So I bought a hot rod.

aircooled wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: All planes can turn into gliders. Gliders don't turn into planes!

Not entirely true:

I thought about those, then decided that they still go from airplane to glider. The FAA disagrees, though. Interesting.

Keith,

Someone on the pilot end can correct me if I'm wrong since I work the mechanical side. You can get a Private Pilot Certificate with a Glider type rating without having the power rating. There's a bunch of time required like getting a regular pilots certificate and a written test if you aren't power certified.

SSA breaks it down pretty well here.

For the more complex version the FAA FAR Part 61 should be visited.

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/9e4d3c434cb1bb7e852566c700670188!OpenView

GRM boards don't like the FAA link embedded apparently.

The0retical wrote: blah propellers are dangerous!

there is also the RATO/JATO option.. or maybe GRM together a catapult system..

So, what's cheaper? A RATO/JATO bottle or some guy in a Cessna?

I think those self launching soar planes are really cool. I need a hobby like that just like I need another hole in my head. Throwing money into a hole in the sky versus a hole in the water, versus a hole in the driveway.

So, how much is a self-taking off soar plane?

A Stemme S10-RT (the one I'd get) runs about $200k.

Thank God I won't have to worry about buying one of those, then.

needs J.A.T.O.

Can always get the ones with the fold away engines for self launching

I have always liked the WWII training gliders.