On Tuesday, June 18, 2013 8:15:48 PM UTC-4, Sean F (F2) wrote:
Daniel, who I arranged an internship for the summer in Ionia (where he is today), is a friend. We have had numerous us conversations on this LS4 topic. All I will say is if Daniel had access to this LS4, he'd be flying it in Ionia next week. He may be a little afraid of further upsetting his club members who are already spinning in a political furball.


So Sean, Daniel writes above that ACA has been incredibly supportive of all of his soaring needs. Yet you persist in implying that the club has somehow withheld use of the LS4. Well, I know you're not one to let facts get in the way of your opinions, but let's try these on for size:

- Daniel has been offered (encouraged actually) to take higher performance ships to races. Starting with the 1-34R for Mifflin. He declined for his own legitimate reasons.
- Two years ago, the club purchased a Grob Twin Astir to begin the transition to higher performance ships. The ship was refinished with nearly 600 hours of club labor (including about 200 of mine). It is available to all club members to use in building high-performance glass time. Daniel has chosen to stick with the 1-26 for the most part.
- FWIW, I took Daniel on several of his first long cross country ridge flight in my own Grob Twin; picked up the tows on those.
- The LS4 was purchased a couple of months ago. The club went through its own procedures to get the ship insured, put processes in place to ensure safe assembly, etc. So, it hasn't been available to ANYONE until earlier a couple of weeks ago.

So, as even you will have to admit, there's not some grand conspiracy to keep a promising young pilot out of the LS4. Just the opposite - ACA has backed Daniel to the hilt on everything he has wanted to do.

Yet, somehow, you want to make us the bad guys.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. Maybe you'll apologize?

Erik Mann
P3