On Friday, February 9, 2018 at 1:31:46 PM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
Was so tried of the hard deck discussion thought I would try a discussion of dreams. After seeing the vision of Elon Musk with his Falcon Heavy, I had to pinch myself. Those two boosters landing in sync..

What are some of the innovative, new technology, original thought, scifi dreams, would you like to see in a brand new glider design? Let your inter Elon Musk flow.

We have seen the New Ventus, the JS-3 (very innovative), Dianna 3. So far the South Africans have shown the most original thought.

If you were to design a glider what are your dreams?

18/21 or 15/18 meters

Sustainer, jet, electric, two stroke?

Light weight: I would love to be able to get to 7.5 pounds with a 220 lb pilot+chute and up to 12ish pounds wet. This might take new manufacturing methods and materials. Perhaps pre-preg, vacuum bagging...?

Pedestal mounted wing?

Regarding the Std Austria SH1, I question the "sparless" statement;
it had a rather massive wooden spar with steel caps at the root,
coupled by large pins, driven into place by captive RH and LH screws.
It was close to best 15m ship at the time, thanks to the new Eppler 266
airfoil and the use of fibreglass over the playwood wing skin; it would outclimb the vaunted Sisu and outrun the K6 E.
I flew one to 4th place in the 1965 US Nats in Adrian.

cheers

John Firth Ottawa.