Heavy pilot - what glider to opt for?

....Has anyone considered putting down that Twinkie?


"son_of_flubber" wrote in message
...
Why are recreational glider cockpits so small? If someone built a glider
with a 25% larger cockpit, would it hurt the L/D that much?

Are all high performance gliders built for racing and by consequence make
the sport unattractive for larger people?

How many people retire from gliding because they no longer fit in their
gliders? How many never try the sport because they find the cockpit
claustrophobic and uncomfortable? How many teenagers solo only to grow
too big to fit in a glider?

If Eastern Europeans grow larger over time, will glider cockpits get
bigger?

If the sport offered an extra large cockpit, would it increase
participation levels?

Has anyone modified a two place glider to accommodate an extra large
pilot?

On 4/3/2014 8:33 PM, Dan Marotta wrote:
...Has anyone considered putting down that Twinkie?

Yes! 20-some years ago when I became serious about learning to fly
gliders, I also got looking at seat weight limits in gliders. What I
saw was motivating enough for me to drop 30 pounds. Those pounds are
still off today.

I'll take motivation wherever I can find it.

Vaughn

My weight has varied from 200 to 240. My Pilatus has a 240 lb limit, but it is tight on my shoulders as the cockpit isn't wide. But it works and is a good beginner ship. Th SZD 51 Junior is also friendly to big and tall.

Neither are great shakes at cross country, but you can get it done, it just takes a while, but both are also good east coast ships and climb well...

Not about twinkies for some of us. Some of us spend too much time in the weight room.

E