One factor not yet mentioned is that competition rules will drive pilots' choice of new gliders. A large proportion of new glider sales (in Europe at least) are to competition pilots who want the machine which will be most competitive - for those not bothered about competition, much better value is available from the previous generation of machines. Currently, a high proportion of new gliders are fitted with engines - if the rules change to make engines less attractive for competition pilots that will also change. Personally, I love having an engine, so I think that would be a pity.

Mark Burton, London Gliding Club, UK

On Friday, 14 February 2014 00:27:03 UTC, MNLou wrote:
Although I enjoyed the discussion in my previous thread on drag and handicaps, I was trying to create a discussion about the benefit of having a reliable propulsion system versus a pure glider.



For this discussion, please assume that someone created an FES system that had no drag and no additional weight. Thus, an FES equipped ship and an non-FES equipped ship had identical polars. Also assume that the FES system was 100% reliable.



Do you think the FES ship would have a competitive advantage over a pure glider because of the ability to stretch the "safe flight" envelope?



Lou