In article , Fantsu
writes

"Ian Strachan" wrote in message
...
No, but some of the German manufacturers proposed 16 m, which was so
close to the 15m flapped ships already being built (like the Pik 15)
that IGC decided to stick with 15m.

Just a bit of nit-picking, but it was Pik-20. Pik-15 "Hinu" is a towing
plane...

You are quite right, thanks for the correction. I meant the Pik 15
metre (or Pik 20).

On the motor glider front, I flew a Pik20E for some years in the UK.. I
always thought the span a bit short for our weak conditions when
carrying the extra weight of a self-launching engine. I wrote to Pik in
Finland suggesting an 18m version. They did in fact produce a 17m
version, the Pik 30E, but once DG produced the DG400 it was the DG that
sold rather than the Pik 30. I liked the Pik engineering, though, it
was nice and simple (as much as it can be with a self-launcher).

--
Ian Strachan
Lasham, UK