Just a slight aside.....nobody has said a word about SLMG
(Self-Launching Motor Gliders) If i've got it right?....seems to be an ideal compromise in that you "carry your own tow" so to speak.- a "get out of jail " card, if you can't find lift or are unsure about a "forced" landing. apart from the weight-penalty, I see only advantages,
Curious how the costs compare, what are the licensing requirements? are they so bound-up in red-tape that they're sidelined?