In article ,
(Michael) wrote:

Bruce Hoult wrote
You don't call the Janus "even vaguely high performance"?

Every rule like that has the odd exception, and in this case the Janus
is it. Maybe you can find one or two more. Doesn't change the fact
that the vast majority of even vaguely high performance gliders have a
Vne in excess of 120 kt.

Most, yes. But you said that having a sport pilot ticket prevents you
from EVER flying anything even vaguely high peformance. It only takes
one example to disprove that claim.

Oh, and here's another one: Std Libelle, 38:1 and Vne 115 knots.

And another: Std Cirrus, still quite a weapon when full of water: Vne
119 knots.

Open Cirrus: Vne 119 knots.

ASW15 -- the glider used by Reichman as his running example: Vne 119
knots.

SZD51 "Junior": Vne 119 knots

H301 Libelle: Vne 108 knots


I expect I could find more. But the point is made.


it's
roughly comparable to the modern Duo Discus and DG1000 in performance,
and certainly will **** all over a Grob 102 or 103 or ASK21.

Not arguing the point - but all the gliders you mention have a Vne in
excess of 120 kt. Which is really my point - it makes a lot of sense
to build a glider as an LSA and bypass FAA certification - the 120 kt
Vne is not particularly a handicap in that regard, as the Janus
proves, and the advantages of building to industry standards rather
than dealing with FAA engineering are huge.

True.


On the other hand, the
sport pilot ticket makes no sense in terms of flying existing gliders
- sure, you could fly the Janus - but not most other comparable
gliders.

You'd be restricted in your choice, for sure, but you'd certainly have a
pretty good choice of still quite nice gliders, certainly more than
adequate for getting a full set of diamonds.

You wouldn't be allowed to fly a PW-5 though. Vne 121 knots.

It all depends on how much harder it is to get the PP-G. If there isn't
much difference then there is little point in stopping at sport pilot,
but saying that sport pilots have no decent choices available is simply
incorrect.

-- Bruce