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![]() "Eric Greenwell" wrote in message ... 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. -- ----- change "netto" to "net" to email me directly Eric Greenwell Washington State USA You can buy a lot of launches (especially ground launches) for $25K, or even $10K. I know the reliability factor has improved, but many hours on the ground were spent in maintenance and tuning and fettling for the early adopters. I think today it's much better, but then today's reliability came at a price. Though the convenience factor is an interesting consideration, I personally view soaring as a sociable pastime and prefer gathering together with the faithful in its pursuit. I could also scuba dive and sail alone, but it was more dangerous and lonely than doing it in a gaggle. Don't get me wrong, I looked long and hard at the DG-400 in the early 1980's. Self launching has its place, but given the choice, I'll take a ground launch, aerotow, or self launch, in that order. Frank Whiteley Colorado |
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