Which sustainer system would you chose for your sailplane?

On Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 5:14:56 PM UTC-5, SF wrote:
How about a solid rocket JATO type unit for a sustainer.

I initially toyed with the idea of a single-use 3000 foot climb save-my-ass FES cost effectively powered by a boatload of alkaline D-cells. But I soon realized how much a FES would extend my range in routine use. That mountain ridge to the west that we rarely fly over because the cloudbase is rarely more than 500 feet higher? It takes hours to do an auto retrieve from the far side.

Why not go west, explore, use FES to get home if the cloudbase drops in the meantime. I want one.

This thread was originally about types of sustainer. Just a note, while the jet engines sound cool, they are effectively the same weight as a solo sustainer with the required fuel, they need a lot of fuel. and you cannot windmill them. For me a retractable small sustainer would be the best. Unfortunately the ASG-32 is the only such glider. Wish there was a single seat 18 meter with retractable electric sustainer.

For the cost I would get a self launcher vice a sustainer. I know the Lak 17 FES can launch but I think they were originally and maybe still calling it a sustainer. For that kind of money I would want the glider manufacture to endorse launch. I think the Mini Lak and the Silent endorse launch. I would hate to have over 100k in a glider and self launch and something go wrong and insurance not pay off because I was launching a sustainer. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I do like the ease of use of the FES and think its great

At 01:24 07 January 2016, Casey wrote:
For the cost I would get a self launcher vice a sustainer. I
know the Lak
=
17 FES can launch but I think they were originally and
maybe still calling
=
it a sustainer. For that kind of money I would want the
glider
manufacture=
to endorse launch. I think the Mini Lak and the Silent
endorse launch.
I=
would hate to have over 100k in a glider and self launch
and something go
=
wrong and insurance not pay off because I was launching a
sustainer.
Pleas=
e correct me if I'm wrong.

I do like the ease of use of the FES and think its great


It's quite simple: it's either a self launch sailplane or not:
look at the specifications.
Additionally you are mixing Ultralights (the Silent) with
conventional sailplanes (the LAK17B FES). My understanding
is that is NOT legal, in Europe, to self launch the LAK17BFES
(or indeed any other true "sustainer" sailplane). It's been
done of course but it makes no sense with an electric power
plant, what little battery power you started with has now
gone so you have no useful sustainer performance left. Why
would you even think that's a good idea?

The Silent Electro is a different (lighter) animal, designed as
a self launch. You could launch to a modest height and have
some sensible retrieve capability but you're sitting in a
fragile (compared to a modern sailplane) structu lower Va,
lower Vne etc. It's very nicely built and a joy to rig. It's not
much cheaper than a LAK17BFES......choices.

On Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 1:55:26 AM UTC-4, Luka Žnidarši� wrote:
Dear gliderpilots!

Manufacturers are not completely sure which is the way to go. So here you can vote for your favorite sustainer system:

http://www.front-electric-sustainer.com/voting.php

Thank you,

Luka

How about an electric powered shrouded fan that produces 50 lbs of thrust!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBkkJdwF2Lo

As a very proud of e very nice Lak17a, I asked Luka for the price of FES Retrofit.
Answer was quick, contact very nice.

Price was not.

I sold the Lak and bought an ASH25e.

Which sustainer system would you chose for your SAILPLANE?

Experience and skill.

If I wanted and aeroplane, I would have a ASH 31Mi or and Arcus M.

Fine if you want to never stretch the day, and enjoy landing in places
where unforeseen risks/hidden obstacles can cause expensive damage.

I have landed in more fields than I care to remember, and occasionally
beaten World Champions on competition tasks. I feel no shame in
knowing when the day is over and ending back at the field with an
intact ship ready for the next day.

Chacun a son gout.

At 15:37 11 January 2016, Justin Craig wrote:

Which sustainer system would you chose for your SAILPLANE?

Experience and skill.

If I wanted and aeroplane, I would have a ASH 31Mi or and Arcus M.

I wonder if nose cone in trailer has to be changed?

I think there is little doubt that the FES system has lower drag
(thus better performance) than a pylon mounted electric
motor. Pylons are weight and complication that the FES just
doesn't have. With the pylon stuck out and the engine not
running the drag will be much greater than a failed FES. Failed
pylon mounted engine/props also produce turbulence at the
elevator, masking feel, not a nice scenario.
Are there performance figures for pylon mounted electric
sustainers? Do such gliders exist?
I know it's not a correct comparison (as the props are so much
larger being self launchers) but with engine out and a
windmilling prop the 18m DG800B goes from 48:1 to 16:1; the
20m Antares20E goes from 55:1 to 30:1.
Anybody have figures for a failed FES? I'd guess the glide
angle would still be pretty good.
Dave Walsh