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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2017 8:44:09 GMT
The big question though Nick...would you have taken the risks you did without it? The bottom line is that that little 'crappy' engine would get you out of trouble in the scheme of things. Cheat...cheat... . ...erm...I'd probably do the same thing... Yes absolutely (to the first point). No, the crappy little engine won't get me out of trouble, it will only save me from an otherwise satisfactory landing in a field. I bought this glider because it was the model I wanted at the right price, not because it was the variant with the engine. When I am pushing my luck low in the mountains I never consider the possibility of starting the engine as it would probably be catastrophic. To start the engine I have to put it up, maybe 10 seconds during which the glide angle goes from 55:1 to perhaps 20:1. Fuel on, ignition on, prop brake off, set throttle, dive to about 80kts and give a well timed pull on the starter cord and hope for the best, slow to 49kts when it fires. You need about 400' to do all that. I'm often below 400' agl when things get sticky and the way our of the shit is often to fly fast through the sink, pointing downhill. Once you have the engine out you can no longer use the glider's performance and since the climb rate is only 1kt, more than likely you are in trouble because there is more than 1kt of sink and so the engine will take you to the scene of the crash. To put the engine away if it doesn't start is very difficult as you have to use the prop brake and pull start to manually set the prop in the 12 o'clock position, looking in the tiny mirror on the coaming (it's a fixed 2 blade prop) before it will retract. In the mean time you have the 20:1 glide angle even at low speed. Nope, I can hand on heart say it never enters my mind to use the engine at awkward times. I think perhaps if you have a self-launcher with automatic sequencing and electric start, the better rate of climb, twin ignition and ease of starting might be slightly different but even so, flying fast is normally the way out of trouble and you can't do that with the engine out. i think the proof of the pudding is that I fly my Ventus b/16.6 (no engine) with exactly the same safety margins as I do the ASH25E. Fair enough. Actually I hear there is a glider with a small jet engine at our club. Never seen it, but apparently you can take off on a runway with it so long as it's not on grass. That must be fun.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 9, 2017 9:08:29 GMT
Yes absolutely (to the first point). No, the crappy little engine won't get me out of trouble, it will only save me from an otherwise satisfactory landing in a field. I bought this glider because it was the model I wanted at the right price, not because it was the variant with the engine. When I am pushing my luck low in the mountains I never consider the possibility of starting the engine as it would probably be catastrophic. To start the engine I have to put it up, maybe 10 seconds during which the glide angle goes from 55:1 to perhaps 20:1. Fuel on, ignition on, prop brake off, set throttle, dive to about 80kts and give a well timed pull on the starter cord and hope for the best, slow to 49kts when it fires. You need about 400' to do all that. I'm often below 400' agl when things get sticky and the way our of the shit is often to fly fast through the sink, pointing downhill. Once you have the engine out you can no longer use the glider's performance and since the climb rate is only 1kt, more than likely you are in trouble because there is more than 1kt of sink and so the engine will take you to the scene of the crash. To put the engine away if it doesn't start is very difficult as you have to use the prop brake and pull start to manually set the prop in the 12 o'clock position, looking in the tiny mirror on the coaming (it's a fixed 2 blade prop) before it will retract. In the mean time you have the 20:1 glide angle even at low speed. Nope, I can hand on heart say it never enters my mind to use the engine at awkward times. I think perhaps if you have a self-launcher with automatic sequencing and electric start, the better rate of climb, twin ignition and ease of starting might be slightly different but even so, flying fast is normally the way out of trouble and you can't do that with the engine out. i think the proof of the pudding is that I fly my Ventus b/16.6 (no engine) with exactly the same safety margins as I do the ASH25E. Fair enough. Actually I hear there is a glider with a small jet engine at our club. Never seen it, but apparently you can take off on a runway with it so long as it's not on grass. That must be fun. Yes a chap here has one, it's an HpH Shark. The jet is a self-sustainer only, so whilst you could in theory take off on tarmac if the runway is fairly long, it is not legally allowed because the two categories of self-launchers and self-sustainers are very different. Apart from the airworthiness differences, a self-launcher requires a power pilot's licence whereas a self sustained requires no licence. Getting a PPL with a gas turbine rating wouod be very costly. As usual, legislation and attitudes in the CAA lag far behind progress in aviation technology. For this reason, there are no production jet self-launching gliders. its great though, because when you extend the engine there is no significant increase in drag - its tiny with no propellor, and you can fly fast with the engine delivering full thrust. Fully automatic extending/retracting/starting/stopping, there is just one switch. I think it will cruise level at 100kts or so. But also very noisy, however one can normally pass blame on to the RAF if the neighbours complain!
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 9, 2017 9:24:57 GMT
Blimey, must be a Southern club at that price! Our club is £168 per year! But then that's a pretty short timeframe for you so they must be well set up with full time instructors and winch drivers. Ed: oh I think you said it was Shennington earlier. Yes, Shenington. It is actually one of the cheapest in this area. They have a good set up, and are 7 days a week for the best part of the year. The only cheaper option is a weekend only place which isn't great for me. I've finally remembered who I know at Shenington: John and Tessa Whiting. He's a surgeon, he has a bit of an oriental look about him, they have or had a Discus. Very pleasant and friendly couple, but unfortunately I haven't seen them for a good few years. If you ever encounter them, remind them of Nick Norman at Feshie. Also Rowan Griffin who I don't know as well, but he's been up to Feshie a good few times.
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