Glider add-on to Comm and CFIG

[cougar6903]

Has anyone gotten a Glider add-on to a Comm? How long did it take? What did you fly? I would like to get the rating and also move on to the CFI-G add on.

 

[DaveJ]

You need 25 hours and 100 flights for commercial glider.

I got a glider add on back in the 70s. Pieice of cake. Definitely the easiest check ride I ever took. The CFIG was probably the 2nd easiest check ride. I did both auto-tow and aero-tow so that I didn't have a tow restriction on my ticket. If you don't do both on your check ride, you'll have a restriction to aero-tow only.

Auto-tow is a blast. You hold the stick all the way back and go up like you're on a elevator (at least for a while). They're not too practical, however, unless the glider port is near an area of ridge lift. You just can't get enough altitude to start searching for thermals.

 

[IflyaBoeing737]

I used to give glider add ons and if you have a Commecial certificate already it took most about 3 flights to solo and 20 flight with at least a 360 degree turn. There is no minimum time required for an add-on. ant the CFI-G is where there is a minimum flight time and I think its 10 hours in a glider. I could easily do an addon in a weekend if we had no other rides to give.

 

[DaveJ]

If've you've got 200 hours in airplanes, then it's a little less:

(2) 200 hours of flight time as a pilot in heavier-than-air aircraft
and at least 20 flights in a glider as pilot in command, including at
least--
(i) 3 hours of flight training in a glider or 10 training flights in
a glider with an authorized instructor on the areas of operation listed
in Sec. 61.127(b)(6) of this part including at least 3 training flights
in a glider with an authorized instructor in preparation for the
practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test;
and
(ii) 5 solo flights in a glider on the areas of operation listed in
Sec. 61.127(b)(6) of this part.

 

[cougar6903]

What do you guys think of the Schweizer 2-33 for the add on? The club I am considering has one and also a 2 seat Blanik L-13?? Any opinion on which is a better trainer?

 

[Dangerkitty]

What do you guys think of the Schweizer 2-33 for the add on? The club I am considering has one and also a 2 seat Blanik L-13?? Any opinion on which is a better trainer?

Where are you flying out of? I got my Commercial Glider in a Grob 103 and loved it. Great performing sailplane. Made the transition to the Single seat Grob 102 a snap.

 

[tuna pimp]

What do you guys think of the Schweizer 2-33 for the add on? The club I am considering has one and also a 2 seat Blanik L-13?? Any opinion on which is a better trainer?

I've got a fair bit of time in both. 2-33's is a bit easier to fly with the high wings and is a bit more stable in the air. It is a very difficult glider to spin, for example. Blanik L-13 is a bit more complex aircraft as it has flaps and a retractable gear. Blanik has a bit of a better glide rate too, I believe. 2-33's a bit easier for lookout because you don't have a wing blocking your view when you clear left or right.

Takeoff roll is a bit different as the Schweizer has a skid so you start out with the stick full back to get off the skid and then get it balanced on the nosewheel. Blanik does not have a skid in front of the wheel.

The easier aircraft to fly, in my opinion, is the 2-33; but the blanik has a bit more performance going for it.

If you're an experienced pilot however I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference either way. What I hear from the CFIGs where I fly is that power pilots transitioning sometimes don't use enough rudder in the turns - that they try to 'steer' the aircraft. And naturally you need to be aware more of your altitude and distance relative to the airport at all times. Normally doesn't take more than a few flights to get a power pilot solo'd in a glider.

 

[NuGuy]

What do you guys think of the Schweizer 2-33 for the add on? The club I am considering has one and also a 2 seat Blanik L-13?? Any opinion on which is a better trainer?

Hi Cougar,

I did my commerical and CFI add-ons a few summers ago. DaveJ got the commerical requirements right on if you have more than 200 hours. I figured I spent around $1400 for it, and I did it all in a 2-33. It's a great ship, and with a decent amount of lift, you can almost stay up all day, but you won't get anywhere fast.

I needed to get my CFI renewed anyway, so I thought I would press onward for the CFIG. It was a skosh more challenging to get the time, because unlike the commerical part, part 61 requires 15 hours of PIC in category prior to getting the CFI. I wound up flying rides on the weekend for the outfit that I did my commerical at, and I got checked out on a glass ship, and put in a few 2 hour flights. I did my spin training, and finishup work in a Blanik L-23, but either the 2-33 or L-13 will serve you well. If I remember right, the L-13 has flaps to keep track of, so the 2-33 might be a touch less work, or you might consider a L-23 if one is available

For the CFI-G add-on, there is a 20-25 question written test that is a non-event if you use the Gleim or ASA books/software.

I had a blast doing both ratings.

Best,
Richard

 

[Flechas]

I've always wanted to fly gliders, anyone know a good place in or near Houston?

 

[Goose Egg]

Checkin' in for the self-launch crowd. Got my Comm add-on and my CFIG in a Grob 109B motorglider. Fun stuff. I had always heard that power pilots don't use enough rudder in turns to correct for adverse yaw. My experience has been, however, that you have to use WAY more right rudder on climbout in a single to correct for the left turning tendencies than you'd ever need for correction of adverse yaw in a glider.

In any case, it's fun. Go for it.

-Goose

 

[cougar6903]

Thanks for the help guys. It should be fun.

 

[Kawasumi_Kichou]

Did my Comm-G add-on in a Grob 109B too (N791G). Took about a month of grabbing spare moments. Anything to build total time towards the ATP. Never did get around to doing the aero- or ground-launches though. Definitely a lot of fun.

 

[Goose Egg]

Did my Comm-G add-on in a Grob 109B too (N791G). Never did get around to doing the aero- or ground-launches though.

Cool to hear of someone else doing it powered-launch, and in the same type no less! I probably won't get around to doing the aero launch either, at least not for a while.

Real soaring is cool, but (this will sound pretty weird) I'm really kind of interested in the scale RC soaring stuff--sometimes it's just as much fun to watch something fly as it is to be flying it. If I ever did buy a full scale glider of my own, it'd probably be one of those higher performance self-launch deals. That'd be cool.

-Goose