Looking at an old Ercoupe today...

"Shirl" wrote

It can be very inexpensive - you can fly for hours on a $35 tow.

That's *if* you own your own sailplane.
Where I flew, it was $35 for the tow (minimum), plus $X/hr for rental of
the sailplane.

You're right, it depends on where you fly. I happen to own my sailplane,
but the club I'm in also owns 5 various single and 2-place ships and members
use them at no charge beyond annual dues. We also provide flight
instruction to club members at no charge. Dues in this club are $800 to
$1,300 a year depending on the type of membership you have.

You didn't say how much you paid for the 38:1 glass ship!

There are ships in this class with trailers for around $16k and up. Mine
was around $19k when I bought it a few years ago.

And it should be mentioned that taking it home with you in the trailer
vs. having a tiedown/hangar means having help and time to take the wings
off and put them back on each time. I've watched this...they don't go
together as quickly as Lego.

I made a one man rig for mine so that I can rig and de-rig it by myself in
about 30 minutes. Some days it takes 45 minutes and a few choice cuss
words.

They are unique and wonderful, quiet, less manic than airplanes. But
there is a downside (depending on how you view it). You can't just go to
the airport, gas up your plane, take off and go from Point-A to Point-B.
You need a way to be launched (towplane/auto tow/winch), at least one or
two other people not going with you to help launch you, and if there
isn't any lift, you won't be going far.

Yes, very true.

I wouldn't describe it as "very inexpensive", either! It can go either
way. Sometimes, "inexpensive" is hardly the case, with paying for the
tow and the minimum hourly rental for what ends up being a 20-minute
flight (approximate duration of a tow to 3000 feet with no lift). When
learning and doing several "pattern tows" in a row, it can get downright
expensive very quickly.

Yes, when you're depending on finding lift to stay up there are no
guarantees. However, you can and will increase the odds of your success
with experience and knowing when to launch and when not to. Still, there
are no guarantees since finding and successfully working lift is not as easy
as turning a key. But then, that's the fun of it!

Shirl (licensed in gliders before airplanes)

Hope you still get out to enjoy a glider flight once in awhile!

Bruce

Shirl:
Where I flew, it was $35 for the tow (minimum), plus $X/hr
for rental of the sailplane.

"BDS" wrote:
You're right, it depends on where you fly. I happen to own my sailplane,
but the club I'm in also owns 5 various single and 2-place ships and members
use them at no charge beyond annual dues. We also provide flight
instruction to club members at no charge. Dues in this club are $800 to
$1,300 a year depending on the type of membership you have.

I think more sailports operate as clubs now. The one I was at did not.
It was $35/tow (I think first 1000 feet?), plus so much per extra
thousand feet. Hourly sailplane rental was in addition to that. And we
did not get flight instruction at no charge -- it was $40/hr at the
time. NOTHING was free, nor did anyone expect it to be; but my point was
that it surely did add up fast unless you were lucky enough to get
something like 1.5 hrs from the first 1500-ft tow in a 1-26, which would
end up being under $60 total. But even on good days, it could take more
than one tow to get in a good flight.

You didn't say how much you paid for the 38:1 glass ship!

There are ships in this class with trailers for around $16k and up. Mine
was around $19k when I bought it a few years ago.

Okay...the glass ships I'd seen were in the $75K range, which to me
seems like a lot considering all the other stuff that is needed before
you even get in the air.

And it should be mentioned that taking it home with you in the trailer
vs. having a tiedown/hangar means having help and time to take the wings
off and put them back on each time. I've watched this...they don't go
together as quickly as Lego.

I made a one man rig for mine so that I can rig and de-rig it by myself in
about 30 minutes. Some days it takes 45 minutes and a few choice cuss
words.

:-) That's not bad. But it's still a consideration that people should
be aware of.

I wouldn't describe it as "very inexpensive", either! It can go either
way. Sometimes, "inexpensive" is hardly the case, with paying for the
tow and the minimum hourly rental for what ends up being a 20-minute
flight (approximate duration of a tow to 3000 feet with no lift). When
learning and doing several "pattern tows" in a row, it can get downright
expensive very quickly.

Yes, when you're depending on finding lift to stay up there are no
guarantees. However, you can and will increase the odds of your
success with experience and knowing when to launch and when not to.

Agreed. I was always amazed at how the "veterans" knew exactly when and
when NOT to go! I always wanted to fly in the morning, and they kept
telling me, "No, it's not 'puddin' yet!" (meaning it was too early in
the day to be "bubbling" up). Waiting an additional 20 minutes could
make all the difference in staying up for an hour or two or coming right
back down.

Still, there are no guarantees since finding and successfully
working lift is not as easy as turning a key. But then, that's
the fun of it!

I know! I agree. It's like a scavenger hunt, looking for something you
can't see, and you can't help but wear a huge smile when you find it! I
love it. It really is all about the enjoyment of flying, huh?

Shirl (licensed in gliders before airplanes)

Hope you still get out to enjoy a glider flight once in awhile!

Not as much as I'd like to. I'm a little spoiled by being able wake up
early and just go fly. Hard to stay motivated when you're out of the
habit of waiting around until 2:30 or 3:00 pm. But ... there's nothing
quite like those few seconds just after you release from the tow and it
gets so quiet and peaceful, being at 11,000 feet with the Vario still on
the rise, and ... no possibility of engine failure!
;-)

Shirl

On May 15, 11:54*am, Shirl wrote:

Not as much as I'd like to. I'm a little spoiled by being able wake up
early and just go fly. Hard to stay motivated when you're out of the
habit of waiting around until 2:30 or 3:00 pm. But ... there's nothing
quite like those few seconds just after you release from the tow and it
gets so quiet and peaceful, being at 11,000 feet with the Vario still on
the rise, and ... no possibility of engine failure!

Another big rush (And one that these stupid flying magazine "Glider ad
on " articles always miss), is flying XC in a sailplane. There is
nothing like being a hundred miles out in the early evening and its
just you, your ship, and the atmosphere. With everything else I have
done in aviation, XC Soaring is one of the most rewarding. My power
plane gathers dust during the soaring season. I would pay twice as
much as I do now to pursue the sport and it would still be worth it.
F. Baum
;-)

Shirl