Discus 2b

ASW-27

a distant third: SZD 55-1

long shot: DG 303 Elan (this is probably a DQ due to A/D spar issue)

Your choices are excellent. It is very hard to wrong with the first 2.

I fly a 27 and can tell you that it is an awesome aircraft. No bad habits and goes like stink.

I haven't flown the D2 but the overwelming pilot response to the aircraft has been positive.

Someone mentioned east vs west flying and they may have landed on your most important point. I fly out west where we almost never launch without a full load of water. In these conditions the asw-27 (and sadly the asg-29 I can't afford) becomes an immortal creature of the sky. The D2 also excels at heavy wingloading but will noticably lose out to the ASW-27 when flown in strong conditions.

In weaker conditions the 27 is good but It's much more like "just-any-other-good-airplane" without 42gal of water.

Living out west... 27 or 29 is unbeatable. living east, I might be tempted by a D2 or (the real pilot pleaser), the LS8.

Terry