If you want to build a glider, sure. There is the BG-12B, BG-12/16
(same wing, diff. fuselage), Woodstock, and maybe the Duster (I don't
know if plans are still available for the Duster). Possibly others.

Having owned a BG-12B (2 piece wing), and own a Slingsby T-31, if
properly cared for there is nothing wrong with wooden gliders. Of
course that could be said about any glider made from any material.
Yet I did not build any of my gliders, I bought them many years
later. The trouble with homebuilding is that unless you have real
determination, it typically takes 6-8 years.

As to weight, the 50 ft span BG-12 (and 12/16) is heavy because it is
braced for 12 Gs and uses a solid wood spar. On mine, I estimated the
wings to weigh over 200 lbs each. The fuselage, on the other hand,
was light enough that with some effort, it could be picked-up by one
person. The glider weighed about 645 lbs total. This is not
necessarily true of other wooden gliders because the then high-
performance, all-wood 1934 Bowlus-duPont Albatross had a 62 ft wing
yet the whole shootin' match weighed less than 400 lbs!

Now, having said all of that, you will not get a wooden glider of any
current design to equal the performance of a fiberglass ship. The
BG-12 was one of the highest performance wooden gliders ever designed,
and mine was measured by Paul Bikle to be 31:1 (Briegleb claimed
35:1). Also, experience needs to be considered, my BG-12 was my first
glider but it may not be a great choice for beginners because it is
flapped and flaps tend to scare some people (I love flaps).

I would say that if you and/or your son want to build a glider,
building a wooden one is a good choice. Personally I love flying
wood. I think it was Gren Siebels who lamented when he bought his
first fiberglass glider that he missed the smells of his old wooden
one. Still, if your son only wants to fly (not build), and
specifically wants to fly wood, buy him an existing glider. The
BG-12, Woodstock, Duster, Austria, and Ka-6 are all excellent choices--
but the BG, Austria, and K-6 may not be good choices for beginners.

Otherwise, get him a Schweizer 1-26 to start with. An excellent first
glider!


On Feb 4, 4:16*am, Stealth Pilot
wrote:
serious question.
in this day and age where the slippery glass reigns supreme are there
any wooden gliders actually worth building ?

if your son was on the way to a glider instructors rating, as mine is,
is there a wooden glider design that would be worth building ?
something with reasonable performance that would be a sheer pleasure
to fly.

something a dad could spring on the kid.

Stealth Pilot