Originally Posted by
thisadviceisworthles
Why are motorgliders not as popular in the US? What homebuilt options exist in the US? What are everyone's thoughts on the class?
You have to define what you want more definitively. There are generically 3 categories of what you have referred to as "motorgliders"
1) A motorglider to perform both cross country flight (point A to point B under power all the time)
2) A glider that has a motor for takeoff, initial climb before (motorless) soaring and maybe as a sustainer (to keep from landing off airport)
3) A glider that has a sustainer motor only (from having to land off airport).
The latter two, 2) and 3), have many (but often expensive) options, but are good for soaring, including competitive soaring.
1) on the other hand (as in all aircraft design is a compromise) is a poor compromise of both a soaring aircraft and a go somewhere aircraft. The requirements are so different that there isn't a good compromise. An aircraft that soars well will not be fast enough or comfortable enough to use it for A to B transportation.
Motorgliders are popular in Europe because powered airplanes are expensive and expensive to operate. For 1) above, typical flights in Europe are shorter. IOW, many flights cross country borders (like we cross state borders.
For 2) above, it saves the costs of the tow airplane (significant in Europe). For 3) above, it saves the risk of landing in hostile territory (unsuitable terrain).
No airplane/sailplane/glider can do it all. Figure out your highest priority and buy/build an aircraft that meets those requirements. Borrow/rent/buy a second aircraft for your second priority … if it is that different.
My (more than) 2 cents,
Ron "Blue on Top" Blum