Jon Meyer wrote:

I think you are missing the point that most people
have made about the PW5, those that aren't ignorant
anyway. The point is that it does not perform well
enough to justify the price tag. I cannot understand
the mentality of people who would rather fork out £20k+
for a sailplane with the performance only slightly
better than a K6e when they could get a second hand
LS4 or ASW20 for the same or less money! I would have
thought that a one-type class based on an existing
design (which could be very cheaply put back into production)
would make far more sense. After all, some of us can't
even afford a brand new PW5, but can afford an old
ratty ASW20 or LS4.
This is not about elitism in terms of money, its about
common sense and value for money. The PW5 has an abundance
of neither.
LS4 for the world class!

Does the World really need ANOTHER Standard Class competition class?
That is what people seem to be proposing. This class would be nearly
identical to the current Standard Class, but with a little less
performance and a little less cost. Who would buy a new "LS4" when they
could buy a better performing used Discus for the same or less money,
just to compete in this class?

I think proposing more of what we already have will not bring new pilots
or new competitors into the sport, but merely divide them up between the
Standard Class and "LS4 Standard Class". I think the current World class
is bringing in pilots the other classes aren't; unfortunately, not in
the amounts hoped for. I think the _goals_ of the Word Class are good,
and the specifications appropriate to those goals.

People seem to forget that a new PW5 will become a used PW5. Many pilots
that will find a used PW5 much cheaper than a used LS4 or ASW 20, and
buy them because they can afford it. This is good for those people, and
good for the sport.

--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA