Ryan Young

A member of the Philip Greenspun's Homepage community since January 15, 2002

If you were to log in, you'd be able to get more information on your fellow community member.

January 16, 2002, on Soaring:
There are a couple of other motorgliders out there worth considering, although none I'm aware of with the engine on AND engine off performance ot the Stemme. There is actually a bit of a tradition of european touring motorgliders, exemplified by the designs of Rene Fournier. The RF-4, powered by a Limbach VW conversion, was at one time fairly numerous both here in the US and in Europe. Mira Slovak, a famed aerobatic pilot, used to deliver them from France by flying them across the Atlantic! The EURAVIAL RF-47 appears to be a continuation of this line. I thing Diamond still makes the long-winged motorglider version of the Katana. And the venerable, all aluminum Czech Blanik is available in a powered version. And some of the high-zoot glass sailplanes are available in "self-launching" versions, with small two strokes and climb props that retract once they've gotten you in the air. Web search engines on these keywords should get you fresh links if you're interested.