Diamond Motor Glider Gliding Trial

As Diamond Aircraft reintroduces its HK36 motor glider to the North American market, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli tries it out as a glider only. It's performance is impressive, making it a good choice to learn soaring.

[@stepleton]

27:1 is not a great glide ratio even for trainers these days. The L-13 Blaník is 28:1, so on par, and an ASK 21 clocks in at 33.5:1. Certainly the venerable Schweizer 2-33 is less at 22:1, but despite its prevalence at American clubs, it really is an antique. You won't find any club operating a 2-33 that wouldn't trade it for something newer if they could.

[@IdleGod]

@tstepleton Agreed. Our club's lowest performance is a pair of L23 Blanik trainers... 27:1 is at the bottom of performance. However, for a motor glider, it may be half-decent.

[@williamgosvener47]

Like researching things, this is what I found.
A 27:1 glide ratio is average or a little bit above for a glider. Its actually rated at the HK36 is actually rated 30:1.
Pepistrol is said to be 30:1
Steme is said to be 50:1
Yet their are many gliders out there (cheap end) with a 14:1 to 20:1 glide ratio.

[@tillgatzenmeyer1113]

@@williamgosvener47 Go to a german or european gliding club and you wont find a lot real gliders with a glide ration less than 33:1. The most club class gliders today have 38:1. I mean the HK36 is still a motor glider. The prop and fixed landing gear wont allow for a real good glide ratio

[@williamgosvener47]

@@tillgatzenmeyer1113 you are talking about performance gliders, the high end ones that are owned by organizations or ones owned by people who race them.
Most people can't afford the ones that have 70+:1 glide ratio.

[@tillgatzenmeyer1113]

@@williamgosvener47 No, i'm talking about the normal fleet of a glider club. For example we have a ASW15, LS4, LS8-18, DuoDiscus, which all have better glide ratios. I just wanted to point out that the glide ratio of the HK36 can be easily topped by normal club class gliders, that arent high end or anything. They are even cheaper than a HK36.
Of course the capabilities of an eta is more than above average.

[@williamgosvener47]

@@tillgatzenmeyer1113 again those are performance gliders owned by clubs, not something someone would own on their own normally.

[@XaircraftX]

@Jakearoo14 lol yeah last time in another video it didnt start =P

[@pimpmytafel]

The instrumentation is a bit to scarse for me, ill stick with the Katana...

[@hunterTS4]

KPCM??!?

[@cellokid5104]

GPL sucks when you can only fly this thing and a sf25c