1-26 for first glider, or not?

On Nov 12, 2:48*pm, AGL wrote:
On Nov 12, 9:36*am, tstock wrote:

I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum...

SNIP

We have a few 1-26's at our club and often can’t fly them because it's
too windy. Our club rule is to never fly a 1-26 downwind. * From time
to time someone vows to try landing one backwards against a headwind.
As well, our cloudbase is usually low so a 1-26 doesn’t have a good
enough L/D to get you to the next thermal.

If there was usually less than 5 knots of wind and a decent cloudbase
they would be a lot of fun.

agl

get the trailer set up. if you are spending all your effort trying to
stay upwind in a 1-26 I can see why you don't like. Little known
secret of low performance soaring: All the FUN is downwind of the
airport.

On Nov 12, 2:59*pm, Tony wrote:
On Nov 12, 2:48*pm, AGL wrote:





On Nov 12, 9:36*am, tstock wrote:

I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum...

SNIP

We have a few 1-26's at our club and often can’t fly them because it's
too windy. Our club rule is to never fly a 1-26 downwind. * From time
to time someone vows to try landing one backwards against a headwind.
As well, our cloudbase is usually low so a 1-26 doesn’t have a good
enough L/D to get you to the next thermal.

If there was usually less than 5 knots of wind and a decent cloudbase
they would be a lot of fun.

agl

get the trailer set up. if you are spending all your effort trying to
stay upwind in a 1-26 I can see why you don't like. *Little known
secret of low performance soaring: All the FUN is downwind of the
airport.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Don't discount "old wood" I am having a ball with my Ka-6, and they do
come up for sale on a regular basis. $6000 should buy you a pretty
nice Ka-6, and while it isn't a lead sled it will go upwind. On the
plus side it's still a floater, so if you live in the midwest it's
hard to beat. Remember the Ka-6 was the hot standard class ship in the
late 50's and early 60's.

Pete

Ka-6Cr

On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:42:00 -0800, vontresc wrote:

Don't discount "old wood" I am having a ball with my Ka-6, and they do
come up for sale on a regular basis. $6000 should buy you a pretty nice
Ka-6, and while it isn't a lead sled it will go upwind. On the plus side
it's still a floater, so if you live in the midwest it's hard to beat.
Remember the Ka-6 was the hot standard class ship in the late 50's and
early 60's.

I've never heard anybody say bad things about the Ka-6.

One of our guys has a very nice one with a few decent toys on the panel.
It has an excellent trailer too, not that he lands out often. He's had it
for 12 years and done several 300s in it, almost always off the winch.
Thats in UK conditions - moderate breeze, cloud base 4000-5000ft or
6000ft if you're lucky and thermals in the 3 - 5 kt band.

Its on my list of gliders I'd like to fly some time.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Nov 12, 1:59*pm, Tony wrote:
On Nov 12, 2:48*pm, AGL wrote:





On Nov 12, 9:36*am, tstock wrote:

I know I will get replies on each end of the spectrum...

SNIP

We have a few 1-26's at our club and often can’t fly them because it's
too windy. Our club rule is to never fly a 1-26 downwind. * From time
to time someone vows to try landing one backwards against a headwind.
As well, our cloudbase is usually low so a 1-26 doesn’t have a good
enough L/D to get you to the next thermal.

If there was usually less than 5 knots of wind and a decent cloudbase
they would be a lot of fun.

agl

get the trailer set up. if you are spending all your effort trying to
stay upwind in a 1-26 I can see why you don't like. *Little known
secret of low performance soaring: All the FUN is downwind of the
airport.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I will second the good trailer idea. I could assembly my 1-26 almost
as fast as the local glass ships (15-20 minutes)
The tail stayed assembled on the open trailer so no assembly there, so
just attach the wings hook up the ailerons and spoilers, tighten the
wing pins attach and tape the turtle deck and I was ready to fly.

One consideration is what do your other local area pilots fly, If you
have at least one other 1-26 or simliar performance airplane the fun
level of the 1-26 can increase exponationally as you can fly together,
if every one is flying 35+:1 gliders then you will probably quickly
tire if being left behind or landing on days when everyone else is
still flying.

Brian