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#21
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
That is a curious statement. The Austro Wankel seems to be measurably more reliable than the Rotax as installed in the DG.
I will agree that tows are far more economical - provided you can get one. Of the four Great Basin soaring operations, 4 out of 4 experienced some period of reduced tow availability this year, a trend that is increasing. On Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 9:15:05 AM UTC-7, Dave Walsh wrote: I can't think of anything polite to say about Wankel engines... a vibration free engineers nightmare? If economics are at all an issue just buy a proper sailplane and get a tow: it's a FAR FAR cheaper way to fly. |
#22
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
Dave Walsh wrote on 9/16/2020 9:06 AM:
I can't think of anything polite to say about Wankel engines... a vibration free engineers nightmare? How is "vibration free" an "engineers nightmare"? It's certainly a pilots dream! After 200 engine hours spread over 25 years, I have not had a significant vibration induced problem! Try achieving that with a two stroke. Here's some actual comparisons: a while ago, I searched the postings on the Wankel powered Schleicher glider group for key words like "vibration", and also on the DG/Solo group. There were few to found for the Wankel engine, and they were a small minority of the issues discussed. The search of the DG/Solo group found a LOT "vibration" issues, and they were the big majority problems. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me) - "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation" https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1 |
#23
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
The Stemme /can/ be a touring motorglider if you want to fly it that
way.Â* I prefer to fly mine as a self launching glider with a rock solid, /certificated,/ engine for self retrieve.Â* It has /never/ failed to start.Â* Still, I don't take it anywhere that I can not land on a paved runway but, with 50:1 glide at a decent cruise speed, there are plenty of landing spots available. On 9/15/2020 4:06 PM, Mike Schumann wrote: On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 3:59:35 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote: Stemme. Except for acquisition cost... On 9/15/2020 12:34 PM, Dave Nadler wrote: On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 2:28:37 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote: Something thats available used this year maybe Not pie in the sky vaporware Perhaps 2G's 26? -- Dan, 5J For a Touring Motorglider, I vote for the Phoenix. -- Dan, 5J |
#24
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
Patti and I sat in a Taurus and, while we liked the idea, it was pretty
lightly built.Â* Plus it was too simple.Â* I'd go to sleep from not having to monitor any "systems".Â* Not like the spawn of a B-52 and an Abrams Tank. =-O And I won't have anything beyond a lawn mower or a chain saw with a two stroke engine. On 9/15/2020 8:50 PM, AS wrote: On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 4:59:35 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote: Stemme.Â* Except for acquisition cost... On 9/15/2020 12:34 PM, Dave Nadler wrote: On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 2:28:37 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote: Something thats available used this year maybe Not pie in the sky vaporware Perhaps 2G's 26? -- Dan, 5J What about the 'poor man's version' of the Stemme, the Pipistrel Taurus? I am not sure what the deal is reg. the Rotax 503, which according to the Rotax website is no longer in production but they are advertising an E-version. Side-by-sides rock! ;-) Uli 'AS' -- Dan, 5J |
#25
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
At 19:27 16 September 2020, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Dave Walsh wrote on 9/16/2020 9:06 AM: I can't think of anything polite to say about Wankel engines... a vibration free engineers nightmare? How is "vibration free" an "engineers nightmare"? It's certainly a pilots dream! After 200 engine hours spread over 25 years, I have not had a significant vibration induced problem! Try achieving that with a two stroke. Here's some actual comparisons: a while ago, I searched the postings on the Wankel powered Schleicher glider group for key words like "vibration", and also on the DG/Solo group. There were few to found for the Wankel engine, and they were a small minority of the issues discussed. The search of the DG/Solo group found a LOT "vibration" issues, and they were the big majority problems. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to me) My poor use of English, perhaps I should have said the Wankel is an engineering nightmare (without vibration problems)? Clearly some pilots have reliable Wankel engines; others are not so fortunate. Luckily we're in a democracy so we can choose which (unreliable) engine to buy. Current DG models have Solo not Rotax engines. I don't like any of them. There are some nice Japanese two strokes out there, just not in any sailplane. Despite the reported lack of vibration the bolts holding some Wankel engines together seem to have a habit of falling out? Assuming all motor-gliders are unreliable seems a safe bet. |
#26
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
We owned one for a couple of years.Â* It's very light and was a handful
at Moriarty during our windier months.Â* It will thermal and gain altitude, but not with a sailplane.Â* It's a great cruiser, capable of exceeding redline in level flight, so be careful with the throttle.Â* The Rotax ULS delivered 100 hp with no more than around 7 gallons/hour at max power, IIRC, and it cruise it burned under 4 gph.Â* Oh, and it has a ballistic parachute. On 9/16/2020 5:56 AM, wrote: Thoughts on the Pipistrel Sinus? -- Dan, 5J |
#27
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
Dave Walsh wrote on 9/16/2020 1:11 PM:
Despite the reported lack of vibration the bolts holding some Wankel engines together seem to have a habit of falling out? Assuming all motor-gliders are unreliable seems a safe bet. The 26E was not affected, so I am not an expert on it; however, my understanding is it's a bolt problem, not vibration related. Seriously, it has so little vibration, I can't imagine that it could break a bolt. Vibration is simply not an issue in our Wankel powered gliders. It is a bad bet to assume all motor-gliders are unreliable, when so many are quite good. I have had fewer lost soaring days because I couldn't self-launch than when I had to use tows, and I'm very glad to be a FORMER owner of towplane! It is not a good bet to assume the engine will start when it is your only chance of avoiding a crash. It's not just the engine that may malfunction, but the pilot might make a mistake. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me) - "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation" https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1 |
#28
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
The question comes down to what do you want, power-plane flying with some soaring ability or self-launch, self retrieve cross country sailplane? And how much money do you have?
For the latter mission, the ASH31 is right now a great glider. (Of course, my toy.) Strong climb performance -- I self-launch at Truckee, often 8000+ density altitude, with full water ballast, and no trouble. It has great cross country performance, keeping up well with 18m contest gliders. Its one limitation is not quite enough water ballast (legally), 10.8 lbs/sq foot. The 26 is a good substitute if you don't have lots of money. No 21 meter wings, top about 9.2 lbs, for much less money you lose a few MPH on your friend in a 31. The engine is very reliable. I would not choose it though if I routinely wanted to fly 100s of miles under power and occasionally soar a bit. John Cochrane BB |
#29
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
On Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 4:16:46 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
We owned one for a couple of years. It's very light and was a handful at Moriarty during our windier months. It will thermal and gain altitude, but not with a sailplane. It's a great cruiser, capable of exceeding redline in level flight, so be careful with the throttle. The Rotax ULS delivered 100 hp with no more than around 7 gallons/hour at max power, IIRC, and it cruise it burned under 4 gph. Oh, and it has a ballistic parachute. On 9/16/2020 5:56 AM, charles wrote: Thoughts on the Pipistrel Sinus? -- Dan, 5J I was thinking to use it as a long distance low cost/hr cruiser. Sort of like sailboat cruising. Not in a hurry to get where I'm going. What do you think about its thermaling ability? Do you agree that visibility in, say, 45 degree banked turns is terrible? or is it like, say a Cessna 152 (not great but not terrible)? I wouldn't be soaring it with other gliders in gaggles or such. Just cruise-thermaling to save fuel. Was also thinking to use it to teach off-field landing approaches at various clubs around the US. Glide ratio appears to vary depending on config. 30:1 is advertised but tech data shows 27:1 for one model and 23:1 for the heavier model: https://www.pipistrel-usa.com/sinus/ Ben |
#30
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Best Overall Motorglider available today?
On 9/16/2020 5:56 AM, charles wrote:
Thoughts on the Pipistrel Sinus? Glide ratio appears to vary depending on config. 30:1 is advertised but tech data shows 27:1 for one model and 23:1 for the heavier model: https://www.pipistrel-usa.com/sinus/ Ben My flights in a Pipistrel Sinus showed that in a 45-degree bank, the sink rate is quite dramatic, and it takes strong thermals to soar effectively. I enjoyed giving rides to power pilots in which we'd fly around for awhile in airplane ,mode; then I'd stop the engine and feather the prop, and let the airplane pilot glide to a landing (they always handed it back to me at pattern altitude). Lots of fun, but not a "sailplane" in the XC sense. I can't imagine flying it in weak conditions. Dan J |
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