If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
I've spent the last year or so keeping an eye out for a first glider... something like a 1-34, etc. No rush you know, just looking. But then I started taking my 9yr old daughter flying with me, and she absolutely LOVES it! She has been asking me every day when we are going up in the glider again.. and my wife caught wind of this and said "Well, you are going to be 40 this year. Why don't you spend our tax return on a glider so you can get Katie into flying?" So this has thrown me one heck of a curve ball. I would love to encourage her to take up flying by having her fly with me often. I could see where this could have a big effect on the rest of her life... So, if I were looking for a good safe glider, able to be disassembled by 2 or 3 people without breaking out backs in the process, would it exist for $10K USD? $13K? I don't have $20K to spend unfortunately. I've seen L13's for as low as $6K USD, but they are all currently grounded, and those wings look heavy! But then, I could leave it tied down at the gliderport which would be nice. Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance. Tom |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
On Jan 10, 9:13*am, tstock wrote:
I've spent the last year or so keeping an eye out for a first glider... something like a 1-34, etc. *No rush you know, just looking. But then I started taking my 9yr old daughter flying with me, and she absolutely LOVES it! *She has been asking me every day when we are going up in the glider again.. *and my wife caught wind of this and said "Well, you are going to be 40 this year. *Why don't you spend our tax return on a glider so you can get Katie into flying?" So this has thrown me one heck of a curve ball. *I would love to encourage her to take up flying by having her fly with me often. *I could see where this could have a big effect on the rest of her life... So, if I were looking for a good safe glider, able to be disassembled by 2 or 3 people without breaking out backs in the process, would it exist for $10K USD? $13K? *I don't have $20K to spend unfortunately. I've seen L13's for as low as $6K USD, but they are all currently grounded, and those wings look heavy! *But then, I could leave it tied down at the gliderport which would be nice. Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance. Tom Buy a good single place that can go cross country and join a club with a two place. You will get bored way too fast in anything under $50K in a two place. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
On Jan 10, 10:13*am, tstock wrote:
I've spent the last year or so keeping an eye out for a first glider... something like a 1-34, etc. *No rush you know, just looking. But then I started taking my 9yr old daughter flying with me, and she absolutely LOVES it! *She has been asking me every day when we are going up in the glider again.. *and my wife caught wind of this and said "Well, you are going to be 40 this year. *Why don't you spend our tax return on a glider so you can get Katie into flying?" So this has thrown me one heck of a curve ball. *I would love to encourage her to take up flying by having her fly with me often. *I could see where this could have a big effect on the rest of her life... So, if I were looking for a good safe glider, able to be disassembled by 2 or 3 people without breaking out backs in the process, would it exist for $10K USD? $13K? *I don't have $20K to spend unfortunately. I've seen L13's for as low as $6K USD, but they are all currently grounded, and those wings look heavy! *But then, I could leave it tied down at the gliderport which would be nice. Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance. Tom The only two seaters you are going to find for that kind of money will be grounded Blaniks, 2-33/22's, maybe a Ka-7. I see you live in St. Pete, a wood wing probably isn't the best idea in the wet climate down there. If I were you I'd look into your local club, http://www.tbss.us/, they have a 2-32 and a Grob 103, plus 3 grounded L-13's. Perhaps you already have. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
Why would I get bored in a two seater under 50K? Even the old Blanik's offer better performance than say, a 1-26, 1-23, etc, and people don't seem to get bored with those? Thanks |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
Hmmm I see what you guys are saying there just isn't much to choose from. A Grob is the only thing I can find under $30K. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
On Jan 10, 9:58*am, tstock wrote:
Why would I get bored in a two seater under 50K? *Even the old Blanik's offer better performance than say, a 1-26, 1-23, etc, and people don't seem to get bored with those? Thanks To go xc you must be willing to derig and trailer them home. Try derigging any of the two places you can afford and soon you will be staying within glide of your local airport. If you don't go xc you will soon quit flying gliders much because twirly birds get bored quickly. Get a nice trailer with a glass glider in it (sorry Tony) for $15 to $20K. Get a couple of partners and make it cheaper and join the local club and fly their two places. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
On Jan 10, 8:58*am, tstock wrote:
Why would I get bored in a two seater under 50K? *Even the old Blanik's offer better performance than say, a 1-26, 1-23, etc, and people don't seem to get bored with those? Thanks Have you been on many XC flights in a L13? Tried to find anybody to help you derig one after a landout? You may need to have a chat with you wife about the actual cost of sailplanes. Whether you have this chat before or after you buy one is up to you. Most owners are definitely not bored with an old Blaniks. They get to spend hours reading ADs and worrying about spar fatigue issues and if their gliders are ever goign to fly again. So if you want that kind of non-boredom I suspect many owners will be interested in selling you their L13 at a "great" price. It is hard to offer advice on first gliders without a real knowledge of what you want to do. There are no two seat gliders going for $20k that would have even the slightest possible interest as a two seat glider for me. If you just want to do the occasional local flight and take a family member along then joining a club or finding an FBO and using their club two seaters would seem lot easier than buying your own. But if you do want to buy one then I don't see much likely to be available except for say older Schweizer gliders and they are definitely not something that anybody is goign to be interested in rigging frequently. And prices of say SGS 2-32 are kept high because of their popularity with some FBOs etc. Should your interest be in XC - There are lots of great XC two seaters that either in club/FBO or private hands get used by pilots to take friends XC flying or more importantly to help mentoring/training new XC pilots. To really be effective there, i.e. show people what is really possible and have the most fun and advance the fastest I think you are into Duo Discus or DG-1000 class two seaters (or the older rev before these e.g. Janus or DG-500) and those get a lot more affordable if considered for clubs and syndicates. BTW the best way to buy a great ~$20k XC single seater is find one or two partners and find a nice condition ASW-24, Discus, LS-4, DG-300, etc. That will get you in the 40:1 L/D range, much easier rigging, auto control hookups, composite construction with no aluminum or fabric to worry about. And in that price range you also have a hope of a nice trailer. Darryl |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
If you're really keen on owning, how about the IAR IS-28 Lark?
http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...fm?planeID=370 You might be able to pick one up at a decent price: I believe there's something about life-limit (30 yrs?) that changes it's flying category and hence lowers it's value. Sorry, but I don't know much else about that situation (and I think it's different between Canada and U.S.). It's a decent flier and handles well (but I've only done about 20 flights in one, mostly 1/2 hour intros). Try looking for a club, though... there should be a much better 2- seater for rent than you could afford to buy, and then get joy out of a nice single. My personal experience is that it's much cheaper to rent the club ships than it is to own one. Owning gives you more freedom; I don't share very well. -John |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
To go xc you must be willing to derig and trailer them home. *Try
derigging any of the two places you can afford and soon you will be staying within glide of your local airport. *If you don't go xc you will soon quit flying gliders much because twirly birds get bored quickly. *Get a nice trailer with a glass glider in it (sorry Tony) for $15 to $20K. *Get a couple of partners and make it cheaper and join the local club and fly their two places. don't be. odds are my next glider will be club class glass in the 15-20 range. probably with a partner or two. Unless of course the SSA decides to expand the club class handicaps. Then I'll have to reconsider. Perhaps I'll just get a 1-26 then. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
First Glider, but now a two seater...
On Jan 10, 11:39*am, jsbrake wrote:
If you're really keen on owning, how about the IAR IS-28 Lark?http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...fm?planeID=370 You might be able to pick one up at a decent price: I believe there's something about life-limit (30 yrs?) that changes it's flying category and hence lowers it's value. *Sorry, but I don't know much else about that situation (and I think it's different between Canada and U.S.). It's a decent flier and handles well (but I've only done about 20 flights in one, mostly 1/2 hour intros). Try looking for a club, though... *there should be a much better 2- seater for rent than you could afford to buy, and then get joy out of a nice single. My personal experience is that it's much cheaper to rent the club ships than it is to own one. *Owning gives you more freedom; I don't share very well. -John I think the first of the IS-28 Larks start to expire in 2012. I've seen nothing on a life extension program for them. I've got a couple cross country flights in one and both those ended in land outs. I had a blast on the flights but my back may never be the same One doctor friend flew in a contest in one and had his hernia operated on when he got home. Matt Michael and I were able to rig it with just the two of us and a combination of sawhorses and brute force. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
F-16 Two Seater | Canuck[_2_] | Aviation Photos | 0 | September 3rd 08 03:40 PM |
two seater BD5 | Philippe Vessaire | Home Built | 6 | October 28th 07 05:28 PM |
WTB 2 seater L/S Nav | Sleigh | Soaring | 0 | June 11th 06 06:50 PM |
WTB L/S Nav 2 Seater | Sleigh | Soaring | 0 | May 20th 06 08:28 PM |
4-seater | Nyal Williams | Soaring | 54 | November 29th 04 10:53 AM |