Great Story in this month's AOPA Pilot by Rick Durden

Jay Honeck wrote:

Our own Mr. Durden has published a wonderful tale in the new AOPA Pilot mag
about the experience of watching his daughter, Amelia, solo a glider on her
14th birthday.

Speaking of gliders. I was wondering how much it costs compared to renting say
a 172. I am guessing that with out the big money eating hunk of aluminum the
propeller is attached to, a glider would be significantly less money to fly?
In flat land (Oklahoma, no slope soaring) how long can you keep it up on a nice
hot sunny summer day?

Chris Woodhouse
Oklahoma City

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania

cost depends on whether you rent from a commercial operation.. or invest
time and $$ in a club operation..

CLUB RATES: We have Schweitzer 2-33s and 1-26s for rent at $12/hr and with a
$20 charge for tow.. that equates to $32 the first hour, and $12/hr after
that.

A nice 2 seat Grob 103 is $36/hr or $30/hr with ten hour prepaid blocks
A very nice 1 Seat LS4 is $30 or $27 prepaid (10 hrs)

Can't touch those at commercial operations for less than $50/hr, plus the
tow to get started.

As for how long can you fly?? depends on the weather.. hot summer sun in
OKC.. most all day.. the "lift" should start by noon and fly until sunset.

Schweitzer 2-33 and 1-26 L/d of about 23/1
Grob 103, 36/1
LS4 41/1
That means at 41/1 for every 1000ft of altitude you can glide appx 7nm in
still air.

BT

"Chris W" wrote in message
...
Jay Honeck wrote:

Our own Mr. Durden has published a wonderful tale in the new AOPA Pilot
mag
about the experience of watching his daughter, Amelia, solo a glider on
her
14th birthday.

Speaking of gliders. I was wondering how much it costs compared to
renting say
a 172. I am guessing that with out the big money eating hunk of aluminum
the
propeller is attached to, a glider would be significantly less money to
fly?
In flat land (Oklahoma, no slope soaring) how long can you keep it up on a
nice
hot sunny summer day?

Chris Woodhouse
Oklahoma City

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania

How much do clubs charge for "winch" launches, if they have a winch? Do most
clubs have one?

I was fascinated by the farm machinery type launchers (winches) in the
Glider Ride thread. Some of them looked like very nice($$) farm machinery.

http://www.wolds-gliding.org/launfacl.htm

http://www.skylaunch.de/album/index.html

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q23F51855
(Glider Ride thread from last week)

--
Montblack

(BTIZ wrote)
snip
Can't touch those at commercial operations for less than $50/hr, plus the
tow to get started.

As for how long can you fly?? depends on the weather.. hot summer sun in
OKC.. most all day.. the "lift" should start by noon and fly until sunset.

How much do clubs charge for "winch" launches, if they have a winch? Do
most
clubs have one?


usually about $10 per launch, some are cheaper.. depends on club