Handling characteristics of 18 (and 15) meter sailplanes???

Rory O'Conor wrote:

Apart from initial cost and traditionalism - "gliders dont have engines", I
cannot
understand why so few people have SLMG.

"Apart from the cost"? It is the cost. If a motor could be added for
$2000, everyone would have one, but not at $25,000 for the motor,
typical for the German gliders. THe newer, smaller motorgliders like the
Russia AC-5M (over 30 sold in a very short time), Apis, and Silent will
add a lot of motorgliders to the fleet, because the motor is more like
$10,000 additional, and the glider is cheaper to begin with.

Even so, the complexity alone will keep many out of motorgliders; and
some simply don't need the advantages of self-launchers because they
already get the flying they want when they want it.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA