Uncle Fuzzies take on Self Launchers

On Thursday, August 22, 2013 9:10:46 AM UTC-7, Andrew wrote:
At 03:37 21 August 2013, Eric Greenwell wrote:

Uncle Fuzzy wrote, On 8/20/2013 7:35 PM:

My take on self-launchers launchers



� is really pretty simple. A self launcher means you can

launch

whether there�s a tow plane or not. Period. For me, that

would mean

I could launch from Jean, land somewhere, make camp (I love

�ramp

camping�), and launch the next day and fly back (conditions,

skills,

etc. permitting.) Essentially equivalent to having a tug

available

for the next day at any field. If tugs were always available, I

wouldn�t have any use for a self launcher.



You understand one half of the attraction of a self-launcher, but

like

many people, miss the other half: you can take risks with the

lift, and

if you guess wrong and the lift isn't there, you can start the

motor,

get to the next lift, and continue the flight. The ability to explore

without the consequences of a landout and a potentially long

retrieve

are just as valuable as avoiding the launch line or flying from an

airport that doesn't have a towplane.



I'm sorry you will have money left over at the end of your "final

glide", a fate I am trying to avoid. It's even harder to judge that

"glide" than one in a glider, and you don't get to practice it,

either.



Possibly, you could use some of the money to start a partnership

in a

DG1000 or other excellent two seater, like the DG1000 that

operates at

Ephrata, WA. You will have partners to fly with, they will be

introduced

to cross-country flying, and will pass that on as they become

proficient. It's well equipped, kept assembled and covered so it's

ready

to in moments, and seems to be fulfilling the mission envisioned

by the

original owner.



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us"

to

email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS,

Flarm

http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl





Talking about motor gliders with extending masts and gas

engines: all the advantages seem (at least partially) offset by

corresponding disadvantages, either physical or psychological. For

example, the major convenience of not needing a towplane is

partially offset by the usually-greater difficulty and risk of self

launching. When it comes to cross-country flying, a large fraction

(99%?) of field landings are eliminated with a motor glider, but the

"worry element" always remains (motors don't always start, and a

field landing in a motor glider will be more difficult and risky). Overall,

my experience is that I prefer my motor glider, however

the advantages are not as great as I had imagined.

I always self launch, and have had fewer problems doing so than using a tow plane.

The "worry" about an outlanding is completely mitigated if you use common sense. In the words of the Schleicher manual, "One must always be prepared for the possibility that the engine will not provide the hoped for propulsion." If you thermal down to 1000 ft, THEN pull out the engine, THEN look for a place to land, there is significant worry. Never been a problem for me, I fly it like a glider to a safe landing site, then power up above the pattern. If it doesn't start, do a normal pattern and landing.

Nevertheless, it does add to pilot workload, particularly on marginal final glides. Should I get out the engine now? If I do I for sure won't make it. If I don't maybe I won't make it and I will be too low to pull it out. Pull it out now or not? It's always running though my mind....