Heavy pilot - what glider to opt for?

At 07:47 04 November 2013, Chris Rollings wrote:
One source of confusion on cockpit loads is that the airworthiness
requirement for certification under JAR 22 was (and I think still is
under
the current regulations) that, with basic instrumentation, the minimum
cockpit load must be not more than 70 Kg/154 lbs and the maximum not less
than 110 Kg/ 242 lbs. Most gliders, if weighed and weight and balance
calculations done, will have limits wider than this, in some cases much
wider. Some time back, the major German manufacturers developed the
practice of sending new gliders out of the factory placarded with the
70/110 kg limits, checking their weight and balance and calculating
cockpit loads on delivery usually enabled the re-placarding of wider
limits. This was a common practice in the UK, not sure if it was much
done
in the USA.

I think you will find that the upper cockpit seat limit is fixed by the
certification of the harness/attachment points which is why most gliders
have 110kg (242lbs) as the seat limit.

I believe that NASA have several redundant Space Shuttles that
should meet your needs! Alternatively go on a diet. Try sitting in a
few gliders and see what is comfortable.

Del C


At 19:17 30 October 2013, wrote:
Good evening,

I need some assistance!

I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't
really
know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to
go
cross country in it.

The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably too
heavy,
but the question is what to go for.

I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I am going to suggest a Lak 12 , they are rated to have the cockpit weight
raised up to 130kgs with tail weights but they are for the long legged
shorter bodied person, I do not fit!
If the other issues around a long winged old open class are OK then you
have a 50:1 glider for a reasonable price that can handle your weight,
height and body geometry, try one on for size , the only other suggestion
is the HP24 rated to 300 pounds and a large cockpit.

At 08:45 01 November 2013, Surge wrote:
I'm an early solo pilot and I am also looking around for a first glider
and=
leaning towards an Astir G102 CS.
I'm also 6'4" tall although my mass is a little lower (95kg/15 stone).

The problem is that not every one has the same proportions. For example I
a=
m long in the legs and have a shorter upper torso.
I did all my training in a G103 and I did not fit well at all. The air
brak=
e would pop open if I used full right rudder because the lever was jammed
u=
p against my left knee. Other students my height were longer in the torso
a=
nd had no problems fitting in the G103.

In terms of the glider I can say that the club G102 Astir CS I fly has a
la=
rge roomy cockpit and much more legroom than the G103. Finding the right
ty=
pe of parachute is an important factor too as it has a vast effect on
head
=
and leg room.
The maximum cockpit load in the G102's is 110kg and you're going to be on
t=
he limit without a parachute and a bit over with one.
I doubt that 8kg over the limit with a chute would have any major effect
on=
handling but one would need to take insurance and liability into account
i=
f you do decide to go that route.
Take note that the Astir CS-77 has a flatter canopy which makes the
cockpit=
much more cramped and adds zero performance benefit from what I've read.
In terms of handling the Astir is nice and docile on low hour pilots yet
ha=
s enough performance for decent cross country flying. I haven't managed
to
=
scare myself with one yet.
In terms of cost I don't think you're going to find anything much cheaper
i=
n the glass range than the G102 and spares appear to be plentiful world
wid=
e.

I'd love to purchase an ASW-20 as my first ship (after I have a few more
ho=
urs under my belt) but they sell for around four times that of a G102 and
o=
nly add around 6 points to the L/D from what I can see.

[quote="Gary O'Neill[_2_];846500"]I am going to suggest a Lak 12 , they are rated to have the cockpit weight
raised up to 130kgs with tail weights but they are for the long legged
shorter bodied person, I do not fit!
snip

Would like to know where the 130 kg figure comes from. The flight manual says 110 kg max cockpit

No matter what your size.
A Caproni California A-21 is for you.
Make sure you get the jet engine self launch option.

On Saturday, November 9, 2013 1:58:04 PM UTC-7, Ventus_a wrote:
"Gary O'Neill[_2_ Wrote:

;846500"]I am going to suggest a Lak 12 , they are rated to have the

cockpit weight

raised up to 130kgs with tail weights but they are for the long legged

shorter bodied person, I do not fit!

snip



Would like to know where the 130 kg figure comes from. The flight

manual says 110 kg max cockpit









--

Ventus_a

BGA has a faxed letter from the factory allowing 130kg in the cockpit if 3kg of lead are installed in the tail. AFAIK, this was for a single glider, LAK-12 sn 6178. However, there is another letter on the same topic regarding BGA 4170, which refers to the same FAX date. I presume it's the same glider, however, apart from the date of the FAX, nothing in the correspondence links the serial number to the registration. Seems to be a one off approval.

YMMV

On Thursday, October 31, 2013 11:04:33 AM UTC+11, Dan Marotta wrote:
What's a "stone"?



Whats a "pound"?

The sooner you guys adopt the metric system the better.
It's the 21st Century for goodness sake.
I won't hold my breath though

On Monday, November 11, 2013 6:05:49 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Whats a "pound"?

A lot more than an Oz$ ;-)

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 12:17:44 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Good evening,



I need some assistance!



I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't really know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to go cross country in it.



The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably too heavy, but the question is what to go for.



I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!



Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Many years ago someone else posted a very similar question and got pretty much the same type of replies - except for mine. I recommended that he lose weight. I know it can be done: I lost 50 lbs and am back into a 34" waist. A year or so after posting that I was at Ephrata, WA when someone came up to me and introduced himself. I knew him, but didn't recognize him - he had read my post and took my advice, sucessfully! It gave my great sense of pride that I had had a material impact on someone elses life.

So, I am repeating the advice: lose weight! It is not that hard if you just commit yourself (sort of like getting your pilots license). One pound of fat is about 3500 calories. If you just cut 500 calories (two sugared soft drinks) a day out of your diet you will lose one pound a week. That is FIFTY pounds a year. I did it by cutting one meal a day and being prudent about the other two meals. Believe me, I didn't starve!

Good luck!

Tom

Well then, what's a kilostone, a boulder? Is a millistone, a pebble or a
grain? How many kilometers (kilometres?) in a minute of latitude?

Sheesh - the birds are walking today and it's not even winter yet...


wrote in message
...
On Thursday, October 31, 2013 11:04:33 AM UTC+11, Dan Marotta wrote:
What's a "stone"?



Whats a "pound"?

The sooner you guys adopt the metric system the better.
It's the 21st Century for goodness sake.
I won't hold my breath though