On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 4:05:18 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 12:10:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:

How does 91.205 apply to self-launching gliders? Or to touring motor gliders?

They are registered as gliders?
Jim

My motor glider is registered as a glider, Jim. But 91.205 does not use the word 'glider' it refers to 'Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates'. I have a self launcher, so would argue that although my glider is an aircraft, and is powered, the power is incidental to the flight, so its not a 'powered aircraft' as the FAA would define it. See also the FAA definition of a glider at the start of the FARs. I'm just guessing at the FAA's view here. But a touring motor glider might well be considered a 'powered aircraft' by the FAA, I'd guess, since its designed to cruise under power for a significant part of any flight.

Why does this question keep coming up on r.a.s.. A motorglider of any type is a *glider*. There is no mystery here.