Kirk Stant wrote:
(Bob Kuykendall) wrote in message
. com...


Kirk, have you ever actually handled one of those things?


No, unfortunately I havn't, so my opinion is worth precisely what you
paid for it! I am obviously making an assumption, and I hope I'm
proven wrong, by the way, as the Sparrowhawk looks like a nice little
glider, but my real concern is triggered by the emphasis on the
"ultralight" aspect, which obviously drives the 155lb (!) weight of
the glider - I can't help but wonder where the weight has been saved.
By the VNE and G limits, it seems to have faily strong wings, so I'm
guessing the fuselage is a real eggshell...

It's light but strong, and the wing spars are fabricated before
installation. The weight isn't saved so much as _avoided_ by using an 11
meter span, a lower Vne (123 knots) than higher wing loading gliders,
fixed gear, no flaps, and pre-preg carbon fiber construction instead of
wet lay-up. There is some weight savings from using a few custom items
like the towhook.


And I truly hope that an "ultralight" Sparrowhawk (i.e. no N number)
never shows up in the hands of an untrained, unlicenced non-pilot,
because I think that is a sure way to kill or injure someone, real
quick!

Has anyone out there actually touched and/or flown a Sparrowhawk?
How about an eyewitness report - I havn't eaten any crow in a
while...

I wrote two articles for Soaring, one on the design and construction
(Jan 2001 - also available on their website), and one on flying it (July
2002). Number 10 is due to be delivered this month, so there are a
number flying, and you are probably aware of Gary Osoba's World records
set with the glider.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA