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Old August 6th 10, 08:28 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
John Smith
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Posts: 195
Default Diana-2 and overall performance discussion

tommytoyz wrote:
I find it amazing that there are not more pilots flying the Diana-2 at
the worlds, since it seems to be head and shoulders above anything


If you just look at the overall results, yes. But if you look at the
dayly results, then the Dianas have outflown the other models only on
the one fast day. On the weak days they performed well, but not
unbeatable. Bottom line: Consistency wins, or in other words, don't
underestimate the pilot factor! If Stefano Ghiorzo wins a two week
contest in the Diana, then he probably had won in an ASG-29, too.

Cockpit size may be a factor in the USA, but in the rest of the world,
most people are still reasonably sized. So this isn't the killer factor.
The small cockpit will prevent clubs to buy it, but then, the Diana
isn't a club ship anyway.

However, for most pilots I know, money is a major factor. So they
consider the estimated resale value. For a ship from one of the major
German manufactorer, this is more or less a known factor. For the Diana,
it's not. Many pilots just don't want to take that risk.