Confused Jack wrote:

'As might easily have been anticipated, you have taken
the egoist's approach to my remarks concerning unwarranted
criticisms of the PW-5 and of the World Class concept.
'

'I'm suggesting (and I wonder why you are not) that
I couldn't care less what aircraft someone chooses
to fly, but only about how well they fly it, and ultimately
what I might learn from them (and about them) in the
process.'


OK, just one more time...

I DON'T HATE THE PW5. I DON'T HATE THE WORLD CLASS
CONCEPT. IN FACT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA WHICH
IS WHY I ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THIS SITE.

The PW5 has its place in the world and if people want
to fly them - why would I care? Yes, I believe the
PW5 does not represent value for money but I don’t
care if others disagree. However, it would appear
that only 300 people disagree which is not enough to
make an international class. What I do care about
is THE SELECTION OF THE PW5 FOR THE WORLD CLASS GLIDER.

The World Class is an excellent concept and I wish
it were the most popular class in gliding. However,
as a movement we made a bad selection for the World
Class glider which, as discussed, has led to the failure
of the class. I am raising for discussion the concept
of changing the PW5 for a glider that more people will
want to fly so we can have a successful World Class.


We have a problem in that we have committed to the
PW5 until 2009 but perhaps there is something that
can be done here - some suggestions have already been
made as a result of this discussion.

Ben.


At 07:48 16 March 2004, Jack wrote:
On 3/15/04 6:15 AM, in article -b
erlin.de,
'Ben Flewett' wrote:

...[Schumacher's and Barrichello's] 'Mine is bigger
than yours' attitude
is ruining Formula One [and] John Coutts' (top ranked
glider pilot in the
World)...has 'too much money and not enough character'.

As might easily have been anticipated, you have taken
the egoist's approach
to my remarks concerning unwarranted criticisms of
the PW-5 and of the World
Class concept. A F1 Ferrari is as unsuited to the Baja
off-road race as an
ASW 27b is to the World Class. It would be irrational
to think otherwise,
no?

If one chooses not to fly a PW-5 because the level
of competition of which
one is capable requires a mount far more esoteric,
then by all means choose
the more suitable ship. But that hardly justifies the
near hatred expressed
here towards the PW-5. The PW-5 has its place. The
fact that it has not been
universally adopted says more, I believe, about the
psychology of the
sailplane enthusiast than it does about the capabilities
of the aircraft.


Are you honestly suggesting that people should WANT
to sell their beautiful German sailplanes and buy
PW5s?

I'm suggesting (and I wonder why you are not) that
I couldn't care less what
aircraft someone chooses to fly, but only about how
well they fly it, and
ultimately what I might learn from them (and about
them) in the process.


Have you ever flown a glider?

Certainly, though not well enough and not often enough
-- do you suppose
that is the glider's fault?



Jack