At 14:12 19 September 2003, Nick Hill wrote:
John Galloway wrote:
At 22:48 18 September 2003, Slingsby wrote:

The price of these costly toys may indeed go up but

something bad has
just happened to the value of Shemp Hirth products.


snip...


Firstly, only spars built at the Czech factory were
built incorrectly using an simple error in the technique
which has been identified and we can be pretty sure
it has been eliminated.

Secondly, therefore, the bulk of the German built
SH
fleet are unnaffected and I think the glider buying
public are informed enough to be able to figure that
out.

Thirdly, all the SH gliders that could possible be
affected (i.e. Discus and Duo with Czech wings) have
been or will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired
and brought up to full airworthiness.


Maybe a better statement is the reputatation of Schempp
Hirth products
and procedures. It is fine to say the Czech built ones
are at fault but
you buy them from Schempp Hirth who therefore carry
the responsibility
for the production and quality control.

Nick Hill


Better than this.

When our club ordered its Discus B they specifically
asked for a German built glider and payed more for
the privilege, they were told that 'some components
would come from the Czech republic in accordance with
normal manufacturing' it turns out that 'some components'
are the sodding wings, the glider was grounded (during
a competition!) and the club is still losing revenue.