My September 2017 visit to GP Gliders

spent the marketing budget on big tents and models apparently

Uh we need photos of that as well...

How much will they be asking for the GP 15 JETA self launcher?

WH

Your question: How much will they be asking for the GP 15 JETA self launcher?

My answer: I may be the wrong person to answer, but I can tell you several facts about my purchase five months ago. The base price for the JETA was 93,900 USD.

This included the standard Galaxy BRS rescue system and the 25KW Rotex electric motor with MGM COMPRO speed controller. My trailer's base price was 14,900 USD. The trailer was optional; I heard from a fellow USA customer that he chose to go Cobra.

There are many options on both the glider and the trailer. I wanted to discuss avionics with them but now understand that it is too early to choose. My guess is that by the time I get to include the options, my JETA's price will be around 130,000 USD, or more (it will be fabric seats for me instead of leather) between now and then, there will likely be many changes to the options list. For example, the factory is trying to decide which way to go with the tail wheel: fixed, retractable, and/or steerable.

And what I really like is that the Technical Consultant wants maximum speed..

On YouTube you can google GP Gliders. As a future owner, my favorite video is the one with Sebastian Kawa talking about the GP-14 just before the 2017 WGC. Recognizing that he could win, I placed the order before the contest. And, he won.

Raul Boerner

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 3:29:13 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Your question: How much will they be asking for the GP 15 JETA self launcher?

My answer: I may be the wrong person to answer, but I can tell you several facts about my purchase five months ago. The base price for the JETA was 93,900 USD.

This included the standard Galaxy BRS rescue system and the 25KW Rotex electric motor with MGM COMPRO speed controller. My trailer's base price was 14,900 USD. The trailer was optional; I heard from a fellow USA customer that he chose to go Cobra.

There are many options on both the glider and the trailer. I wanted to discuss avionics with them but now understand that it is too early to choose. My guess is that by the time I get to include the options, my JETA's price will be around 130,000 USD, or more (it will be fabric seats for me instead of leather) between now and then, there will likely be many changes to the options list. For example, the factory is trying to decide which way to go with the tail wheel: fixed, retractable, and/or steerable.

And what I really like is that the Technical Consultant wants maximum speed.

On YouTube you can google GP Gliders. As a future owner, my favorite video is the one with Sebastian Kawa talking about the GP-14 just before the 2017 WGC. Recognizing that he could win, I placed the order before the contest. And, he won.

Raul Boerner

On the tailwheel thing: a steerable tailwheel is the best thing on a glider since sliced bread and flush toilets. Any glider, not just a self launcher..

Will the GP 14 Velo actually be legal to fly in FAI13.5m class in future?

Heard the GP14 and Lak's had to take out the battery's so could meet
35kg/m2 wing loading limit. So if FAI insist on FES for self launch and
35kg/m2 in 13.5 m class they are going to have a small pool of small
pilots who can compete in one legally.

Sorry having seen the GP15 at Aero not impressed - like the V3, and
SZD-56-2 they are built for the 'smaller guy'. I'll buy Schleichers or
Jonkers who design for the larger person, and still seem to have the
performance. FAI should outlaw this silly'small cockpit' practice.

On Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 5:30:06 PM UTC, Paul T wrote:
Will the GP 14 Velo actually be legal to fly in FAI13.5m class in future?

Heard the GP14 and Lak's had to take out the battery's so could meet
35kg/m2 wing loading limit. So if FAI insist on FES for self launch and
35kg/m2 in 13.5 m class they are going to have a small pool of small
pilots who can compete in one legally.

Sorry having seen the GP15 at Aero not impressed - like the V3, and
SZD-56-2 they are built for the 'smaller guy'. I'll buy Schleichers or
Jonkers who design for the larger person, and still seem to have the
performance. FAI should outlaw this silly'small cockpit' practice.

The large ("Performance") cockpit mock-up for the V3 at Aero was too small for you?? The V3, the GP 14 and the GP 15 will all come with 2 cockpit sizes - eventually.

Posted question: "Why would factory/sales reps not post pictures and information like this regularly is a mystery to me?"

"Mystery" is putting it kindly. You are being a gentleman.



In my younger days I worked for Beech Aircraft Corp. There were lots and lots of employees needing the factory to sell enough aircraft to keep them employed. Keeping the world up to date and interested was the job of the marketing department.

Frankly, I was unsuccessful at hearing or reading anything from the glider company representative. So, I called the factory direct. After talking with the CEO, I realized that he was focused on a passion, much like those of us on this forum. It made me want to meet him, and see where my money was going. So I went to Poland.

While visiting with CEO Jerzy Peszke, I could see his contagious zeal for making a crazy good glider. But, it seems as if someone forgot to keep us informed and comfortable. Other manufacturers appear to act the same.

Hopefully, Jerzy will keep putting up with my direct contact. But I prefer that he first make those changes suggested by Mr. Kawa. Then, I would like to learn about it.

The comment about telepathy, as a means for factory communications, made me chuckle. I'll take anything that keeps me up to date.

Raul Boerner

Raul,
Did you receive your Jeta yet?
As you mentioned, there is not much official news from the company.... At one point they announced that Kawa would compete at Ostrow in the GP-15, which was then quickly retracted. Do you know what was going on? Have there been made any changes to the Jeta as a result?
I’m quite enthusiastic about this glider, and I believe around 50 have been ordered. But it has been awfully quiet lately....

Marco

Marco,

The news that I have is that my glider, roughly SN 12-15ish, should be completed around late spring to early summer. Dave Nelson's might be in production right now, maybe. Tom Holloran is the by now not so new, USA representative; he is doing a great job and has been doing A LOT of work getting the FAA and Port Authorities, etc. ready. He and his wife are currently in Krakow, Poland visiting the factory, and he plans to make videos of his flights in the JETA and the VELO. I can't wait.

My wife and I were in Ostrow for the 2018 WGC; we went to do flight support for our friend and fellow club member Bif Huss and his wife Ceil. We wanted to touch the JETA and speak with Mr. Kawa. Like you said, the GP-15 was retracted from the contest. The reason makes huge sense; the glider had not finished its certification flight tests. The factory did not want to expose the prototype to the riggers of a world-class competition. Mr. Kawa had to switch back to his glider. He, too, did not want to compete in a glider that was not fully ready for prime time. As good a pilot as he is, he wants everything perfect. By the way, he is very particular.

Part of the delay in testing and production was due to changes that Mr. Kawa suggested; by the way, he is the factory's technical adviser. Those changes were 1) New design winglets, 2) Wing roots streamlined to the fuselage in the negative flap position, and 3) A change in the angle of incidence of the horizontal stabilizer. So when the top glider racer in the world wants something, he usually gets it. And, he wants speed.

Other recent changes include the steerable tail wheel and a cheaper way to charge the batteries while the glider is in its trailer.

Raul Boerner