On Monday, November 19, 2018 at 9:32:42 AM UTC-7, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 7:26:04 PM UTC-8, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:17:13 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Not sure about their logic of using an aircraft apparently less conducive to the intended task.
Congratulations on finding a way to help overcome that incongruity.
If your KPI is to get students to one solo tow and sled ride to a safe landing on a dead calm day and then never set foot in a glider again then, yeah, the 2-33 is probably superior.
Otherwise I'd take the DG1000 every time.
Bruce, not sure how much time you have in 2-33's, I only have maybe ten hours, but these are great training aircraft. Full disclosure, I learned in glass G103/ASk21. The 2-33 will go up on a winter day when not much else will. The gliderport I fly from has both G103's and 2-33's. The instructors tell me that they can train a student through check ride then transition them to a G103/G102 in less time, tows, money than it take to train someone in a G103 to check ride. My localglider port is a mountainous area with high winds, wave, ridge, thermal, 2-33's fly everyday. I have been told that if you send one back to factory to rebuild the mixer is changed to give more control movement with less stick movement. Colorado Springs is a mountain location and the Air Force had a higher solo rate with 2-33's. I have no financial interest in Schweitzer or anything else for that matter
JSC,
2-33's are still in use. Better than not having a glider.
However.
I recall that a number of G-103's have been PIO'd into the deck by pilot conversions from 2-33's.
A study presented at the SSA convention in 1997 showed that the US had a 30 percent churn in members, whereas the rest of the world was 20 percent. At the time, many clubs had few options after the 2-33, except perhaps a 1-26 and quite a few did not allow cross country in club equipment. I think few pilots used the 2-33 for their achievements. Many take pride in 1-26 achievements, as well they should.
Over 15 years ago, one of the larger US clubs made a decision to homogenize their fleet into G-103's, G-102's and an ASW-19 from a diverse fleet. This resulted in better pilots, improved checkride performance (according to examiners), and more rapid progression in the single seaters. I actually recall that they had an additional glider or two before this process started. They way US clubs operate, it's often a hurdle to get checked out for each glider.
Have a look at this PowerPoint that was presented at the SSA 2005 Convention Focus on Clubs Track.
https://tinyurl.com/yakkayvv
Frank Whiteley