On Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 10:11:46 AM UTC-6, Dan Marotta wrote:
Is this one yours, Renny?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnHaBF9VTcM




On 4/4/2015 4:52 PM, Renny wrote:



On Friday, April 3, 2015 at 11:08:53 PM UTC-6, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:


Was hoping to get comments regarding a glider with a sustainer engine. Would you buy another one, are you happy with the sustainer, do you wish you had gotten a motor glider, a pure glider, how do you fly differently, do you actually get more soaring in or less because of the extra weight......

do you use headsets for hearing protection with engine running... engine can achieve a positive rate of climb to what density altitude....? Am considering purchasing a glider with a sustainer and am looking for all information I can get. i am a Western USA pilot, but have flown in many parts of the country.


My choice for sustainer is the FES (Front Electric Sustainer) for the following reasons:

1. It is extremely simple to operate.
2. It is very, very reliable.
3. It is very quiet.
4. It does a fine job at high elevation airports like Moriarty which is at 6,200 feet.
5. The "range" of 60 miles (or so depending on battery charge) is enough to get me back to Moriarty or to another airport.
5. If it were not to start, there is absolutely no additional drag penalty.

I will, most likely, never own another glider without one!
Thanks - Renny







--

Dan Marotta

Dan,
Negative...Mine actually did a test flight self-launch at the factory in Lithuania in 2011, but in the Flight Manual it is very specific about its operating limitations with the following statement:

"LAK-17B FES is a self-sustaining powered sailplane and is prohibited from taking off solely by the means of its own power."