Affording a Motorglider

If you already own a glider, then YOU may already be able to afford a self-launching, high performance motorglider! Let me show you how, in 2018 costs.

The first thing to realize is the motor is about a $30,000-$60,000 premium over a "regular" glider, whether you are buying a used one or a new one. There are other costs, plus some avoided costs, like tows. Here's an example of about what the net yearly cost might be for an active pilot living in Seattle, WA, in 2008, but doing most of his soaring a 150 mile drive away in Ephrata, WA, where the weather is drier and the clouds are higher:

Added costs:

$2000 interest cost (or interest not earned) on the $40K motor purchase @ 5%

  $200 for the additional cost due to the motor during the annual inspection

  $600 insurance on the motor value

  $200 fuel and oil for 50 "launches" and three self-retrieves

$3000 Total additional costs

Avoided costs:

$1650 30 regular tows at $55/tow (Ephrata)

  $375 5 tows at $75/tow at "Big Bucks Soaring" in Nevada

  $360 3 aero-retrieves at $120 each

  $100 2 car retrieves plus dinner for crew

$2485 Total avoided costs

Net additional cost: $3000 - $2485= $515