What aircraft looks like a cross between a Cessna and a glider? I always like to look at flying machines overhead.  One day I saw something I've never seen before.  It looked like a cross between a Cessna and a glider.  It was powered, but I heard no sound from it (but I might not have anyway due to ambient noise).  The wings were about twice as long and half as wide as a regular Cessna.  Any idea what that was?  It looked like it was built for pure fun.

Updates in response to comments:

It was not a glider; it had a front engine and high wing like a Cessna.  But it was not a Cessna either.  The wings were about twice as long as a Cessna, and about half as wide.  On the other hand, the wings were about half as long as a glider, and twice as wide.

It was almost directly overhead, about 1,000 feet.  I looked intently since I love aviation in all forms and I'd never seen anything like it.

Whatever it was, it looked like it would be a lot of fun.

If it matters, it was near downtown Seattle about 2 years ago.
As you describe it, a motorglider would fit the bill. There are several types around, the most popular being the Grob 109 and the Hoffman Dimona.



Grob G-109 (picture source)



[Hoffmann H36 Dimona (picture source)

Other possibilities include the Valentin Taifun (the only one with a tricycle landing gear) or the Scheibe SF 36. All of those are of composite construction, but there are also earlier types with wooden wings and a steel tube fuselage, like the Scheibe SF 25 "Falke".

While a Cessna is a high wing plane, all motor gliders are low wing (well, except for this one here). Would a cross between a Piper and a glider describe what you saw even better?