Self Launch (Motorglider) Endorsement
I did a self launch endorsement this week with Rolf Peterson. Flying out of Byron airport in Rolf’s Grob 109B. We also flew over to Tracy and shot some touch and go landings there.
Besides covering motor glider specific things, the training was a great general early season warm up and Rolf really helped me brush up my skills. The endorsement is required by the FAA and by my insurance company but since motor gliders vary so much I need more than a generic motorglider endorsement in a Grob 109 for handling a retracting engine motorglider like my ASH-26E. I’ll be working with the team at Williams Soaring on that ASH-26E specific training and sign off.
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Since the Grob 109 is a three wheel taildragger with break away castering tail wheel it handles similar to Citabrias, Piper Cubs or other taildragger powered aircraft. I went and read The Compleat Taildragger Pilot (Amazon or PilotMall) which seems to be the training book prefered by many taildragger instructors, including Rolf. I also picked up a copy of Taildragger Tactics by Spark Imeson (know for writing The Mountain Flying Bible). Taildragger Tactics covers more than just tail dragger handling, from cold weather operation to tie-downs. Both books seem really good. I’ll be even more respectful next time I see tow pilots kissing the ground with a wheel landing in a Pawnee.
The Grob 109, it is a relatively low performance glider but it is a sweet toy. Since it is a touring style motorglider, transitions between powered and glider flight are easy and the Grob 109 is capable of higher speed cruise flight than motor gliders with a retractable pylons.
An added bonus was that Rolf’s hangar is next to one that houses Airshows America. So we popped our heads in there and admired their L-39s, MIG-17s, Pitts Special, and other toys.
