Sport Pilot Talk

Apologies if this is verboten for a LSA forum, but I never thought of it.

I am selling my DG-300 (glider) so I can train in light sport and buy something to doink around with; weekend jaunts etc. with the bride. A friend suggested a Motor Glider. Hmmmmmm. I believe these are a tad heavier than light sport, but as a glider pilot I'm all set (mostly).

Same routine as an LSA, pull the wings and put it in a trailer in the garage for the winter. Visit the same sites, perhaps get there at a slower rate, but hey; I'm retired.

Any thoughts on the idea?

Thanks, Dan

The Xenos can either be flown as a Sport Pilot/LSA, or it can be flown by pilots that hold a glider rating with a self-launch glider endorsement.

http://www.sonexaircraft.com/aircraft/xenos.html

these guys have 6 LSA models with glide ratios up to 40:1

http://www.pipistrel-usa.com/

This topic was covered extensively in a previous thread.... below

http://sportpilottalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=1944

some great info and debate in that thread

Thanks John, good stuff there. My friend has a Pipistrel, it's very nice but way outside my budget.

Going to continue training in an Aeronca Champ and buy something next summer; can't say if it's LSA or motoglider at this point.

Thanks for the help,
Dan

I spent some time at Sun 'n' Fun last year lusting after this:



For me, however, it loses a huge amount of appeal for its impracticality for the kind of flying we do. The huge wingspan, in particular, would be really awkward in day-to-day flying.

But for the right person in the right environment? WAY COOL!

From what I have seen, there are no inexpensive gliders, especially motor gliders. The Xenos mentioned is the cheapest option, about $40-50k if you build it yourself, maybe a bit more if you can find one for sale built (they rarely come up for sale).

914Driver wrote:Thanks John, good stuff there. My friend has a Pipistrel, it's very nice but way outside my budget.

Going to continue training in an Aeronca Champ and buy something next summer; can't say if it's LSA or motoglider at this point.

Thanks for the help,
Dan

Just buy a Champ... they glide great if you keep about 1400 RPM in

The Sonex factory Xenos motorglider is for sale!

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... PE%21.html

This is the factory demo/protoype Xenos built by the factory (so you know the build was done right), Serial Number 1. I have personally seen this airplane and it seems very nice. Their asking price of $45k seems reasonable as well, though you might be able to offer less and make deal.

Just FYI since motorgliders came up!

Also, the factory Sonex Sport Trainer is also for sale. I think they are making room for all the new "B-Model" factory airplanes they are offering, and they no longer sell the original design models.

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... ER%21.html

Kinda leaning toward the Grob 109. Seems to do everything I want; weekend stuff, soaring (badly) without a tow pilot and can get out of trouble if necessary. It will do most of the LSA stuff, however a bit slower.


Dan

I always liked the looks of the Lambada, but I'm not sure what happened to them.

Friend of mine has a Lambada, I just don't have $80,000.

The idea is not new and people observed the advantages that Hambone listed. Best of all, you can fly even if your medical was denied (not just expired). Jim Lee, representative of Phoenix, tried to to capitalize on it for a while now. The problem is cost. New Stemme is way north of $300k. Phoenix is more affordable, but every time I checked, it tracked about 25% more expensive than a new CTLS.

http://www.phoenixairusa.com/

I'm leaning toward a Grob 109.

zaitcev wrote:The idea is not new and people observed the advantages that Hambone listed. Best of all, you can fly even if your medical was denied (not just expired). Jim Lee, representative of Phoenix, tried to to capitalize on it for a while now. The problem is cost. New Stemme is way north of $300k. Phoenix is more affordable, but every time I checked, it tracked about 25% more expensive than a new CTLS.

http://www.phoenixairusa.com/

Psst...see the Xenos for sale above for $45k!

914Driver wrote:Kinda leaning toward the Grob 109. Seems to do everything I want; weekend stuff, soaring (badly) without a tow pilot and can get out of trouble if necessary. It will do most of the LSA stuff, however a bit slower.


Dan

I had a Grob 109B for 7 years and loved it. Shut the engine down many times to soar and it never failed to start right away. No problems. Only problem was that the wings attached at the wing root. So to hangar it (in a T hangar) you would need a couple of guys to help you swing / pivot the wing tip back to the tail to hang it on a brace. Also the 109B model had a door on each side. Still great visibility. But on a lot of the A models I noticed cracks in the canopy as it is a one piece canopy and I guess the hinges were not designed very well....or on the ones I saw the wind might have done the damage. Today my choice would be one of the Pipistrel models.....but big bucks, even the used ones.

Doug

Thanks Doug,

I bought one in California 3,000 miles away. 109a with a new canopy and some other niceties. Very excited! I flew in a Pistrel Virus a few times, it may soar better than a 109 because it's light, but it will rattle your fillings loose because it's light.

Not in my budget ......

Dan