On 11/7/2010 2:03 PM, Mike Schumann wrote:
On 11/7/2010 2:15 PM, bildan wrote:

If you look at a Motorglider like the Phoenix, you can also keep it in
a regular T-Hanger at your local urban airport. Now you don't have to
drive 45 miles to get to a glider port. That's another huge plus for
both established glider pilots as well as new prospects.

I'm skeptical that this kind of aircraft, as lovely as it is, would
appeal to glider pilots. It seems like too much airplane and not enough
glider, both in performance and the "feel" of it when you are sitting
inside it. And I wonder how well it would work for training, since it is
so different from the other common trainers, and so very different from
the single seat gliders we'd expect the student to move into. Has anyone
used a Phoenix or similar as Mike suggests?

Perhaps the Taurus would be better choice for *glider* pilots. It's wing
is 15 meters, but the panels are light enough, they could be removed and
stored beside the fuselage in stands in a hangar, taking less space than
the Phoenix. I think the two-wheel main gear would make this practical,
but don't know anyone that does this.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz