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Old 11-21-2009, 10:15 AM   #26 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
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Oh, that's a big one. The root of this line of development was the Quickie Q1, a single place design with the front wheels on the canard wingtips. It originally flew on 22 HP. Quickie Files
The Windrose motor glider is probably more the way to go if one wants to do gliding, though. Many sailplanes could easily carry a small motor - many of the best ones carry ballast. The records are over 1,000 Miles on Zero gallons, but you don't get to choose the route on those flights. There is a proposal to tether two sailplanes together, to work as kites on the differential in wind speed with altitude. That would give more options, but usually mostly downwind, like a square-rigged ship.
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