Jack wrote:

Draw your own conclusions, but the more I look at these and (lots of)
other numbers, the more I think that flying any glider is about as safe
as riding your motorcycle to the airport -- but not more so, and quite
possibly less safe.

Gliders are safer than parachutes. And parachutes are our back-up?

I've always been impressed with how well parachutes work. I know a
number of pilots that have bailed out and survived with minimal
injuries. It's amazing that someone with no training or experience in
the use of a parachute can successfully exit a glider without any
warning in a potentially fatal situation, get the parachute open, float
to the ground, and land with with only minor (at most) injuries. And as
long as they aren't injured in the mid-air collsion or breakup of the
glider, they almost always can get out, too. Incredible.

--
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