What First Glider to own?

On Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:41:33 -0800, brianDG303 wrote:


Sparky,
A few years ago I made a quasi-scientific weighted chart to determine
the best glider to buy, and in your price range it's a Libelle. Very
good value, light and easy to rig. Might give it a look.

I've had mine since mid-2006 and love it: easy to rig, light & precise
handling at all speeds, excellent all-round visibility and its the most
spin-resistant single seater I've flown. Yes, the air-brakes are weak,
but if slips very well and controllably - a fair trade-off I think.

However, do sit in one before going out to buy - they definitely suit
long, lean people rather than the well-fed or broad shouldered. Its a
great help to have the over-shoulder stowage: this is a semi-circular bag
that clips onto the spars behind the seat. Their only serious issue is a
tendency to snap-rotate on a winch launch - if you get one and want to
winch it, make sure you're winch current and GET A BRIEFING FROM SOMEBODY
WHO HAS WINCHED A LIBELLE before you try it: there is no guidance about
this in the POH. Aero towing is simple and easy.

Apart from that, what Aerodyne says: fly as many different club and
rental gliders before you buy as possible to get an idea of performance,
comfort and generally what suits you.


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

GBSC's B4 and L33 are perfectly competent gliders that are
underutilized. The B4 is quite well instrumented too (SN10 thanks to
Dave Nadler). Over the years several members have taken advantage of
this and done long flights in them.

That gives you time to mull which glider to buy. Partnerships are a
great way to get a better glider and split expenses. Few people have
that much time to fly these days.

Juan