wrote on 11/12/2019 8:51 AM:
Been there, done that. And it depends on what your definition of “ decent” club
gliders is. In a club setting my definition is ships which are inexpensive to
fly and operate. Due to the ridiculously high cost of personal aircraft
ownership in EU, the club scene is essential for folks of modest means to get
to fly. Thankfully here in the states, we are not forced into that situation.
Any tom-dick-harry can, for modest means, own and operate his own ship! Can’t
say that about EU. Have fun with your “decent” club ships over there, I’d
rather own and fly my own ship, even if its of lower performance here, wherever
and whenever I choose.

Unfortunately, that does not make it as appealing to nearly as many US
tom-dick-harry as the European club system makes it their tom-dick-harry. The
situation in Germany, for example, is much different than here. Germany alone has
more glider pilots than we do, and it has a quarter the population. I think the
Germans, and Europeans in general, have more choices about when and where to fly
than US pilots, because there are so many clubs within driving range. They can buy
gliders cheaply, too, if ownership is really desired, and it's lots easier to get
a launch.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorg...ad-the-guide-1