wrote:

Yes, all that drag means you can't set records or even do most 300 km
flights without using the engine a little here and there. But (at least
out of Minden or Tonopah) if you're willing to use the engine 5-10
minutes per hour, you can do many x-country tasks that even an open
class ship couldn't. Admittedly, that's not "pure soaring", but it's
still a lot of fun -- at least for some of us. Hopefully soaring has
room for us too. In areas with less powerful thermals, the ability to
turn on the engine to get through sink (or non-lift) would seem even
more important.

They have other advantages:

- getting to wave upwind (especially 30 or more miles away) is easier
than a self-launching sailplane (SLS) due to the Dimona 100 knot vs 70
cruise of the SLS (think about the ground speeds into a 40 knot wind)
- idling the engine in the wave keeps the pilots warm and canopy frost free
- extended unassisted safaris (no crew or trailer) are easier because
there is actually baggage space, and you can cruise home easily if the
soaring is bad during the trip

As the owner of an SLS, I envy these traits of the "touring" motorglider.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA