seaplane motoglider?

"Morgans" wrote in message Yeah, it would bring a new meaning to "give it
a wide berth" wouldn't it?

Does the Sonex motorglider require a medical to be flown? Put some floats on
it and there's your answer.

D.

On Sat, 17 Sep 2005 03:52:11 GMT, "Capt.Doug"
wrote:

"Morgans" wrote in message Yeah, it would bring a new meaning to "give it
a wide berth" wouldn't it?

Does the Sonex motorglider require a medical to be flown? Put some floats on
it and there's your answer.

The Xenos (the motorglider by Sonex) has a 45'-8" wingspan. It is
low-wing. I've not seen pictures of height above water in their
prototype Sonex airplane (22' wingspan) with floats, but doubt one
could hold level enough with that glider span.

Now to your medical question ... same old, same old. If licensed as
glider-self-launched, only PPG (or SPG, but why get that one, PPG is
reported as easier) with self launch endorsement can fly it. No
medical by FFA, but supposedly some insurance carriers require one.

If licensed as airplane, PPSEL who has not failed medical can fly with
signoff. PPG cannot, as I understand it, independent of endorsements
they have. PPG could PROBALBY get a SPSE pretty easily, I would
think.

Just my thoughts ...

Once an aircraft is licensed as an airplane, it cannot be registered as a
glider. Some motorgliders were licensed as airplanes and the owner sadly
found out that it could not later be converted to a motorglider (at least
easily). So, the motorgliders with short and long wings would have to be
licensed as an airplane, then when the long wings were installed, it would
simply be a long winged airplane requiring a medical.

Motorgliders can often be cumbersome at airports. When you have 54 foot
wings and are landing at a 50 foot wide runway with lights on each side, and
one landing wheel allowing a wing to fall, you have an invitation for
excitement. Most motorglider damage occurs on the ground. Many taxiways
are simply built to test the frustration level of pilots. That being said,
I do not think that docking an amphib would be too much worse.

And, how do you get an amphib motorglider into a 35' boat slip? Same way
you get one into a 35' hangar - not easily.

Colin

"COLIN LAMB" wrote

And, how do you get an amphib motorglider into a 35' boat slip? Same way
you get one into a 35' hangar - not easily.

With hydraulics, folding the wings, ala navy aircraft carrier planes! How
silly for me to have to tell you that! g
--
Jim in NC