Hi All. Further to my last post there has recently been a prop Strike in a G109 landing engine on. Seems from what I am told it is standard practice at the club concerned to land engine on and the landing got crossed up in gusty conditions. It is now an insurance claim of a reasonable size. This reinforces my point and the GFA MG training Syllabus. Landing engine on to avoid warming the engine up to taxi back makes no sense. Taxi power and warm up power are the same so what is the point. Its a Motor Glider. The whole point is to use the engine to launch so you can glide otherwise you would buy a sport aircraft like and ultralight or a fast glass GA or something. This is what it is designed for.
There has also been a self launcher in W.A. come to grief in a failed engine restart in circuit. Fortunately the pilot is OK but pretty beat up from what I heard and the aircraft a loss. Second such incident in 6 months and the previous one had life changing injuries from what I am told. This again reinforces my point about engine reliance. We are flying a glider and if we remember that fact and fly accordingly we will be safer in my view. When things go wrong apply your glider training. Most engine failures at restart are due to Pilot Finger Trouble and if you don't try a restart it can't happen. Seems to me that modifying your circuit is the safest course of action and I have done this many times. Works in a Dimona just like all the other gliders I fly. Better than being in hospital lamenting the loss of your aircraft or worse still dead. I know there are members on this list that do rely on their engine and do land engine on as a matter of course and hence I have sent this mail as a demonstration of yet more instances of why the GFA MOSP MG Syllabus is worth following. The above instances have happened since my last post. Sorry to bore you but this is something I am passionate about. Fly safe and enjoy yourselves. Cheers. Nige.
