Homebuilt Sailplane Kits for beginner
Don Kyle
I have no building experience. Do these kits come
complete? What tools are required? What are the
cost of these kits, and how long do they take to
build? Is this a good way to get a sailplane, or
should I consider buying used instead? What
would be a good kit to start with? Any
recommendation? Thanks.
Don Kyle
do...@aloha.net
E Dale Thompson
: Can anyone tell me about any sailplane kits available?
: I have no building experience.......snip, snip...
.... Is this a good way to get a sailplane, or
: should I consider buying used instead? What
: would be a good kit to start with? Any
: recommendation? Thanks.
There's a saying among the Experimental Aircraft Assn. (EAA) folks to the
effect: If you want to build, build.
If you want to fly, buy.
SOARING magazine occasionally carries ads and articles on kit-built gliders.
Good soaring,
Dale Thompson
Raul Blacksten
1. Advanced Soaring Concepts "American Spirit," about $20,000.
2. Advanced Soaring Concepts "American Falcon," about $28,000.
3. Group Genesis "Genesis I," about $25,000 (not in production
yet, but will be by mid-1996).
Advanced Soaring Concepts
4730 Calle Quetzal
Camarillo, CA 93012
Ph: 805-389-3434
Fax: 805-482-3366
Group Genesis
1530 Pole Lane Road
Marion, OH 43302
Ph: 614-387-9464
Fax: 614-387-0501
There have been unhappy builders of the ASC kits. Help is
available from a 3rd party, but the kit has problems.
The Genesis prototype has gotten rave reviews from all who have
flown it.
You might also check "Soaring" magazine from the Soaring
Society of America. Also, the December issue of "Kitplanes."
Wishing you green air!
Alan Meyer
>
>Can anyone tell me about any sailplane kits available?
>complete? What tools are required? What are the
>cost of these kits, and how long do they take to
>should I consider buying used instead? What
>would be a good kit to start with? Any
>recommendation? Thanks.
>
the Radab Windex 1200 motorglider. I got a brochure on it from:
Steve Coan
ARACO
1121 Lewis Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34237
The price with engine appears to be about $40,000.
I never built an airplane but I did build a sailboat once. It was a wooden
Mirror dinghy, built from a kit. The advertising said that 8 school girls in
England once built one in 72 hours total. I'd like to have met those girls
because, fumble fingers that I am, it took me about 250.
I think the 105 pound dinghy I built must be trivial compared to most
airplanes. I therefore think that you would be wise to go into any building
project with your eyes open. I've read that 400 Monerai kits were sold, but
I'd be surprised if 100 of them were ever completed and flying. You've really
got to like building things and want to build it for the love of building
and learning about airplanes as much as for the finished product.
Having said all that I'll also say that when I took my sailboat down to the
Chesapeake bay and put it in the water an old man hanging about the pier
looked at it with a slight sneer and said "New boat eh?", implying that I
must be a real tyro on the water. I replied, "Yep, built it myself." His
face immediately changed from a look of amusement to one of respect and he
complimented me on the effort.
Good luck.
--
Alan Meyer
AM Systems, Inc.
Randallstown, Maryland
ame...@ix.netcom.com
Jeff Knell
> 1. Advanced Soaring Concepts "American Spirit," about $20,000.
$21,480, I believe is the current price.
> There have been unhappy builders of the ASC kits. Help is
> available from a 3rd party, but the kit has problems.
This statement is vague and potentially misleading, so permit
me to jump in, as I often do on the subject of the Spirit.
It is true that most Spirit/Falcon builders are at least irritated
about their kits in one way or another. Build-times are higher
than claimed (common in the industry), some operations are more
difficult and ambiguous than they should be, the manual is marginal
and the attitude at the factory is not good.
There is also the issue of the root rib/spar stub connection that
failed under static testing. A fix was determined and further
testing with the fix in place showed the fix is good.
Despite the problems, which occur to some extent in all kits,
especially when first introduced, the finished Spirits and Falcons
are turning out to be good gliders. Quality will vary between
builders, of course. But I have heard almost exclusively positive
comments from those flying their ships; and all those I've talked
to that are close to finished feel good about their ship.
Take my case: I've bitched and moaned about every problem, and
probably have one of the worst relationships with the factory.
But I have conscientiously worked my way through every problem,
customized where appropriate, and generally made every effort to
build a safe and beautiful glider. I'll put an excellent ship
in the air next summer.
As I've said before, in my opinion, the biggest problem with the
ASC kits right now is the price. I believe they are now so high
that buying a used ship is a better way to go, for anyone other
than the most determined builder. Also, although more expensive,
the Genesis kit promises to be much easier to build, and a more
competitive Standard.
jeff
Kevin Renshaw
Association. They have a newsletter that covers a wide range of
sailplanes, tips and sources.
Contact SHA via:
Dan Armstrong
21100 Angel Street
Tehachapi, CA 93561
You might also look up the Soaring Society of America home page.
Happy Holidays,
Kevin
F L Whiteley
What is your hands on build time to date? Any other ASC builders
have build times? 1000 hours to finish?
The Genesis has potential. In some ways, perhaps it's good that
it's been sent to a factory for kit and finished production. I
was just curious whether this was the developer's intent from the
beginning, or done when no backing could be found for US production?
Francis
Anthony E Bible
>Can anyone tell me about any sailplane kits available?
>I have no building experience. Do these kits come
>complete? What tools are required? What are the
>cost of these kits, and how long do they take to
>build? Is this a good way to get a sailplane, or
>should I consider buying used instead? What
>would be a good kit to start with? Any
>recommendation? Thanks.
>
>do...@aloha.net
I'd suggest you pick up a copy of the December issue of KitPlanes. It
contains a list of homebuilt aircraft and some statistics about each aircraft,
including build time. Most of entries are power aircraft, but there are
several gliders including the Genesis, Swift, a couple of Marske designs,
American Spirit, and several others that I cannot recall. I was surprised at
the number. Many I had never heard of before.
Since you have no building experience, I'd also suggest you consider
doing two other things: (1) join the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
and their local group. (2) buy _Kitplane Construction_ by Ron Wanttaja, ISBN
0-8306-3565-3 (p). I assume the (p) is for a paperback which is what I have.
The book will provide you with a lot of valuable information, and it is very
well written. How can you not enjoy someone who writes words to the effect
that basic skills means you know it's the pointy end of a drill bit that makes
the hole?
Best of luck, Don.
Regards,
Tony
Jeff Knell
F L Whiteley writes:
What is your hands on build time to date? Any other ASC builders
have build times? 1000 hours to finish?
I've put in about 850 hours hands-on time (thinking and doodling time
could add up to another 400). I have about 200 hours more to go before
starting on the finish. Depending on the quality of finish I end up
being satisfied with, prep and paint could take from 200 to 400 hours.
I'm slow and careful, so judge the times accordingly. I've seen some
builders that are even more careful, and some that are less. I have
also done a fair amount of customization, which really adds time.
I know one builder who claims 700 hours, exclusive of prep and paint.
I believe the Sargent brothers in Tehachapi (sp?) have over 2500 hours
in their beautiful Falcon. Careful builders with minimal experience
will be over 1000 hours.
F L Whiteley also writes:
The Genesis has potential. In some ways, perhaps it's good that
it's been sent to a factory for kit and finished production. I
was just curious whether this was the developer's intent from the
beginning, or done when no backing could be found for US production?
As I've been told by Group Genesis, moving production overseas was not
the initial plan. But I'm unsure whether they intended on building finished
ships, as well as kits, from the beginning. Selling finished ships seems
like the only way to recoup their substantial development costs.
I assume that low-cost production proved difficult to arrange in the US.
The Lithuanian deal made sense, I suppose, both for lower costs and because
the European glider market is so much bigger than the US market.
I believe Jerry is backing the project with his own money.
jeff
S. Steve Adkins
>
>Don Kyle (do...@aloha.net) wrote:
>: Can anyone tell me about any sailplane kits available?
>: I have no building experience.......snip, snip...
>.... Is this a good way to get a sailplane, or
>: should I consider buying used instead? What
>: would be a good kit to start with? Any
>: recommendation? Thanks.
>
>There's a saying among the Experimental Aircraft Assn. (EAA) folks to
the
>effect: If you want to build, build.
> If you want to fly, buy.
>
>SOARING magazine occasionally carries ads and articles on kit-built
gliders.
>
>Good soaring,
>
>Dale Thompson
>
>
>
Also, you should investigate the Sailplane Homebuilders Association.
This organization is over 400 members including some of the greats in
design of sailplanes. They publish a dynamite newsletter. I have been
a member for a little over one year. Dan Armstrong is the Editor.
Write to 21100 Angel Street, Tehachapi, CA 93561. I own plans #278 for
the Carbon Dragon which has a minimum sink ratio of 100 fmp. There is a
terrific parts kit available from H. F. Blanton (see ads in Sailplane
Builder).
S. Steve Adkins
EAA, SHA, AOPA
s.s.a...@cdev.com