Sailplane Buyer's Guide?

I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

Hi,

I sell some books (some inexpensive and some more expensive) which may be
useful.

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books...eDirectory.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books...lplanes-V1.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books...lplanes-V2.htm
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books...lplanes-V3.htm

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books...htm#Sailplanes

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"Itsaplane" wrote in message
...
I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

Good point,

If you want to buy a car you can quickly compare performance, handling,
comfort, costs, reliability, many more people buying cars than gliders but
some objective comparisons would be useful


At 19:24 02 August 2009, Itsaplane wrote:
I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

On Aug 2, 12:24*pm, Itsaplane wrote:
I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). *It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery (http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

Here you go http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/MnfList.cfm?MnfID=all
doesn't look like it been updated for a while but if you're looking fo
an older glider this might help.
Russ

On Aug 2, 12:24*pm, Itsaplane wrote:
I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). *It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery (http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

Gee Eric if it is dreaming, that's easy. Dreaming cuts out all the
practical options and moves you straight to...

Single Seat: Schleicher ASG-29
Two Seater: Shempp-Hirth Arcus (I'm willing to bet they get this
right)
Open Class: Schleicher ASH-30/30Mi
Motorglider: Schleicher ASH-31Mi or Antares 20E (if the 20E climb/
range will fit your flight profile).

You are unlikely to find any disagreement on these on r.a.s., and the
hardest problem should be picking the panel layouts and trim colors.

Darryl

SSA Soaring Sailplane Directory.. July 1997, well used, stays by my computer
as a ready reference.
There is also a CD of the directory.

BT


"Itsaplane" wrote in message
...
I've often found myself wishing for a Sailplane Buyer's Guide (hey, I
can dream can't I?). It would compare manufactures, models, flapped
vs. non-flapped, comparitive polars, pilot satisfaction scores, flight
reviews, safety track record, etc., etc.

The closest resources I've found a
- Sailplane Directoery ( http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ndxtype.htm#D
)
- manufacture's websites
- the occaisional Soaring magazine article

but nothing really comprehensive.

Anything I'm missing?

Eric

ETA
ETA
ETA

Just dreaming.\

Guy "DDS"

Actually,

ETA.
Red trim.
Bright red corinthian leather interior.
Mirror tint to canopy.
Solar panels in fuse to supply avionics.
Full IFR with CleanNav.
Small frig to supply cool drinks during flight.
Pee system that does not contaminate airframe.
Cobra trailer with self rigging system.
Self launch system that is actually/really/confirmably/proven to be/
reliable without an hour of fussing before each flight.

My dream.

Guy "DDS"

On Aug 2, 7:49*pm, Guy wrote:
Actually,

Derek Piggot's book "Gliding Safety" has a somewhat dated chapter on
the suitability of a number of gliders for pilots of various skill
levels.

If you do a search on this usenet for any specific glider you'll
typically find a number of opinions posted over the years. Things like
"pilot satisfaction scores, flight reviews, safety track record" seem
to be a standard part of the postings.

Larry

On Aug 2, 7:49*pm, Guy wrote:
Actually,

ETA.
Red trim.
Bright red corinthian leather interior.
Mirror tint to canopy.
Solar panels in fuse to supply avionics.
Full IFR with CleanNav.
Small frig to supply cool drinks during flight.
Pee system that does not contaminate airframe.
Cobra trailer with self rigging system.
Self launch system that is actually/really/confirmably/proven to be/
reliable without an hour of fussing before each flight.

My dream.

Guy "DDS"

You gotta drill a lot more heads to get one of those Guy

Al