Motorgliders (long)

I agree, motorgliders = discounted bragging rights.

I also tend to discount flights done by people who fly around with a
ground crew following them every step of the way.

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message link.net...

Last year I listened to an excellent pilot describe a 1000K flight over
difficult terrain in his MG without an engine start. Afterward, I wondered
if this flight would have happened without the safety net of the engine. If
the flight had been in a pure sailplane, I would have given the flight a
"10" - in a motorglider, only a "5".

There is always this question after a good flight in a MG - was the pilot
good or did he get lucky after a dumb decision? There's no way to tell.

Motorgliders, like pure sailplanes before them, will continue to improve and
the rules for their use will continue to liberalize. It all makes me wonder
if we will end up with mere powered airplanes that must only demonstrate an
ability to "glide" to a landing. This is a slippery slope and if we go that
far, it would be very sad.

We fly merely for the bragging rights. MG's are a very convenient, low
risk, low effort way to fly. Pure sailplanes are hard work and require that
an endless series of difficult decisions be made before and during flight.
Pure sailplanes will always earn the greatest bragging rights for any given
flight.

They should also earn the greatest points in contests.

I think JJ is right to dig in his heels and insist that this sport remain
soaring in the traditional sense.

Bill Daniels