> Andreas

Oh no you didnt...WHY Andreas WHY!!

[Greg Arnold]

Darryl Ramm wrote:
> On Aug 2, 12:24 pm, Itsaplane > wrote:
>> I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
>> can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
>> vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
>> reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.
>>
>> The closest resources I've found are:
>> - Sailplane Directoery (http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
>> )
>> - manufacture's websites
>> - the occaisional Soaring magazine article
>>
>> but nothing really comprehensive.
>>
>> Anything I'm missing?
>>
>> Eric
>
> Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
> practical options and moves you straight to...
>
> Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29


The JS-1 seems to be doing pretty well. It just won the 18M Nationals
in the UK. I believe it has placed first in 5 of the 6 nationals it has
flown. Managed a 3rd in the other national.


> Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
> right)
> Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
> Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
> range will fit your flight profile).
>
> You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
> hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.
>
> Darryl
>
>