Heavy pilot - what glider to opt for?

Good evening,

I need some assistance!

I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't really know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to go cross country in it.

The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably too heavy, but the question is what to go for.

I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

This comes up fairly often in this forum. Check the archives under "Large Pilot" or "Heavy Pilot". There ought to be lots of threads.

I fly a Kestrel 19. Large cockpit and good weight loading.
I'm 6'3", weigh 240 lbs and then wear a parachute. No problem!

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:16:56 PM UTC-7, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:
I fly a Kestrel 19. Large cockpit and good weight loading.

I'm 6'3", weigh 240 lbs and then wear a parachute. No problem!

I'm only 6'0" and under 15 stone, but I fit in a Jantar cockpit with lots of room to spare. Poles are not known for being a svelte people! The Genesis is probably the largest glider cockpit I have ever seen and you would certainly fit in it.

Mike

Problem is, I'm 2.5 stone heavier!

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 3:02:57 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Problem is, I'm 2.5 stone heavier!

We could apply the Monty Python Black Knight solution! That would solve both the weight and height problems!

Mike

At 19:17 30 October 2013, wrote:
Good evening,

I need some assistance!

I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't
really
know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to
go
cross country in it.

The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably
too heavy,
but the question is what to go for.

I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!


Astir should be fine for your height, I am not sure about its max
load though.
Regards
Wolf
http://youtube.com/user/WolfTheAviator

What's a "stone"?

Seriously, either a Mosquito or Mini Nimbus has a large cockpit and good
weight carrying capacity. You can find flight manuals online to check max
weight.


"Wolf Aviator" wrote in message
...
At 19:17 30 October 2013, wrote:
Good evening,

I need some assistance!

I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't
really
know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to
go
cross country in it.

The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably
too heavy,
but the question is what to go for.

I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!


Astir should be fine for your height, I am not sure about its max
load though.
Regards
Wolf
http://youtube.com/user/WolfTheAviator

Dan et al:
The stone is an old-fashioned unit of measure... Like cubits and spans, fathoms, furlongs per fortnight, etc.
Divide the stone by 14, only people with the same passport I have use that measure, to get pounds, which possibly only people with the same passport as yours use.
When did the 110kg max cockpit weight figure come into play? Pilots like Pete could search prior models to that date.
Jim

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 5:04:33 PM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
What's a "stone"?

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 9:24:41 PM UTC-6, JS wrote:
Dan et al:

The stone is an old-fashioned unit of measure... Like cubits and spans, fathoms, furlongs per fortnight, etc.

Divide the stone by 14, only people with the same passport I have use that measure, to get pounds, which possibly only people with the same passport as yours use.

When did the 110kg max cockpit weight figure come into play? Pilots like Pete could search prior models to that date.

Jim

110kg is the 'minimum' maximum that was defined under JAR22 (CS-22 since about 2003). There is nothing wrong with having a higher maximum seat pan limit as long as the belts and straps and their anchor points are designed for the higher limits along with the airframe.

Pre-JAR22 gliders, like the Open Cirrus, have payloads based on a max weight of the non-lifting parts, so payload can be a bit more generous with a simple panel and no O2. But they are a bit hard to find and aging, but kind of meet the stated goals of the OP. As mentioned before, the Genesis 2 has an excellent payload and large cockpit. However, it is aero tow only with no CG hook, which may be another limitation in the UK/Europe.

Frank Whiteley