Short Wings Gliders

On Jan 29, 1:34*pm, Brad wrote:

Why does everything revolve around flying for competition?

Not everything, but this discussion is about a new 13.5 meter RACING
class.

On your last point. If you can figure out how to make ANY type of
sailplane truly affordable (say $20,000 for new) then the sport might
start growing like crazy. But there seems no way to build a glider
that cheap.

Todd Smith
3S

On Jan 29, 11:25*am, toad wrote:

On your last point. *If you can figure out how to make ANY type of
sailplane truly affordable (say $20,000 for new) then the sport might
start growing like crazy. *But there seems no way to build a glider
that cheap.

Todd,

Brad and I have that one absolutely wired. There is a way, and the way
is clear. All it takes is a modest amount of hands-on assembly doing
stuff that you can learn how to do in a few evenings.

The puzzling human comedy there is how few people stay interested when
you tell them they need to learn a few new skills. And we're not even
talking about skills that are truly new, they are all things that my
grandmother did. It's, like, ohes noes, new skillez, you be stealin'
my bukkit! /lols

Thanks, Bob K.

On Jan 30, 4:05*pm, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
On Jan 29, 11:25*am, toad wrote:

On your last point. *If you can figure out how to make ANY type of
sailplane truly affordable (say $20,000 for new) then the sport might
start growing like crazy. *But there seems no way to build a glider
that cheap.

Todd,

Brad and I have that one absolutely wired. There is a way, and the way
is clear. All it takes is a modest amount of hands-on assembly doing
stuff that you can learn how to do in a few evenings.

The puzzling human comedy there is how few people stay interested when
you tell them they need to learn a few new skills. And we're not even
talking about skills that are truly new, they are all things that my
grandmother did. It's, like, ohes noes, new skillez, you be stealin'
my bukkit! /lols

Thanks, Bob K.

Bob,

I've been following the HP-24 pages for a while. I can't see creating
a HP-24 in a "modest" amount of time, but send me the brochure ! I
would be very excited.

Todd

On Jan 30, 1:25*pm, toad wrote:

Bob,

I've been following the HP-24 pages for a while. *I can't see creating
a HP-24 in a "modest" amount of time, but send me the brochure ! * I
would be very excited.

Most of the time we've spent on the project has been dedicated to
making tooling and developing prototypes. I figure the actual build
time for the finalized kit will be down around 350 hours.

The only thing we have in the way of a brochure is he

http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24/web_24_3view7.pdf

Thanks, Bob K.

On Jan 30, 4:41*pm, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
On Jan 30, 1:25*pm, toad wrote:

Bob,

I've been following the HP-24 pages for a while. *I can't see creating
a HP-24 in a "modest" amount of time, but send me the brochure ! * I
would be very excited.

Most of the time we've spent on the project has been dedicated to
making tooling and developing prototypes. I figure the actual build
time for the finalized kit will be down around 350 hours.

The only thing we have in the way of a brochure is he

http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24/web_24_3view7.pdf

Thanks, Bob K.

It that 350 for you or for me :-)

Just kidding, I'll figure in the standard safety factor for kit built
aircraft. But seriously, will it require a builder to do the
gelcoat finishing ? That sounds like a huge amount of work just
there.

Todd

PS nice Yosemite pics, makes me want to go see the place again. A
long time ago I visited summers to climb there.

On Jan 30, 4:25 pm, toad wrote:
...But seriously, will it require a builder to do the
gelcoat finishing ? That sounds like a huge amount of work just
there.

I don't know yet. So far gelcoat has been a big pain for us.

If we do supply shells without gelcoat, it doesn't necessarily mean
that the builder will have to mess with gelcoat themselves. It just
means that the builder will apply primer and then topcoat, which can
be relatively straightforward with the water-borne composite finishing
systems available these days.

PS nice Yosemite pics, makes me want to go see the place again. A
long time ago I visited summers to climb there.

Well, come on back if you can. If you get here early some morning
we'll cruise the Royal Arches or something easy like it.

Thanks, Bob K.