Next glider, ownership costs question?

On Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 10:03:11 AM UTC-6, flgliderpilot wrote:
Low time pilot, 60hrs, have done some solo cross country flying but not a lot. Sold my 1-26E a few years ago (not by choice, business debt at the time).

My first thought is to jump into another 1-26 or 1-34 for a number of reasons (safety and availability). I could land my 1-26 just about anywhere!

My budget is 10K or less, and I am still saving, so in the meantime I'm wondering about inexpensive older fiberglass options such as the Libelle, etc.

Are fiberglass gliders more expensive to maintain and repair?

Easily damaged on rough landouts?

Qualified mechanics easier or harder to find, vs aluminum?

Insurance costs aluminum vs fiberglass?

Are fabric covered gliders (1-26 A,B) much more expensive to maintain?

I remember a local pilot telling me he spent a few thousand dollars re-covering his 1-26 and that it needed to be done every X number of years (I can't remember that number now).

As usual hangar space might be possible but is usually unlikely due to demand.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Tom

I've never flown one, but a Phoebus might fit your needs.

Jeff

On Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 7:06:27 AM UTC+3, LongJourney wrote:
On Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 10:03:11 AM UTC-6, flgliderpilot wrote:
Low time pilot, 60hrs, have done some solo cross country flying but not a lot. Sold my 1-26E a few years ago (not by choice, business debt at the time).

My first thought is to jump into another 1-26 or 1-34 for a number of reasons (safety and availability). I could land my 1-26 just about anywhere!

My budget is 10K or less, and I am still saving, so in the meantime I'm wondering about inexpensive older fiberglass options such as the Libelle, etc.

Are fiberglass gliders more expensive to maintain and repair?

Easily damaged on rough landouts?

Qualified mechanics easier or harder to find, vs aluminum?

Insurance costs aluminum vs fiberglass?

Are fabric covered gliders (1-26 A,B) much more expensive to maintain?

I remember a local pilot telling me he spent a few thousand dollars re-covering his 1-26 and that it needed to be done every X number of years (I can't remember that number now).

As usual hangar space might be possible but is usually unlikely due to demand.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Tom

I've never flown one, but a Phoebus might fit your needs.

I've flown one. Great L/D for the time (and money), but at the low speed of 48 knots.

The wings are very heavy and very stiff. People will run away when you rig, but you'll feel every ripple in the air (if you like that kind of thing).

Libelle is as good performance, but people won't run away when you rig.

If the gelcoat on a composite glider is shot it will cost quit a bit to refinish it. Even doing it the "cheap" way by just sanding down the old finish and spraying polyurethane over it will cost a fair amount. The rest of the maintenance isn't really any different from a metal ship when it comes to cost. As long as there is a good maintenance shop within reasonable distance that is willing and able to do the work a composite ship is fine. Ask the pilots in your area who fly glass who they work with. A Schweizer 1-34 or 1-35 would have the advantage that all the parts and materials are North American aircraft standard and would be familiar to any light aircraft maintenance shop but it isn't a decisive factor. On the other hand being able to leave the ship tied down and ready to fly may be an attractive benefit to you. I know a few pilots with easy to rig glass ships that still frequently leave them staked down overnight because they find the assembly/disassembly process too much work. I can usually have my ASW-15 cleaned, disassembled and in the trailer using an Udo rigger in less time than it takes them to get their stakes, hammer them in and tie their ship down though! For a quick summary of flying characteristics look up Derek Piggot's "Gliding Safety" book or the evaluation table he made that is printed in the Soaring magazine sailplane directory.

Whatever you go for get a good inspection done by someone who really knows what they're doing before you buy.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've decided the Standard Libelle is probably the best option for my next ship. It's within my price range and I feel the longer legs would give me more bang for the buck, and result in a ship I will keep longer before wanting to move up.

Thanks for all the help! Funny thing is, I almost purchased a Libelle before buying my 1-26!