Edward Winchester wrote:
At 05:12 23 April 2006, Fred wrote:
I'm glad somebody brought this up. I've just gotten
back into soaring after a 15 year hiatus. CFI A&G,
Commercial A&G, 145 flights, all in G103 since I started
back last fall, except for last 3 in 102. I've got
the itch to get my own glider _bad_. I have noticed
a few attractive ads for 104s, seem to be reasonably
equipped, at what seems to be a reasonable price.
Guys in the club say 'Don't do it. All the problems
of flaps but no performance gain. Wait until you find
a deal on a good German glider.' What's the group
concensus?

WRT "All the problems of flaps but no performance gain," insert here a
dry chuckle. Having owned nothing but flapped gliders since 1975 (after
transitioning from a 1-26, with 200 hours logged time), I'm all ears
regarding flaps' implicit endemic problems. Mine have proved
trouble-free in 2400 hours logged time.

WRT "Wait until you find a deal on a good German glider," I suppose the
comment could be offered/taken in a number of ways.

1) Grobs in general tended to be leave the factory with a lot of
aluminum castings (read: brittle, weak) in their control systems, as
their AD history shows. Poor design choice on the factory's part.
Additionally, Grob gliders in general were/are sneered at from a
craftsmanship perspective by many Germans and Americans. If this is
what your club buddies are referring to, there are elements of truth in
their aspersions. OTOH, Grobs have no history of coming apart in the
air, so looks/emotion more than composite strength/pilot safety would
appear to he the implicit issues behind the aspersions.

2) If the comment reflects unthinking bias FOR "good German glass" and
AGAINST "everything else that isn't," then give it all the respect it
deserves, wich IMHO is darned little.

My advice is know yourself, know your flying skills, define your soaring
mission, and find the least expensive/best-all-around ship/trailer that
will help you meet your personal goals. If you buy a decent used glider
at a fair price, you'll not lose your shirt come sale time. If you buy
a "non mainstream ship" (as have I several times), you'll be selling
into the same non-mainstream pool come sale time, which may make the
glider less economically liquid. Whether that's a problem depends on
your perspective.

Good luck, and have fun!!!

Regards,
Bob Whelan