wrote on 8/26/2017 5:23 AM:
On Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 12:15:08 PM UTC+2, Dave Walsh wrote:
Not flown a Ventus M of any type but this looks like another
example of poor systems design. If the engine retraction sequence
consists of switching off ONE switch (e.g. DG808) or moving one
lever (Antares) then the pilot has nothing to do but control the
airspeed. Many of these other self launch/turbo retract systems
look like an invitation to "finger trouble".

I've heard dozens of stories of pilots outlanding their motor gliders when the engine wouldn't start, to discover on the ground that they'd forgotten to switch the fuel on.

At some point you have to ask - is this a pilot problem or a design problem?

If the glider is a Schleicher self-launcher, it's a pilot problem. The valve
should be left open in flight. I leave mine open all the time on my ASH 26E, even
on the ground. It's main purpose is to keep fuel from getting to the engine if
there is a fire. The only time I shut it is during the annual, when it's tested.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Dec 2014a" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm

http://soaringsafety.org/prevention/...anes-2014A.pdf