As an almost retired business owner (I have sometimes not visited the office
for over a year at a time :c), I think businesses here face several problems
when it comes to skilled labor.

The average worker no longer spends 20 to 30 years working for a firm. A few
years back, I read it was more like 4 to 5 years max. Spend the money to
train them and then they leave. Among much of the work force there is no
longer the same work ethic that once was common. And too, there's an us vs.
them mentality between management and labor which takes a lot of the "fun
and enjoyment" out of running a company. Worker expectations for wages and
benefits remain higher than in many other countries. Many are a bit spoiled,
unwilling to do the "grunt work", "What? A corner office and secretary
doesn't come with that shovel?!"

So, yeah, it might be tough to make a go of it here when the competition
(not referring to Germany now) can do it as good or better for less labor
cost.

bumper

While this may
"Brad" wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes, like the Apis-E or the Silent-2.
Any insights into the business aspects?

Thanks,
Brad


Eric Greenwell wrote:
Brad wrote:
Eric, SparrowHawk aside..............so, what if an American
Manufacturer came up with a sailplane that was designed and made in the
USA. I wonder if it would sell. Elsewhere in this thread it's been
stated that only the latest from Germany is what most want.

I think what needs to be done is a simple, elegant looking sports class
machine; designed from the ground up to be self-launch using an
electric motor. 15m, with an LD of aroud 40:1, this would not be the
latest hot competition ship, and would not even pretend to be, it would
be a fun flying, good performing sailplane that those of us who want to
fly for fun and don't have huge salaries could afford.

Maybe this isn't possible, but at least someone could try.

You mean like Apis or Silent electric self-launchers, but from the USA?
I think it would be an attractive offering and certainly technically
feasible, but a challenge as a business.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org