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#11
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What First Glider to own?
"Sparkorama" wrote in message ... I'm getting back into the sport after a long hiatus and flying in the Boston area. I'll be putting some winter flying time in and I'm considering buying my first glider once I'm back to comfortable solos and my private license. (Naturally, I won't fly anything until I am competent and ready). Any suggestions on a first glider? Because of my price range, I realize I'll be looking at some older birds. I would say my preferences are as follows. Under 20k, easy to fly, easy to maintain and safe. Naturally, I'd like to see some decent glide performance, just thinking that some future performance would be good for keeping the plane for some time. (currently I'm considering an IS29D2 Lark) My club has competent instructors and the following fleet (winter flying in only the 2-33): 1 Puchacz (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, aerobatic) 3 Blanik L-23 (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, sightseeing) 1 Blanik L-33 solo (single place, 30/1 performance; cross-country, sightseeing) 1 Schweitzer 1-34 (single place, 34/1 performance) 1 Pilatus B-4 (single place, 35/1 performance; cross-country, aerobatic) 1 Schweizer 2-33A (two place, 23/1 performance; trainer) 1 Schweizer 1-26E (single place, 23/1 performance; aerobatic) Your thoughts would be appreciated. -- Sparkorama I started out with a Ka-6. The controls are well coordinated, has adequate performance for cross-country flight and are inexpensive. http://www.soaridaho.com/photogallery/valley/Ka-6E.jpg Wayne http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder |
#12
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What First Glider to own?
On Dec 2, 2:05*pm, Sparkorama
wrote: Your thoughts would be appreciated. Cheap, Fast, Good: Pick two. But no need to rush. You'll get to see a lot of equipment and get to know the owners at GBSC. -Evan Ludeman / T8 |
#13
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What First Glider to own?
On Dec 2, 2:05*pm, Sparkorama
wrote: I'm getting back into the sport after a long hiatus and flying in the Boston area. I'll be putting some winter flying time in and I'm considering buying my first glider once I'm back to comfortable solos and my private license. (Naturally, I won't fly anything until I am competent and ready). Any suggestions on a first glider? Because of my price range, I realize I'll be looking at some older birds. I would say my preferences are as follows. Under 20k, easy to fly, easy to maintain and safe. Naturally, I'd like to see some decent glide performance, just thinking that some future performance would be good for keeping the plane for some time. *(currently I'm considering an IS29D2 Lark) My club has competent instructors and the following fleet (winter flying in only the 2-33): 1 Puchacz (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, aerobatic) 3 Blanik L-23 (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, sightseeing) 1 Blanik L-33 solo (single place, 30/1 performance; cross-country, sightseeing) 1 Schweitzer 1-34 (single place, 34/1 performance) 1 Pilatus B-4 (single place, 35/1 performance; cross-country, aerobatic) 1 Schweizer 2-33A (two place, 23/1 performance; trainer) 1 Schweizer 1-26E (single place, 23/1 performance; aerobatic) Your thoughts would be appreciated. -- Sparkorama Sparky, A few years ago I made a quasi-scientific weighted chart to determine the best glider to buy, and in your price range it's a Libelle. Very good value, light and easy to rig. Might give it a look. |
#14
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What First Glider to own?
My club has competent instructors and the following fleet (winter flying
in only the 2-33): 1 Puchacz (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, aerobatic) 3 Blanik L-23 (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, sightseeing) 1 Blanik L-33 solo (single place, 30/1 performance; cross-country, sightseeing) 1 Schweitzer 1-34 (single place, 34/1 performance) 1 Pilatus B-4 (single place, 35/1 performance; cross-country, aerobatic) 1 Schweizer 2-33A (two place, 23/1 performance; trainer) 1 Schweizer 1-26E (single place, 23/1 performance; aerobatic) Your thoughts would be appreciated. What everyone else said, but with the caveat that you should spend the next season flying all the good equipment in your club, and then you will be infinitely better informed. Also, If you fly less than 30 hrs in the next year, you should consider the old saying "If it floats, flies or _____, RENT, don't own! aerodyne |
#16
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What First Glider to own?
Plenty of advice, not many real suggestions.
A Libelle was mentioned, beautiful glider, Glasflugel workmanship and design, easiest ever to rig, slightly tight cockpit if you are well fed, brakes not the best, need getting used to. ASW15, same performance as Libelle, bigger cockpit, better brakes, not quite so easy to rig. Std Cirrus, elevator very light, apart from that very good. ASW 19/Pegase better performance than those above, excellent gliders. If you can find one at your price, a Discus in a Cobra trailer. Almost as easy to rig as the Libelle, excellent performance (43), good cockpit, quite good brakes, very easy to fly, I think some clubs used them as first solo when they came out, but could be wrong on that. If you get ambitious, they will carry lots of water. BTW Mike, I had a Jantar 19 for 15 years or so, and rigged it single handed, (preference not necessity) unless it was windy, with 3 trestles and two dollies. Basically you won't go far wrong with any European series production glass glider, so get the best you can afford. I can't comment on those made in the USA, as I know nothing about them. However general advice would be initially, stick to 15 metres and no flaps. Dave At 19:05 02 December 2010, Sparkorama wrote: I'm getting back into the sport after a long hiatus and flying in the Boston area. I'll be putting some winter flying time in and I'm considering buying my first glider once I'm back to comfortable solos and my private license. (Naturally, I won't fly anything until I am competent and ready). Any suggestions on a first glider? Because of my price range, I realize I'll be looking at some older birds. I would say my preferences are as follows. Under 20k, easy to fly, easy to maintain and safe. Naturally, I'd like to see some decent glide performance, just thinking that some future performance would be good for keeping the plane for some time. (currently I'm considering an IS29D2 Lark) My club has competent instructors and the following fleet (winter flying in only the 2-33): 1 Puchacz (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, aerobatic) 3 Blanik L-23 (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, sightseeing) 1 Blanik L-33 solo (single place, 30/1 performance; cross-country, sightseeing) 1 Schweitzer 1-34 (single place, 34/1 performance) 1 Pilatus B-4 (single place, 35/1 performance; cross-country, aerobatic) 1 Schweizer 2-33A (two place, 23/1 performance; trainer) 1 Schweizer 1-26E (single place, 23/1 performance; aerobatic) Your thoughts would be appreciated. -- Sparkorama |
#17
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What First Glider to own?
Bucks for glide angle - Discus
Good handling qualities - Discus Easy to rig- Discus Good spares availability -Discus If however you are looking for a pretty glider, with excellent performance, excellent handling qualities, and are strong enough to rig it: ASW17. Don't let the flaps put you off, the handling is simplicity in itself and it does what it says on the tin. Bucks for glide angle, nothing comes anywhere near :-) At 06:33 03 December 2010, BruceGreeff wrote: We could have a new acronym for this - There is no substitute for owning your own glider = TINSFOYOG, not exactly catchy. But true. It matters a lot less how good the performance is of the glider - than that you have access to something you can explore in whenever madame opportunity winks at you. Look at how much fun Tony Condon has had with a Cherokee. I know that my own flying was transformed by getting into a Std Cirrus partnership. That was probably the best way to do it. A partner who disliked the handling on the Cirrus but paid half the costs and gladly did maintenance because he enjoys it. So 100% access to fly, and lots of help along the way. No more club haggling to fly on the good days, no more insurance issues (it costs but on your own terms) Bruce On 2010/12/03 6:44 AM, wrote: My club has competent instructors and the following fleet (winter flying in only the 2-33): 1 Puchacz (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, aerobatic) 3 Blanik L-23 (two place, 30/1 performance; advanced trainer, sightseeing) 1 Blanik L-33 solo (single place, 30/1 performance; cross-country, sightseeing) 1 Schweitzer 1-34 (single place, 34/1 performance) 1 Pilatus B-4 (single place, 35/1 performance; cross-country, aerobatic) 1 Schweizer 2-33A (two place, 23/1 performance; trainer) 1 Schweizer 1-26E (single place, 23/1 performance; aerobatic) Your thoughts would be appreciated. What everyone else said, but with the caveat that you should spend the next season flying all the good equipment in your club, and then you will be infinitely better informed. Also, If you fly less than 30 hrs in the next year, you should consider the old saying "If it floats, flies or _____, RENT, don't own! aerodyne -- Bruce Greeff T59D #1771 & Std Cirrus #57 |
#18
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What First Glider to own?
On Dec 3, 5:16*am, Don Johnstone wrote:
Bucks for glide angle *- Discus Good handling qualities - Discus Easy to rig- Discus Good spares availability -Discus I have never seen a Discus for under 20K. of course 20K would make a good partnership interest if thats what he's into |
#19
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What First Glider to own?
"David Salmon" wrote in message ... Plenty of advice, not many real suggestions. A Libelle was mentioned, beautiful glider, Glasflugel workmanship and design, easiest ever to rig, slightly tight cockpit if you are well fed, brakes not the best, need getting used to. All the above is true. Unfortunately the non-hinged canopy on the older Libelles makes it difficult, perhaps impossible, for you button yourself up into your own glider without help. Depending on where you launch from, this may or may not be a problem for you. Vaughn |
#20
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What First Glider to own?
I second the ASW 15 suggestion. Pros - They can be had for much less
than 20K, have good (but not great) performance. Easy to rig. My wings go on much easier than most gliders I've seen. Roomy/comfortable cockpit. Cons - Check the cockpit payload on any you might look at. If you're above average size you might be over max gross. The B model has a higher max gross. Canopy does not have a hinge, it comes off completely. Its a minor annoyance. Controls are not auto hook ups. For some that's a deal breaker. I don't see it as a big thing. Safety them, check them and check them again. Some have an off center tow hook that can be an issue in a crosswind takeoff. Mine has a more forward centerline release. They have an all-flying tail that some people seem to not like. I don't know why. From what I've read, twitchy pitch control on all flying tails is mostly a myth. There may be some issue at high speeds but I rarely go more than 75-80 kts (like I said - good but not great performance) I can't tell the difference but I've never flown any other glass single seat glider. Reading the above it may seem like more cons than pros but the cons are mostly non-issues, in my opinion. Of course, its a biased opinion since a 15 is what I own. In the "bang for the buck" category the ASW 15 and Libelle are hard to beat. If you have another $5-10K or go partners the possibilities really open up. |
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