A friend and I have each have one on order with the plan to start a small
club in the San Francisco Bay area.We are hoping that we can get insurance
once a few are flying and some actual data can be given to the insurance
companies. We are working with Costello on this, which deals with AIG, so
who knows what the future holds. My guess is it will be another year or so
but this is a wild guess.

We both flew the jet version last month when we visited the factory and
were extremely impressed with not only the simplicity and coolness of the
jet but also the glider itself. The flight characteristics were similar to
a Duo but with a much better roll rate. In a 45 degree bank it would stay
there hands off even when upset by the rudders. The control harmony was as
good as it gets and the heads up flap setting, colored lights across the
top of the panel, was very pleasant to use. We plan to write a full
article about our trip and will submit it to Soaring Magazine with some
pics.

They teased us with the idea a high by-pass engine, made by the same
company that makes the current one, that would be available in a few
years. It would only be 15 cm bigger in diameter and 2 cm longer but
provide twice the thrust, self launchable, and burn about the same amount
of fuel because of the better low speed/altitude efficiency. It would fit
in the same hole as the current engine and could be easily switched out
when available or at overhaul.

Drew Pearce

At 18:46 29 October 2008, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
Last I heard, folks were having trouble getting insurance for turbine-
equipped gliders. Has that situation changed?

Thanks, Bob K.