Freinds,
Yes, I miss typed and it is 11 meters but it acts more like a 13M
with its 36 to 1 glide ratio. I would keep the sparrowhawk if I
could figure out how to loose more weight. Yes I have tried and tried
but there just is not much left of me to loose at 6'4" with very
broad shoulders and a high stress medical job. I am big guy with a
long torso and I do not fit into most sailplanes to start with. The
reason I just loved the Sparrowhawk in the first place was the great
cockpit fit with lots of shoulder room. I will always be over gross
or at least pushing the limits in its current configuration. At
240lbs, I am a little too heavy for the Sparrowhawk to fly under gross
and in the proper CG for good performance. If I happened to weigh
200lbs, I would keep the SH in a second because of the sheer fun it is
too fly. I am thinking of looking at a SZD 55-1 or a 59-1 which have
a higher gross and a tail ballast option. I have to admit that any
other sailplane I might buy will not be as maneuverable or as fun to
doodle around in as the Sparrowhawk as it will be a downgrade from
what I have. I will also miss not having the BRS option available.
If you have ever considered buying a fun to fly sailplane, and happen
to weigh in the 200lbs range, this a a rare opportunity for pure
sailplane fun at a much cheaper price. I love the design and
engineering of the Sparrowhawk and feel Greg Cole is a brilliant
designer. I think of the SH is like a modern 1-26 but with a lot
better performance, agility and safety. Those that fly and race the
1-26 have a different mindset and have a blast doing it. I will
probably look at the 15m Duckhawk when it gets released with its 200
knot VNE and 50 to 1 glide ratio.