Licensing order

Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

On Mar 15, 11:54*pm, JS wrote:
Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

There is another alternative to consider, which some believe
represents the best of both worlds: Get your glider rating then add a
self-launch endorsement, which is considerably easier and not as
expensive to obtain as an SEL rating. Then you can fly regular
sailplanes as well as self-launch sailplanes and touring-style
motorgliders.

I have been flying my Lambada touring motorglider on my Private Pilot
Glider rating and Self-Launch Endorsement for several years now.
Modern lightweight touring motorgliders are equipped with reliable 4-
stroke engines, have a 1000 fpm climb rate and can be equipped for and
are capable of long distance high speed cruising (like an SEL
airplane.) You can also use the engine simply to launch and to cruise
out to the best soaring locations, shut the engine off to soar, then
relight the engine to fly home at the end of the day. And with the
engine off, the Lambada flies like a glider and has reasonable soaring
performance.

And there is another little-known benefit: as a Private Pilot (Glider
rating) with powered experience, you may choose to exercise your Sport
Pilot privileges and fly any Light Sport compliant powered aircraft
(including Cubs, Champs, Evektor Sportstars, etc) with simple logbook
endorsements from qualified instructors, without taking another FAA
written test or flying with an FAA Designated Examiner.

Have Fun !

Matt,
Get the glider rating first, then get checked out in a light sport
powered airplane. The transition to light sport is easy and cheap.
You will only need a few hours in the light sport aircraft, you don't
need a written or any check rides, and you can fly without a medical.
If you want to get a private power rating, the light sport time counts
toward the power rating. This is the cheapest way by far to get both
ratings. It will get you in the air quicker and cheaper.

Ed Gaddy

On 3/16/2010 5:43 AM, Jeff wrote:
On Mar 15, 11:54 pm, wrote:
Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

There is another alternative to consider, which some believe
represents the best of both worlds: Get your glider rating then add a
self-launch endorsement, which is considerably easier and not as
expensive to obtain as an SEL rating. Then you can fly regular
sailplanes as well as self-launch sailplanes and touring-style
motorgliders.

I have been flying my Lambada touring motorglider on my Private Pilot
Glider rating and Self-Launch Endorsement for several years now.
Modern lightweight touring motorgliders are equipped with reliable 4-
stroke engines, have a 1000 fpm climb rate and can be equipped for and
are capable of long distance high speed cruising (like an SEL
airplane.) You can also use the engine simply to launch and to cruise
out to the best soaring locations, shut the engine off to soar, then
relight the engine to fly home at the end of the day. And with the
engine off, the Lambada flies like a glider and has reasonable soaring
performance.

And there is another little-known benefit: as a Private Pilot (Glider
rating) with powered experience, you may choose to exercise your Sport
Pilot privileges and fly any Light Sport compliant powered aircraft
(including Cubs, Champs, Evektor Sportstars, etc) with simple logbook
endorsements from qualified instructors, without taking another FAA
written test or flying with an FAA Designated Examiner.

Have Fun !
However, this won't permit you to fly any 4 seat aircraft.

--
Mike Schumann

On Mar 15, 11:54*pm, JS wrote:
Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

I went in that order, but before the sport ratings were around.
All the glider flying counted towards the airplane rating hourly
requirements, and I was able to fly the entire flight (with guidance)
from the first time I got in the airplane. However, I had to train
the instructor in where the holes were in my education, so it took
him 20 hours to solo me. Solo work was primarily to get the
required cross country time.

Once I had the airplane rating, I actually used it a couple of times
on business trips. Then, my company changed its policy so that
you couldn't fly yourself on trips anymore. I have flown gliders
exclusively since then. The cost to get the hours the insurance
company wants for me to be able to tow is much too high for
me to bother.

I did learn some important things in the airplane -- how to deal
with complexity, how to navigate, how to deal with ATC. All
those are useful in the glider.

-- Matt

My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

On Mar 16, 4:04*pm, Brian wrote:
My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st *usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

As long as you don't care about learning to do it right.
I've spent years finishing up what the one weekers don't do.
UH

On Mar 16, 3:03*pm, wrote:
On Mar 16, 4:04*pm, Brian wrote:

My opinion is it depends on you situtation. I think usually it cheaper
and perhaps faster to get the power rating and then and the glider
rating. The exception is if you have a good soaring/gliding club
nearby where you can exchange your time for cost. It may take longer
learning to fly at a club but the cost for getting the glider rating
may be very low.

If you are going to do it strictly through commecial operations then
learning to fly power 1st *usually makes the most econmic sense. After
you have your power rating you can add the glider rating in probably
less than a week.

Brian

As long as you don't care about learning to do it right.
I've spent years finishing up what the one weekers don't do.
UH

No Argument there, One week will only teach you how to tow and land
safely. If one is lucky they might get some soaring experience out of
it but perhaps not. One would however meet the PTS requirements and
have a glider rating. Even more than power flying this is just a
license to learn. And there is a lot of learning to be had.

In my situation I am forced to take the path of least financial
resistance or at least the the path with the best cost/benefit ratio.
Typically the problem with learning glider (in the US) 1st is you have
to pay for two pilost and two airplanes while training as opposed
power where you only pay for one airplane and one pilot (flight
instructor) while training.

As mentioned in my post, Gliding Clubs and can skew the economics of
it in favor learning glider 1st. But there are only a limited number
of locations where this is available.

Brian

On Mar 15, 11:54*pm, JS wrote:
Similar to Guy:
Glider at least to solo. Learn what the wings do.
ASEL to Private. Learn the additional bits. (take a written test)
Glider add-on. (no second written test) Enjoy.
Jim

I got the private + instrument first and recently got a glider rating
for my motor glider. In hind site I would have been a much better
pilot ie "knowing what the wings really do", if I had gotten my glider
rating first plus it would have given me the much needed tail dragger
experience. Soooo Glider first and power second or maybe as JS says
to do above.