Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcmt!ron From: ron@hpfcmt.UUCP (ron) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Try Motorgliding ! Message-ID: <10400002@hpfcmt.UUCP> Date: Mon, 15-Oct-84 11:51:00 EDT Article-I.D.: hpfcmt.10400002 Posted: Mon Oct 15 11:51:00 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 22-Oct-84 07:08:51 EDT Lines: 45 Nf-ID: #N:hpfcmt:10400002:000:1868 Nf-From: hpfcmt!ron Oct 15 07:51:00 1984 Motorgliding is a great way to go ! Within the last month or so I have checked out in a Grob G 109 B Motorglider. Big deal, right ? Well, listen to this: The beasty combines many of the best features of high- performance sailplanes and lightplanes. It has a 4 cylinder aircraft engine perched in the nose with a 3 position controllable pitch propellor, side-by-side seating, stick-type controls, full night flying equipment,VOX-type intercoms with headsets, extremely effective dive brakes and a decent cruise speed of over 100 kts true. But, not only is this thing an airframe full of toys to play with (radios,etc) it is a really decent sailplane. It has an L/D of 28 to 1 (rated) and around a 300 fpm sink rate. Not bad for an 1800 lb aircraft ! Challenges to the macho: It has a very narrow track fixed landing gear with a tailwheel. (For your average glider-only jock, steering and taxiing are foreign enough without having a critter that is trying to make you look bad where people can see ! Also the rudder is a typical sailplane-size, not big enough, particularly for steering on the ground.) But, in spite of its ungainliness on the ground these things are a blast ! For me, the biggest kick is being able to get reliable time in the air. And it response better than many other sailplanes I have flown. For all you folks out in aviation-net land, there are two of these delightful machines available at the Ft. Collins - Loveland Colorado airport courtesy of : Soaring High Inc. (Fred Herr, owner) 303-491-9169 ( for reservations, directions) 303-226-0671 ( for more detailed info, evenings only) This note enthusiastically posted by : Ron Miller Hewlett-Packard Co. Ft. Collins, Co. ( 303-226-3800 ext 3260 ) P.S. If anyone out there is wanting to buy one of these for me for Xmas, I'll not object !