Cirrus is fun to fly, and it's as tough as nails.
PW5 is no doubt more forgiving, but I can't see the allure of spending
more money, on lower performance and lower strength.

FWIW the standard airframe life on the Std Cirrus is 15,000 hours. My
recently sold 1970 edition had less than 3000 on her. A shiny new glider
becomes a used glider very fast. Then you are only looking at
capability, flying characteristics and price...

Think - is it better to buy a new car and take the depreciation hit, or
to buy a nearly new car for 30% less? Believe me - at the end of the
first year you will be unable to tell the difference between the car you
purchased six months old and the car you put the first six month wear onto.

If you have the money and inclination to spend the extra money, you are
probably more in the market for a higher performance glider.

If you are looking for something that is newer/ lower maintenance/
lighter easier to rig etc. Then you might be in the market for a PW5.

It's a good thing there is such a diverse market out there - or I would
still be a bachelor...

On 2011/06/14 11:25 PM, Ben Flewett wrote:
At 04:35 10 June 2011, RRK wrote:
Not to mention, that there is no less expensive, new glider build in
the last 20 years.


Perhaps. But why not buy a Cirrus... Less money, more performance, a
comparitively crashworthy cockpit, a meaningful class to race in, your
friends still talk to you, the benefits are endless.

You can't call a Cirrus driver a snob!

Cheers

Ben




--
Bruce Greeff
T59D #1771 & Std Cirrus #57