"alex8735" wrote in message
ups.com...
The missing point is that it is not what you fly- it is that you fly.

I cannot really image that new shiny glas ships make all that
difference. When I took up gliding with 15 years of age I was trained
on the K13 and soon flew Ka8 and Ka6. I always thought these were
beautiful gliders and a lot of fun to fly.

Yes, these are beautiful gliders and fun to fly. If only they had become
popular in the US. The 2-33 isn't even remotely in their league.

I suspect many in this discussion haven't even been in the front seat of a
2-33 in years - if ever. If you haven't, you need to go sit in one. The
first thing you will notice is that you are very uncomfortable. Then you
will notice that unless you have legs like straws you won't have full
aileron movement - in fact, you may have less than half. If you continue to
experiment with various control positions you will find something really
startling. If the spoiler control is positioned at 50%, where it would be
in a normal approach, your left leg will be trapped between the stick and
spoiler control blocking all left aileron. In fact, the stick will actually
strike the spoiler handle if you somehow remove your leg. If your arms are
not average or longer, you will find full down elevator is unavailable.
These are serious deficiencies and would most likely make the 2-33
impossible to certificate under current FAR 23 or JAR 22 rules.

Now get in the back seat - if you can. You will be even more uncomfortable
with the seat to back angle less than 90 degrees. Imagine an average size
student in the front seat blocking your view of the instruments. (For those
who haven't seen a 2-33, there are no instruments in the back seat.) Now
look up and to the side and see the wings blocking your view into a turn.
Ask yourself if you would be comfortable in a gaggle with a new student in
the front seat. Ask yourself if you would be willing to sit here for 8
hours instructing. Would you ask anyone else to do so?

Now get out - if you can. Inspect the glider carefully. Keep in mind that
these are very old gliders which have led a hard life. Look at the rusty
screen door springs holding the rudder pedals forward. If one of these
breaks, which they do regularly, the affected pedal will flop flat to the
floor where most pilots can't get it back into place while flying. Ask if
you would be comfortable with your child in the air with a missing rudder
pedal.

Pay particular attention to the upper surface of the "D"-tube skin. You
may well find diagonal cracks in the metal skin or patches where someone
else found cracks - these are metal fatigue. Look at the skins around the
inboard ends of the ailerons for cracks - another favorite place for fatigue
cracks. If there are patches, ask if anyone inspected the internal wing
structure for more cracks.

Now place your hand on the fin leading edge and lightly push aft. Be
prepared for the base of the fin leading edge to separate from the
fuselage. The single 3/16" bolt, or the thin aluminum tab that holds the
fin LE has broken on many 2-33's and has not been caught for many annual
inspections.

Notice I didn't ask anyone to actually fly the thing. That would be over
the top.

Bill Daniels