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I have 1978 SF25E with worn brake shoes. I obtained new shoes a few years ago, but when I tried to fit them, they were a few mm too big. What are the diameters of the two different drums?

It’s on again! 2025 is shaping up as a great season. https://www.weglide.org/flight/889901 Here is an explainer: and todays flight

I am back for my 3rd season chasing the morning glory cloud. It is shaping up as a great year with some good prospects still to come. if you want to know more about the Morning Glory I made this intro video. And this was today’s flight. https://www.weglide.org/flight/889901 it is not often you see a Phoenix at the top of the WeGlide daily best list! I beat the Stemme!

I can ship only to the US.

Hello Bob, Sounds like a great idea. I have both planes and a TMG and my Sinus is my favorite by far. I would get on hangar lists today as it takes a while and these planes should not live outside if it can be avoided. We have a flight school in Monterey and are located at Salinas Airport KSNS. We have a Pipistrel Sinus that is in rental. www.soarmontereybay.com Nick at Soar Paso www.soarpaso.com is closer and has a Virus glider. Happy to help you out when you get to that point. Once you have a LSA license adding sport Glider is very easy, no checkride required just fly with CFI to proficiency and then get a proficiency check from another CFI. let me know if we can help. Clinton

Hello BobG here. Wanted to get some advice on my plans to Touring motor glider flying. Would appreciate any input. 1st Thoughts: a. SLA Cert.: Planning to get Sport Light Aircraft certification (private pilot licensing eventually), in year at nearby airport in Camarillo California (or other nearby), to learn basic skills, build flight hours and absorb knowledge, etc. It is close an only 30 minutes away, and logistically very doable. b. Glider Lessons: Subsequently, lessons, after completing SLA certification, and learn additional knowledge for soaring. In Palmdale (Llano) 90 minutes away. 3 hrs. drive is limiting. c. TMG. Subsequently, purchase a used Touring Motor Glider (TMG). Used 10-15 years, affordable - e.g., Pipistrel Sinus, Phoenix, Grob, Stemme, other. Fly out Camarillo, or other. Background 1. Hang Gliding. Started Hang gliding 20 years ago (dozen+ lessons; tandem) in Los Angeles . Loved it but Risk-Reward too high and left hang gliding before leaping off mountain alone. 2. Soaring. Did Glider rides instead, as I loved the feeling of flight, but 90 minute ride each way (Palmdale, Llano, CA). Soaring at Llano regularly, can be alot of driving. 3. TMG. Upon SLA certificate, glider lessons and enough flight hours, knowledge and skill then buy my used TMG. 4. TMG/Local. Final - Fly my TMG out of a local Southern California regional airport (Camarillo, etc); along with Tie down there. Summary It would seem that if I earn my SLA certificate (or private pilot), learn glider profiency (or whatever reg's require), I could fly a TMG into nearby mountain ranges (same as Palmdale nearby mountains) and even local desert, and return to local regional airport. I am also a little surprised not more pilot do this. I would appreciate any input. Thank you in advance. BobG

Seems like the rails are the most vulnerable to breakage and you can order them separately. Regardless, I bet it flys just fine now that you know how precious they are 😜.

Omg! $500 with shipping and tariff.

Thanks all. After some consideration, I am comfortable to use the Odyssey PC-625 AGM battery. And my battery switch has either/or/both positions.

Because you have an LSA, you have lots of great options battery options. Two options are the certified batteries made by EarthX and Concorde. Those companies paid untold sums to get their products legal to be on Part 23 aircraft and they are priced as such to make their money back. Since you cleverly bought and fly a aircraft that has been made to ASTM standards instead of Part 23, you have many more options. These standards have been shown to result in no loss of safety and are why the LSAs have been expanded under MOSAIC. I use two AGM batteries. We'll save the advantages of an aft CG for another thread.

My vents are made by Mecaplex (name is printed very subtly on the top and bottom rail) and can be purchased on wingsandwheels.com Bring your sense of humor. The prices have gone up considerably since a year ago.

I changed to 2 x Lithium a while back. Yes, lithium drops off quickly (not instantly) when flat, but for the same size and much less weight you get a lot more capacity. I mainly wanted more capacity for extended soaring. DONT CUT CORNERS. I assume you have seen video of lithium (iron) batteries burning. Only use aviation grade which address all (?) the safety issues. I used EarthX, I think they are the leaders and are certified in many aircraft. There is a Letter of Authority floating around from Jim Lee's days providing the authority to make the change. (we are LSA remember!) EarthX say they are fine with your old regulator, but I changed to a better regulator set to lithium voltages. I think you might get more charge in, but check with EarthX. It soundes like you have 2 batteries now. How are they wired/switched? I have mine separated; one for avionics and one for the engine, so if I do run the avionics low (has happened a few times) I always have the starter battery. And if the starter battery dies, I can switch the avionics (bigger) in to start the engine. Since I changed I don't get any brown-out reboots of the avionics when starting, much longer soaring time with all the avionics and plenty of starting grunt.

the small vents that flip in and out.

I Have a Lithium in front and a lead acid in back for soaring. lithiums die instantly, lead acid dies slowly.

IT is time to replace the batteries in my Phoenix. The plan right now is to replace them with what was original equipment: Odyssey PC-625 AGM battery. Any other thoughts?

Chute was repacked and rocket replaced last year. Transponder check done a month ago.

160K..... I spoke with Rand Vollmer (former Pipistrel dealer now working with JMB/Phoenix) and he said this was the going rate.

I have flown the Dimona a fair bit, and now own a Phoenix. The lower weight (plus other things) makes the Phoenix much nicer to thermal. The Dimona has little feel while a number of people have commented that the Phoenix is the closest to a 2 seat glider you will find in a TMG. It doesn’t penetrate (I.e. fly between thermals) very well, but can easily mix it with pure gliders thermalling.

Hey thanks. I got that and thats really a plus i liked . I dont even know if the diamond wings come off easily. I imagine that the performance is probably pretty simular. One thing that is important to me is leg room to the rudder pedals and how much your knees have to bend.

A huge advantage of the Phoenix is how easy it is to remove the wing tips so the motorglider will fit in a standard T-Hangar.

First time i saw Jim Lee demo the phoenix with dan johnson. I stopped droolin over big wheel bush planes.Then i find Jim Lee here and bam a Pheonix with bush wheels. As a guy who fell in love with the idea of jonathan living seagull flying hang gliders scince the 70s working for electra flyer , american aerolights and flying point of the mountain watching Jim lee and JC Brown sail effortless throu and up over the wasatch mountains leaving 25 scratching newbees behind. Ive decided my last hoorahs belong in a motorglider. Exspensive for a new toy and money flys out of my hands better than i do. Ive decieded to find something used. And as much love for them i hear from lots of pheonix pilots and the fact that Jim flys one. Iam going to have work finding one i can buy. Ive also seen a few buys on the diamond motor gliders. I wonder if any pilots here can shed me some advice pros and cons between these two aircraft. Thanks

Jamie i was wondering rough est on what you might be asking ? Not shure what the pureflight model intails? Engine?

Whats your asking price. Info