One of these or a dozen Challenge cars?

Honestly, I have no idea what this glider costs, good video.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/39325401

If you can figure out what that is, PM me. My father gave up gliding to fund my... Life, maybe I can help get him back into gliding now that he's retired.

that is pretty cool.

I don't know anything about these things and I am pretty sure it would be too heavy and defeat the purpose of being a glider but what if someone were to add a battery operated propeller for ascending while in the air. That seems like it would be pretty cool to extend the length of the flight and if the batter was dead who cares because it really is just a glider.

jonnyd330 said: I don't know anything about these things and I am pretty sure it would be too heavy and defeat the purpose of being a glider but what if someone were to add a battery operated propeller for ascending while in the air. That seems like it would be pretty cool to extend the length of the flight and if the batter was dead who cares because it really is just a glider.

Those already exist and are called motorgliders. A few model exist like this fancy model.

They are not very popular because the glider guys don't like the extra weight of the engine and the airplane guys don't like to sacrifice the cruise speed because of the long wings.

That Archaeopteryx is really nice, but at 78930$ (see price list) for the base model, I find it over-priced, even by Swiss standards.

Lovely video.

I wonder how much weight a brigs and stratton, a Carbon Fiber prop, and a couple gallons of fuel would add, and what that weight would do to its balance?

Run out of lift, or start fighting wind headed the wrong direction, push button propulsion would be nice.

either way, thats in-berking-credible!

That is a nice airplane

4cylndrfury wrote: I wonder how much weight a brigs and stratton, a Carbon Fiber prop, and a couple gallons of fuel would add, and what that weight would do to its balance? Run out of lift, or start fighting wind headed the wrong direction, push button propulsion would be nice. either way, thats in-berking-credible!

That combo would probably weigh half as much as this entire glider.

Mine weighs 421 lbs., but cost ~10% of that. Besides, I've got oxygen, a "pilot relief" system, it's warmer at altitude and a better L/D.

Those already exist and are called motorgliders. A few model exist like this fancy model.

Motorgliders are like motorsaliors, not very good motor boats, not great sail boats.

Add an engine to a high aspect sailplane and you've got something!

914Driver wrote: Mine weighs 421 lbs., but cost ~10% of that. Besides, I've got oxygen, a "pilot relief" system, it's warmer at altitude and a better L/D.

It looks really nice. What model is it? I wanted to say something Russian like an AC-4, but the low elevators show it isn't. But the shape looks relatively modern.

I'm no glider expert, UL's, are more my thing, but I always had a lot of curiosity for them.

914Driver wrote: Those already exist and are called motorgliders. A few model exist like this fancy model. Motorgliders are like motorsaliors, not very good motor boats, not great sail boats. Add an engine to a high aspect sailplane and you've got something!

Is that the one with the retractable engine?

fanfoy wrote:

914Driver wrote: Those already exist and are called motorgliders. A few model exist like this fancy model. Motorgliders are like motorsaliors, not very good motor boats, not great sail boats. Add an engine to a high aspect sailplane and you've got something!

Is that the one with the retractable engine?

It's one of many.

fanfoy wrote: It looks really nice. What model is it? I wanted to say something Russian like an AC-4, but the low elevators show it isn't. But the shape looks relatively modern.

It's a Glasflugel Libelle that's been modified. Libelles changed competitive soaring when they came out, a guy named Schuemann said "Cool ship, I can make it better".

He cut the nose off just forward of the wings and replaced it with a longer pointier one, also lowered the canopy. The wings have been reshaped with a shorter chord and more length. The wall behind the pilot has been removed so any air entering the fuselage exits out the drogue chute hole in the back (chute's been removed).

Mine is one of two. Libelle is a 34:1 ship, mine is 40:1. It's lighter than the newer 40:1s and will climb on a gnat's fart.

Yeah, I'm pretty happy.

Dan

Stock Libelle

914Driver wrote: Mine weighs 421 lbs., but cost ~10% of that. Besides, I've got oxygen, a "pilot relief" system, it's warmer at altitude and a better L/D.

That is sharp!

I have always been curious, (and if you do not mind answering); How much do they charge roughly for a tow/launch? I would think there are some variables in the cost?

Depends on where you go, a commercial gliderport is in the business to make money. I belong to a club. It cost $500 to join but with that you get all the instruction you'll ever need. This would include training for cross county flights and competition if so desired.

$15 for a tow to 1000 ft. $20 to 2000, $25 to 3000ft..

One member added it all up once he got his Cert, it was about $2500 to be a pilot. Some people learn faster than others and it's not a competition; go at your own pace. Kids seem to pick it up quick. It took me for frikkin ever because I'm left handed, you have to use your right hand on the stick. The spoilers (air brakes) are on the left side so you have to use your left hand for that.

In contrast, a Light Sport Pilot Certificate is for a powered craft, can't use anything over (I think) 140hp, can't fly at night, can't fly in clouds and that will cost about $9000.

Dan

http://www.adirondacksoaring.com/

Members' ships: http://www.adirondacksoaring.com/about-us-mainmenu-42/gliders-and-tow-planes-our-club-fleet/category/private-ships

Blanik L-23. We have two L-23s and two L-13s.

Duo Discus, you may remember this from the Thomas Crown Affair. 44:1 glide ratio.

Grob 103 two seat trainer. I like this one a lot. Comfy, reclined, lots of air, high performance.

Grob 102 Astir. Once you solo and appear to know what you're doing, you can borrow this.

Edit: You'll notice all of these are German or Czech. After WW2 Germans were not allowed to have powered aircraft so they really honed up the glider skills.

I have the "open cockpit version" of the glider in the original post:

I have never flown it though.