(Kirk Stant) wrote in message . com...

Personally, I also enjoy flying anything with wings -including 2-33s -
they all are interesting in their own way, even their faults are
interesting to discover and work around. My objection to the 2-33 is
that it is SO non-representative of the current state of the art in
soaring that it results in a lot of potential (read "rich enough to
afford the sport") glider pilots leaving the sport shortly after
getting their licence, in search of some sport that doesn't force you
to train and fly in a beat-up doggy glider. These are the poeple
riding $20k motorcycles, boats, etc. NO WAY is a guy (or gal) like
that going to put up with a 2-33!

And after they've jumped through all the hoops, all the hurdles, and
are free to buy and fly anything they wish, they drop? No way are
they going to stay with any hobby that requires any skill or
concentration. The glider didn't drive them away, they did what they
always will. Instant gratification is the name of the game today.
("Oh! You've gotta work to do this? See ya.")

And since no-one in their right mind (except for some friends of mine
who raced a couple of 2-33s XC yesterday - see the ASA forum for
details) would take a 2-33 XC, they result in the total de-emphasis of
XC glider flying at most US schools, and a lack of XC experience among
US CFIGs.

Why don't you see what else you can blame on the tool so you don't
have to look at the man? "'Tis a poor craftsman that blames his
tools." It was true when Ben said it, it's true today. The 2-33
didn't stop Judy from hammering "speed to fly" etc., from the first
time I got in until I finally told her I had no interest in it.
(Didn't stop her then either.)

the back
seat is uncomfortable

Maybe for you, but I found it comfortable. However, any of the
plastic I've sat in, with the exception of a Russia, were enough that
I don't want to spend any time in any of them. (Sat in it, not flew
in it, no piece of plastic is going to leave the ground with my ass
strapped in it.) TO be fair about it, I'm six feet tall and 155
pounds, which might explain why I'm not uncomfortable in a 2-33, front
or back. Two more inches of legroom would be appreciated, but that's
about all.

No, sorry. You can try to blame all the human failings on the 2-33,
but it isn't going to make them go away. Trying to build on a sense
of elitism isn't going to build anything but a reputation for
snobbery.