US Dollar sinks to new low against Euro

I agree with Steve. As an example, the Russia AC-5 sold very well because
it had a good price and decent performance. It has about 70% of the L/D of
ASH 26 E, but was about 40% of the price, and 30+ pilots found that very
attractive. Unfortunately, it's not available new now, and the
manufacturer's intentions aren't known.

L/D is somewhat overrated as Bob K and others point out, especially for a
motorglider. A Russia pilot might have to use his engine more often than I
do in my ASH 26, but what's an extra 10-15 minutes of engine, 5 or 6 times
a year? Nothing really, but it sure can expand your soaring options.


I can attest to Eric's statement about the ability of the Russia 5M to
expand your soaring options. While it seems to me the LS-4 is a great
glider, I bought a 5M this last spring for roughly the amount of money that
would get me an LS-4. However, the 5M allowed me to fly twice the hours of
my previous high hour season because I could fly from an airport 10 minutes
from my house as opposed to 2 or 2.5 hours from home. For me, the increased
number of hours greatly makes up for the relatively small performance
reduction because I feel I am making more rapid progression in my quest to
be a soaring pilot.

Tim

On 13 Nov 2004 01:51:12 GMT, ojunk (Robertmudd1u)
wrote:

It is not missing it already exists, the Apis M is a selflaunch 15meter span
glider available in kit form. It uses modern design concepts and materials. The
39hp. engine assures good climb rates even at high density altitudes.

Unfortunately that Apis is anything but cheap...

Visit the web site for more information. www.apisgliders.com

In all fairness I must mention that the Silent selflaunch is also available in
kit form but is 13meters in span.

..... and it's electric!
This is what I regard as the future of gliding.


Bye
Andreas

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Kirk Stant wrote:


The US on the other hand, seems (IMHO) to have a substantial anti-XC /
racing majority - which would explain the "success" (?) of the
Sparrowhawk and PW-5 over here.

(Sound of loud buzzer for wrong answer) The people buying and flying the
SparrowHawk are most definitely cross-country pilots! You don't buy a
glider like that to float around the airport. It'd be a heck of fun ship
for that purpose, but the people that want to do that seem to buy
cheaper gliders or use the club ships.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

I still don't think the question of repairability has been adequately
addressed by the producer. If you ding a wing, a factory repair may be
required. Same as the Diana 2.

This may ultimately impact your insure charges. If I were your underwriter,
I'd certainly be looking at this. This, of course, is strictly conjecture
based on what I know of pre-preg composite construction and what was stated
by the Diana 2 design team at Atlanta.

Frank Whtieley

F.L. Whiteley wrote:


I still don't think the question of repairability has been adequately
addressed by the producer. If you ding a wing, a factory repair may be
required. Same as the Diana 2.

This may ultimately impact your insure charges. If I were your underwriter,
I'd certainly be looking at this. This, of course, is strictly conjecture
based on what I know of pre-preg composite construction and what was stated
by the Diana 2 design team at Atlanta.

Anyone with a serious interest in the SparrowHawk doesn't have to rely
on conjecture, but can discuss things like this directly with the
designer, Greg Cole. I don't own one, and I don't have the answers.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

(Andreas Maurer) wrote in message ...
On 11 Nov 2004 12:10:00 -0800, (Brad) wrote:


Since I am 3-d modeler by trade I have been designing up my "dream"
sailplane that would probably end up with a 15m span, but it would be
built using Apis/Russia/TST-10 technolgy, thus would have a empty
weight around 450 pounds or so.

You can already buy this - it's the Apis 2 ultralight motorglider,
certified according to the German ultralight regulations.

I have a 13m Apis and a 1/2 share in a 15m Apis.......they are great
gliders! my partner is putting an MZ-35 in the 15m and I am putting a
MZ-100 in the 13m.

Price: 60.000 Euro.

see above...)


Not quite a bargain, isn't it?

heck.......everytime I see gas go down a penny I feel richer.

Brad

Unfortunately that Apis is anything but cheap...

Andreas,

"Cheap" is a relative term. the Apis M is less than half the price of a DG 800
or ASW-26. If you have a partner it is even better.

In a "cheap" motorglider you will mostly likely get what you pay for.

Robert Mudd

On 14 Nov 2004 00:24:35 GMT, ojunk (Robertmudd1u)
wrote:


"Cheap" is a relative term. the Apis M is less than half the price of a DG 800
or ASW-26. If you have a partner it is even better.

You are completely correect here - here in Germany a partnership is
the preferred way to own a glider.

But reading RAS I got the impression that partnerships are not common
in the US (hence the interest of many US pilots in cheap - or shall I
say low-budget? - gliders). Is my impression correct?



Bye
Andreas

But reading RAS I got the impression that partnerships are not common
in the US (hence the interest of many US pilots in cheap - or shall I
say low-budget? - gliders). Is my impression correct?
Bye
Andreas

Andreas,
From my experience it think that is correct. Many is the time I have talked
with pilots who wants to own a glider but can't afford it. I mention a
partnership and they say " Oh I could never be in a partnership"

I am always tempted to ask then just what personality defect they have that
will not allow them to get along with someone else and share the fun and cost
of a flying machine.

Well thought out partnerships are a great way to lower your flying costs and
have a glider of your choice to fly.

Robert Mudd

Andreas,

Partnerships are still common, although less so for the competitive
crowd. I believe the majority of gliders at my home airport are owned
in partnership but relatively few of them are campaigned regularly in
contests.

I do agree, however, that most U.S. pilots would rather own a glider
alone. Many of them probably dismiss the alternative of acquiring a
newer, better-equipped, and/or higher-performance glider by partnering
with another pilot or pilots.

Back in 1996, I posted on RAS about this:

"Affordable gliders" --
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=pa... l.com&rnum=1

[if this link doesn't work, try doing an advanced search in
groups.google.com with "partnership," JNBearden, and 1996 as the
parameters]

I won't repeat the same stuff here except to say that partnerships,
like marriage, can be difficult and demanding but also very rewarding.
If money is what is holding someone back from acquiring the sailplane
of his or her dreams, winning the lottery or robbing a bank need not
be the only ways to realize that goal.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"

But reading RAS I got the impression that partnerships are not common
in the US (hence the interest of many US pilots in cheap - or shall I
say low-budget? - gliders). Is my impression correct?



Bye
Andreas

Eric Greenwell wrote in message ...
Kirk Stant wrote:


The US on the other hand, seems (IMHO) to have a substantial anti-XC /
racing majority - which would explain the "success" (?) of the
Sparrowhawk and PW-5 over here.

(Sound of loud buzzer for wrong answer) The people buying and flying the
SparrowHawk are most definitely cross-country pilots! You don't buy a
glider like that to float around the airport. It'd be a heck of fun ship
for that purpose, but the people that want to do that seem to buy
cheaper gliders or use the club ships.

Sorry, Eric, I disagree. The US soaring scene is unfortunately biased
by the prevalence of commerial operations - "show up, fly a 1-26 for
an hour, then go home and pull out the honey-do list".

XC is the most fun (to me and my friends, at least), when done in
company with friends, in similar performing ships. With most of the
established 15m and Standard ships, that works well. Somehow, I don't
see a Sparrowhawk keeping up with a V2, ASW-27, or LS8. And if you go
for the Sparrowhawk option, you are opting out of most racing -
unless you go for sports class.

I've seen several people out here buy PW-5s (all enthusiastic), do a
little XC, then give it up and sell them because everybody else leaves
them behind.

I see the Sparrowhawk as a typical US "we do it different here"
approach. I'm sure it's a nice little glider, but not sure where it
fits in the big picture. I know I have no desire to trade my ship for
it - it's easy to get addicted to high performance!

Kirk