Kirk Stant wrote:

Eric,

Sorry, no disrespect intended, in your case the N number absolutely
makes it real. I have no problem with a registered glider flown by a
licenced pilot, which is obviously what you are - and from what I've
read it sounds like you are having a lot of fun.

I don't own one, but I have flown one a couple of times, and have talked
with a couple of the owners quite bit.

My fear if for the
unlicenced pilot flying an unregistered (or deregistered?)
Sparrowhawk. That is a dangerous situation, in my opinion.

Not if the pilot is competent, of course, but I think I know what you
mean: potentially, the pilot might be untrained and outside the usual
network of oversight, such as biennials. Windward Performance knows
this, and if you look at their website, you will see that they don't
push this aspect of the glider. Windward Performance wants this to be a
successful glider, and crashes are bad news.

Push the
Sparrowhawk as a 1-26 replacement - or the saviour of fun soaring in
the US, fine, go for it!; sell it as an ultralight that "anybody" can
fly is scary!

As I said, they don't do this. Remember that Greg Cole, the designer,
makes his living designing real aircraft (e.g., he was the principal
engineer on Lancair's certified Columbia 300 and currently consults for
Adam Aircraft). It's my understanding every current customer will be a
licensed glider pilot by the time they take delivery (most of them were
before they ordered one, anyway).

Practically speaking, it's expensive enough that it's very unlikely that
an inexperienced person is going to by one, anyway.

And sure, the manufacturer can insist on training, but
what happens when that Sparrowhawk is resold? Off comes the
N-number...

If someone wants to fly, say, a 1-26 without a license or training,
there is little to stop them. Buy one, take it to dry lake, and car tow
it. Determined ignorance, stupidity, or arrogance can easily work
outside the system.

I guess I should shut up until I've been able to put my grubby little
paws on a real live Sparrowhawk. Or better yet a Duckhawk - can't
wait to fly against one of those and see if it is really a
breakthrough concept! Time - and a few competitions - will tell!

I'm waiting until they have a chance to put that motor in the SparrowHawk...

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA