On 2/6/2011 9:54 AM, David Smith wrote:
Memories are funny things Eric, you forgot the LS6 won 4 world
championships, in 85, 87, 91 and 93 the ASW20 won once in 81 coming second
to a Ventus in 83 at Hobbs. But that is not to decry the 20, at 30 years
old it "IS" best bang for your bucks and still holds its value.

I didn't forget that - my remarks were personal observations from flying
against L6s recreationally and in contests, and reports from other LS6
and ASW20 owners doing the same. I have also observed the ASW27 is
noticeably superior to an ASW20, and that is why I don't lump the LS6
with the 27, but put it with the 20.

The higher price you will pay for an LS6 reflects the greater desirability

Oddly, that did not translate into sales, with the ASW20 variants
selling over 1,000, and LS6 variants at about 375 (wikipedia figure). If
the LS6 does command a higher price, perhaps it is the shortage of
gliders available, and not the desirability that accounts for it.

I'm not suggesting the L6 is in any way inferior to the ASW20, just that
it is not superior, and definitely not in the ASW 27 class.

and the later 18m version is the most desirable of all. It stayed in
production until 2003, but in later years the factory was making mostly
LS8s, another desirable glider that will not be cheap.

I'm pretty sure the OP was not looking for 18 meter span gliders, which
is a very different discussion, and excludes the 20 he was asking about.

In todays market recreational pilots want 18m span and an engine if
possible but an 18m LS6 will cost more than a Ventus C turbo of similar
age. However, lets not get into a discussion on the merits or demerits of
engines in gliders.

Why not? In another thread, of course. I love that discussion! "A Guide
to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to
know http://tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)