Discus CS grounded in France

John Galloway wrote in message ...
At 22:48 18 September 2003, Slingsby wrote:

The price of these costly toys may indeed go up but
something bad has
just happened to the value of Shemp Hirth products.


This is unlikely to happen as glider buyers and sellers
are not fools. Buyers are unlikey to avoid gliders
that are perfectly airworthy and sellers are unlikely
to give them away. If they aren'r aware already bofore
long they will be that:

The opinion that "Safety doesn't sell" which is discussed on the DG
website might provide an argument to your statement that buyers and
sellers are not fools. The concept of a Czech manufactured Duo Discus
or Discus being "perfectly airworthy" is in the eye of the beholder.
As I ponder whether or not to buy a used Discus, which is the better
log book entry, "AD complied with and no voids in the wing spars were
found," or "AD complied with and a sufficient amount glue was squirted
into the wing spar so that they can never fall apart. Wings are now
perfectly airworthy."


Firstly, only spars built at the Czech factory were
built incorrectly using an simple error in the technique
which has been identified and we can be pretty sure
it has been eliminated.

Right, a "simple error in the technique" lead to wings breaking off in
normal flight. We can be "pretty sure" it has been eliminated because
we sent our best German craftsmen to the Czech factory to, once again,
show them how to spread glue on a spar cap. The problem is eliminated,
Murphys Law will not rear its ugly head around here again.

Secondly, therefore, the bulk of the German built SH
fleet are unnaffected and I think the glider buying
public are informed enough to be able to figure that
out.
The glider buying public will also be informed whenever a Shemp-Hirth
glider breaks apart in flight.

Thirdly, all the SH gliders that could possible be
affected (i.e. Discus and Duo with Czech wings) have
been or will be inspected and, if necessary, repaired
and brought up to full airworthiness.

Right, and the German built gliders couldn't possibly be affected because
none of them have broken apart, yet. Until then, they are fully airworthy.

As an inspected Duo owner I have made it my business
to be certain in my own mind that an inspected or repaired
glider will be at full design spar strength - for example
that there have been no post manufacturing new delaminations
in the Czech wings, that wings that pass the visual
inspection actually are strong.

I have no particular sentimental attachment to Schemmp-Hirth
and no business relationship with them. Like most
affected owners I was pretty upset but now I know the
facts I feel no need to be concerned about the strength
or value of our Duo. I have also just ordered a new
Schempp-Hirth glider.

Lastly, there is no reason to think that the cost of
new gliders will go up. There is nothing wrong in
principle with the way that they are built - as long
as they are built as intended.

John Galloway

They weren't built as intended, and the blind method of assembling
the spar as the wing is being assembled is wrong in principle. You
should be pretty upset, THEY DIDN'T GLUE THE SPAR TOGETHER. Not just
one, THEY DIDN'T GLUE THE SPAR TOGETHER ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF WINGS. Oops!!!
But hey, "now I know the facts I feel no need to be concerned about the
strength or value of our Duo. I have also just ordered a new Shemp-Hirth
glider" Nice sales pitch, how much are you asking for your Duo?