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

"bumper" wrote in message ...
"F.L. Whiteley" wrote in message
...

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


Hi there Eastern Slopes!

I know you guys get your kicks playing with your winch! I have the
experience, sign off, do get some more in Germany when visiting.

Where I fly, only SL is possible anymore, with a mile long taxi to the
take off point. I think there is only one place in western CO left,
that does conventional Soaring. There are several Selflaunchers
though. Possibly it has to do with real estate, in certain areas.
Ground Launch where you have a lot of it. Where you have a lot of open
space you do not get enough people together to run a winch operation.
You are the exeption, nice! You do need help. Sometimes I decide to go
flying as late as 5 O'clock middle of the summer any day, no one else
to call, only the tower for take off clearance.

I have flown two different types of SLs during the last 11 years, and
had years where there was hardly any maintenance between Annuals. My
towplanes that I used to own had more.

Note that during the "Worlds" Germans and Poles were flying SLs in the
open class.

My first Motorglider I owned, was in 1966 a .....Rheinflugzeugbau RW
3, powered by a 90 hp Porsche Super 90 converted to aircraft use and
type certificated by the FAA,...the airframe was too!

Dieter
Gliders Of Aspen