On Nov 8, 5:17*am, Jim Beckman wrote:
At 13:32 07 November 2010, Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:

On Nov 7, 5:52=A0am, Jim Beckman *wrote:

Turning away from soaring because of how the glider looks just doesn't
seem valid to me, but that's just me.

Yes. *As somebody else mentioned, it exhibits a serious shallowness on the
part of the person who rejects the experience. *Maybe it really has to do
with current youth expecting instant gratification in all things.

Really, the experience is the capability of the aircraft. *The ability to
use the energy in the atmosphere, to climb, to stay aloft, and to cover
the ground. *But if appearance is all you care about, then the 2-33 just
isn't going to ring your bell.

P.S. *By the way, I'd love to find a really nice Schweizer 2-22 -- now
THAT is a cool lookin' glider! *A Grunau Baby would be amazing to own!
Talk about "SOUL" -- *those old, ugly gliders (and for that matter the
older gals) have it!

I really wish I could get a chance to fly a Schweizer 1-19. *I know
there's one around here, but I don't think it's been flyable for twenty
years or so. *And for a real blast, try a 1-26 with the sport canopy
installed.

http://www.126association.org/graphi...t1-26solo3.jpg

Doesn't do much for performance, but the Fun Factor is at least doubled.

Jim Beckman

I'm pretty sure there is no or very little performance hit for flying
the 1-26 open cockpit. My old club had one, it was a blast but it got
cold at cloudbase.