Michael wrote:

I've flown an L-13 as well, and even by comparison with a 1-26, never
mind a Ka-8, the handling can best be described as truck-like. Also,
I'm not sure the second seat is a feature. It's good for new pilots
to get into a single-seater (once they solo the two-seater, of
course). Builds self-reliance and keeps instructors honest about
teaching one to fly gliders, not L-13's or 2-33's.

Well, our L-13 is the best spin trainer we've got. Absolutely
fantastic spinning with the nose pointing WAY down and the ASI
showing the student that we ain't spiralling. I'm not sure
a new student really understands the "can stall at any attitude"
as well as in a many turn spin in a L-13. Well, at least not dual in
a ship costing about $10,000...

Besides that, I agree with everything else you've posted.

P.S. "ain't" = are not. Can also be translated "is not."
American vernacular for us'ns who d'wanna be concerned with
plural or singular...
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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA