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#1
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Hello Patrick:
You probably already know it is possible to fly a twin engine aircraft without a medical - or a jet? Or fly at 30,000 feet? Yes, it is possible if you have a self-launch glider rating. I have such a rating - and an aircraft that allows pilots to fly without a medical. It is called a motorglider. I do have a medical and a SEL - but if you get a glider rating with a self launch endorsement, you can fly a number of different motorgliders. You can use them as regular airplanes. Some are tail-draggers, some are tricycle gear and some are single wheel with outriggers when the wing drops. Some go as fast as about 130. One of the companies is coming out with a single engine jet version. There is a pilot who has modified a glider with twin jet engines. It is aerobatic. Not bad for not needing a medical. I suppose the thinking is that if a motorglider pilot flying a 1700 pound motorglider has a heart attack and dies, he will not kill as many people as a pilot flying a Cessna 150 who has a heart attack, or a pilot who is flying a sport certified plane, who has a bad heart but does not need to take a physical. Makes a lot of sense. I think the weight limit is about 1800 pounds and it needs long wings and be certified as a glider. They fly great and are very efficient. About the only down side is on the ground as many have wings longer than 50 feet. Some have folding wings, for hanger storage. As for instruments, I have CAS, Comm and Mode C transponder in the motorglider. And, with a motorglider, and not being instrument rated, you can get in a mountain wave, shut the motor down. grab some oxygen get a prior wave clearance and soar to 30,000 feet or more. In essence, the sky is the limit. All without a medical. Good luck, Colin |
#2
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Colin,
Yes I was aware of the no med glider rating. Have thought about maybe checking into that alittle more once I get this SPL done,...can always use another endorsement huh? ![]() alot of funds to buy a motorglider , from the prices I have seen. And I really have not come across any plans for building one , maybe you have a suggestion? Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech "COLIN LAMB" wrote in message ink.net... Hello Patrick: You probably already know it is possible to fly a twin engine aircraft without a medical - or a jet? Or fly at 30,000 feet? Yes, it is possible if you have a self-launch glider rating. I have such a rating - and an aircraft that allows pilots to fly without a medical. It is called a motorglider. I do have a medical and a SEL - but if you get a glider rating with a self launch endorsement, you can fly a number of different motorgliders. You can use them as regular airplanes. Some are tail-draggers, some are tricycle gear and some are single wheel with outriggers when the wing drops. Some go as fast as about 130. One of the companies is coming out with a single engine jet version. There is a pilot who has modified a glider with twin jet engines. It is aerobatic. Not bad for not needing a medical. I suppose the thinking is that if a motorglider pilot flying a 1700 pound motorglider has a heart attack and dies, he will not kill as many people as a pilot flying a Cessna 150 who has a heart attack, or a pilot who is flying a sport certified plane, who has a bad heart but does not need to take a physical. Makes a lot of sense. I think the weight limit is about 1800 pounds and it needs long wings and be certified as a glider. They fly great and are very efficient. About the only down side is on the ground as many have wings longer than 50 feet. Some have folding wings, for hanger storage. As for instruments, I have CAS, Comm and Mode C transponder in the motorglider. And, with a motorglider, and not being instrument rated, you can get in a mountain wave, shut the motor down. grab some oxygen get a prior wave clearance and soar to 30,000 feet or more. In essence, the sky is the limit. All without a medical. Good luck, Colin |
#3
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There is a motorglider kit that uses a VW engine. I do not know much about
it. It is only about a 20:1 glide ratio, I recall. You can also buy a motorglider that needs restoration - which is sort of like building your own. Colin |
#4
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W P Dixon wrote:
Colin, Yes I was aware of the no med glider rating. Have thought about maybe checking into that alittle more once I get this SPL done,...can always use another endorsement huh? ![]() alot of funds to buy a motorglider , from the prices I have seen. And I really have not come across any plans for building one , maybe you have a suggestion? Below copied and pasted from their web site, The plane won't meet SP criterial because of it's speed but the motor glider version will. The two are the same except the outer wing panels which you can build both and use either as a motor glider or higher performance single seater if you have a PPL. John http://www.fly-kr.com/ The KR-1 is the single seat low wing retractable monoplane which is typically powered by smaller VW engines, up to the VW 2100. The KR-1B motorglider is a standard KR-1 with modified outer wing sections. With this simple wing conversion, the original KR-1 becomes an excellent self-powered glider. |
#5
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With regard to the aircraft that changes wings to move from an airplane to a
motorglider, beware that the original classification is what the aircraft stays at in the eyes of the FAA. Thus, if you add longer wings to a airplane, it cannot become a glider. It has to have been originally licensed as a glider. Not sure about the other way around, though. If you have a licensed glider and you put short wings on it, maybe it cannot be a glider, but it would not be an airplane. Colin |
#6
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Hey Ultra!,
I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 ! HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive ( for my poor butt anyway!). But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the net? I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing? Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech "UltraJohn" wrote in message link.net... Below copied and pasted from their web site, The plane won't meet SP criterial because of it's speed but the motor glider version will. The two are the same except the outer wing panels which you can build both and use either as a motor glider or higher performance single seater if you have a PPL. John http://www.fly-kr.com/ The KR-1 is the single seat low wing retractable monoplane which is typically powered by smaller VW engines, up to the VW 2100. The KR-1B motorglider is a standard KR-1 with modified outer wing sections. With this simple wing conversion, the original KR-1 becomes an excellent self-powered glider. |
#7
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W P Dixon wrote:
Hey Ultra!, I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 ! HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive ( for my poor butt anyway!). But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the net? I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing? Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech Patrick I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP requirements. They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any with the fiberglass problem though! ;-) John |
#8
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Hey,
I may have to check into that. I believe the free plans I was speaking of is called a GOAT or something like that. I do wish a KR2 was a SP, I do like it!!!!!! Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech "UltraJohn" wrote in message hlink.net... W P Dixon wrote: Hey Ultra!, I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 ! HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive ( for my poor butt anyway!). But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the net? I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing? Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech Patrick I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP requirements. They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any with the fiberglass problem though! ;-) John |
#9
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Maybe this is it:
http://home.att.net/~m--sandlin/bug.htm David "W P Dixon" wrote in message news ![]() Hey, I may have to check into that. I believe the free plans I was speaking of is called a GOAT or something like that. I do wish a KR2 was a SP, I do like it!!!!!! Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech "UltraJohn" wrote in message hlink.net... W P Dixon wrote: Hey Ultra!, I like those KR's, but I have had the same concern about it that Colin had. I sure wish there was a Sport Pilot version of a KR. Maybe a KR 1/2 ! HAHA But I have to admit I hate fiberglass type stuff...it just eats me up. With a total lack of decent wood available, I may have to change plans and go with a metal plane. I still think the Mini-Coupe is kinda neat. And plans are cheap! The Thatcher CX-4 is WAYYYY cool, but plans are expensive ( for my poor butt anyway!). But back to the gliders, have you seen the free glider plans on the net? I wonder if a small engine could be mounted to that thing? Patrick student SPL aircraft structural mech Patrick I did a little checking and the KR-1B appears to meet the SP requirements. They not only have an approximately 6 foot longer wingspan it is also a different shape. The max cruise speed is 130 mph with a VW 1600 and the stall speed is lower also bringing it within range. Doesn't help you any with the fiberglass problem though! ;-) John |
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