[USA] What do you think of the 13.5 Meter Class?

Gliderphud wrote:
We added the Standard class so we would have cheaper gliders than the
15M. Is there a real difference in price between a 15M and a Standard
today?


Your history is backwards. "We" added Standard Class so we would have
cheaper gliders than Open(?) Class (I don't know what it was called
then). One result was the Ka-6e, and yes, it was a lot cheaper than
competitive gliders of the time (early 60s). When the 15 meter span H301
Libelle appeared in the late '60s, it was an OPEN class glider. The 15
Meter class did not appear until the early 70's, as an branch from the
Standard Class. Yep, Standard Class first, 15 M class later.

We added the 18M class because the glider manufacturers weren't
selling enough 15M and Standard class gliders anymore. That way they
could create an elite class that would drive everyone to buy a new
glider.

In fact, it was driven by customer demand. Pilots wanted more
performance, and the 20+ meter Open Class was too expensive, too big,
too heavy to appeal to most pilots, so the manufacturers responded with
wing tip extensions. First came 16 meter tips, then 17 meter, and
finally carbon fiber made 18 M practical (fiberglass made for very heavy
18 meter gliders) about the time people realized self-launching
motorgliders would really benefit from 18 meter span. When I got my 18
meter (and it was ONLY 18 meters) ASH 26 E in 1995, there was no 18
meter class. That came later, after Schleicher was already committed to
it, not before.

How many true 15M or Standards have been sold in the last 7
years? Everything has an 18M option and the cost and empty weights
have gone up exponentially.


Costs, yes, but for many reasons. Weight? Nonsense. Compare the weight
of the 18 M ASG 29 with the 15 M ASW 20, and see if you think the weight
increase was "exponential". It weighs the same, or less than the ASW 20
C I had.

We will create the 13.5M and 20M class soon.

The IGC has never seen a glider class they won't approve. Soon we
will have 20 or more classes. Let's just skip the trouble and make a
class for everyone so we're all winners.

The only three classes we need are Club, 15M and Open (Unlimited)

And what is the definition of "need"? That's the question. If a class
for everyone increased participation and brought new people into
soaring, I'd say we "need" it!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org