On Nov 7, 2:02*pm, Berry wrote:
How are the Scheibe touring motorgliders as basic trainers (not the ones
with the smaller engines)? Back around 2000, when the dollar was counted
as real money, I seriously considered buying an SF-25 out of Europe.
They were many being sold dirt cheap. Of course, they pretty much all
needed recovering and/or engine rebuilds.

Why would you want to do this? Besides dirt cheap....

They are an old design, and probalby do not look modern top many
people so does not address that concern/issue.

Who mantains the glider? The engine? The prop? And where are they
located?

The fuselage is tubular steel and some wood and fiberglass
construction right? (I'm not sure about the wings), for a training
glider that is going to be bumped around I'd much take a solid
composite glider with well know/USA avaialable repairability like the
ASK-21.

Have we learn about risks with older gliders like the L-13 yet?

Do you really want to put high hours on the engine. What is the cost/
supply of new/replacement engines?

For the tail dagger models expect to be pulling it out of the weeds
next to the runway when students have problems. And maybe paying high $
$$ engine/prop repairs not just fixing fiberglass skuffs. I know some
have tricycle U/C, I'm not sure what the typical configuration is.

I'd argue at ~22:1 (p to 25:1?) it may be a lot of things, but not a
(modern) glider. Transition to high performance glass may be as much
as issue as from older conventional gliders. Going XC is going to be
problematic and less likely to be instantly addictive in the way it
can in a Duo Discuss class two seater.

I'd hate to see people trying to teach XC soaring in 22-25:1
motorglider. The risk is the engine will be being restarted all the
time. The last thing I think new XC pilots ought to see.

Is it type certificated ? Some are I think, but I am not sure which
ones.

Again, if you want one for your own use knock yourself out. It could
be a fun and affordable tourer for the right owner. But as a basic
trainer, yuk...

Darryl