On Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 4:29:01 PM UTC-4, V1 wrote:
My question – do others have experience to share about their ability to
find thermals while a sustainer or self-launcher (either gas or electric)
was running?

Sure, but it depends a lot on the glider and power plant.
In Antares I normally reduce power just after take-off down to 400-500fpm climb.
When I feel the first thermal, I make a circle to be sure.
If pretty sure, bring the power all the way back but do not shut down.
If I'm climbing one turn, I retract motor.
Typical altitude about 1000 ft, for example:
https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2....Id=-1855578239
or a bit lower, with a brief boost after initial shutdown:
https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2....Id=-1769203627
Try this in most motor-gliders and you'll kill yourself.

In ArcusM it is more difficult to feel the thermal, but in any case one
needs to go much higher for a safer shut-down (typically climb to 2500ft).
A thermal helps here but you still have to do the cool-down cycle and
plummet-mode during retraction (sometimes takes a couple tries).
And because of the plummet factor your search area is severely restricted
by the need to be close-in for an emergency return on failure.

In my prior motorglider was really hard to feel the thermals, and again
being gas powered with severe plummet mode, had to always go a lot higher.

If electric has an advantage here, this could reduce the run-time needed
and conserve “fuel”.

Absolutely, but ONLY if:
- there is lift near the launch point, and
- traffic permits low-level thermalling (while always maintaining
a safe emergency return plan).

Hope that helps!
Best Regards, Dave