We spent quite some time looking at this. We currently have 2xPawnee 235's
and a Super Cub 180. We also have a Falke 2000 motorglider. Normally we
only need on tug, except on busy periods when we occationally need two.
The motorglider is underutilised, so the idea of a motorglider that can
tow seemed attractive.

To keep operations simple, we assumed that one of our Pawnees would be
servicable, so that the Motorglider could tow single seaters (which is
usually the cause of our peak demand), and therefore the utilisation of
the motorised fleet would increase and we would need one less aircraft.

Initially we evaliated the 100hp fixed pitch Rotax Falke. It did tow, but
seemed a bit marginal from our operation. Also it needed careful
management of the engine temperature to avoid long term issues.

Then we looked at the Grob 109 Turbo. This gives about 130hp for the
initial takeoff and was substantially better than the Falke whilst still
delivering economy which was more than two times better than the Pawnee. I
would say that it was the best we looked at and also better than the super
dimona, which we also studied briefly.

In the UK a G109T has been towing from a grass strip for almost two years
now, towing a variety of single and two seat gliders (including duo's
etc) and has very few problems, I understand.

The concept is certainly worth considering. In the meantime, we continue
to watch developments, as well as plans to re-engine Pawnees with 230hp
Diesel Engines.

Craig Lowrie, UK

At 17:28 08 March 2009, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Mar 8, 10:03=A0am, Brad wrote:
I know this has come up before in RAS. But thought I would bring up
the subject again.

For a club looking at long term projections, which at some point will
include either sticking a "new" engine on a Pawnee or getting rid of
it, does it make sense to start evaluating getting a 2 place
motorglider to serve as a tug and also as a touring/training tool?

Can a MG tug pull a loaded 2 place Blanik on a standard day at SL,
from a 1800' grass strip? Or perhaps such a tug could be used to tow
the members single place ships, and the heavier/ 2-place ships stow
behind the clubs remaining pawnee?

We are blessed with 3 towplanes in our club, there are upcoming
factors that will/are causing us to look at several different
scenarios and am wondering if tossing a MG into the mix might be one
such solution.

Brad

You don't say what type of motorglider you are thinking of (seems even
sustainers count as motorgliders if you believe Soaring Magazine)

But having said that there is not one touring (i.e. non pylon style)
motorglider I can think of that I'd want to tow behind in any
sailplane, well certainly not a two place glider. A Kstana or
something with a big engine might be able to tow a light glider but it
is not going to touch a good Pawnee or simmilar and so what then you
are left with a not great tug and a not very good XC trainer (or XC
anything). But I don't understimate how the appeal of being flexible/
multi-purpose and doing something clever/different might just suck
people in...

As a self-launch motorglider owner in general I tend to think good XC
trainers do *not* have motors. Think Duo Discus or DG-1000S class two
seater. Motorgliders are compelx and expensive to operate and most
have more vices than a modern two-seater, so you are not going to let
newer pilots (the very ones you want to be encouraging to go XC) go
fly them solo etc. And if you only do dual in that glider and send
them solo in an a conventional glider you are sending the XC student/
mentoree a very bad signal.

Motorgliders can be great for some things, inluding orientatiion
flights, etc. but you can also do those in a two place power plane.

Darryl