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Old April 20th 14, 04:30 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Marotta
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Posts: 4,601
Default Sustainers and Self-Launchers- How often and for how long do you run your motors (after launch)?

Flub: You should get out and fly some more and not worry so much about what
other folks do with their equipment.

As to use of the engine - I was once on the far side of Pike's Peak from
Black Forest in a borrowed ASW-24E that I self-launched and was getting low.
No problem; I simply extracted and started the engine. As I established a
stable climb the engine quit due to fuel starvation (out of gas) so I stowed
it and landed at Canon City. The owner brought the trailer and I bought
dinner. A wonderful day!

"jfitch" wrote in message
...
On Sunday, April 20, 2014 7:34:21 AM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Sunday, April 20, 2014 12:31:16 AM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:



If a pilot isn't using the FES on 10% to 20% of the flights, the pilot


has wasted his money buying the FES. The FES can and should be used to


increase the amount and quality of soaring the pilot does, and flying so


conservatively it's rarely needed will not achieve that goal.




Does this hold true in practice for most pilots and most propulsion
systems?



What's your theory/philosophy on motor use and to what extent does your
logbook conform to your goal?



Do FES flyers use their motors more frequently than petrol-powered pilots?



Does a motor increase the number of 'good soaring days' for you?


I run the (gas) motor before every flight, because I self launch every
flight.

It does increase the number of 'good' days a little because I will go cross
country on a more marginal day than I might have otherwise. Not because I
will fly low over unlandable terrain, but because the inconvenience of a
retrieve from an airport is mitigated. The 10-20% number Eric refers to
seems high to me. I have started the engine for a real retrieve I think six
times in 14 years. I have restarted it maybe 4 or 5 times for a relight
shortly after shutdown.