Diana-2 and overall performance discussion

On Aug 6, 8:26*am, wrote:
On Aug 6, 5:19*am, tommytoyz wrote:



*If Stefano Ghiorzo wins a two week

contest in the Diana, then he probably had won in an ASG-29, too.

I do not agree. Stefano is leading by just 2.3% over # 2 Leigh Wells
in an ASG29. I'm sure that the Diana-2 advantage over the contest has
been much more than just 2.3%. If he had been flying an ASG29, I am
convinced he would not be leading as the ASG29 suffers much more than
2.3% against the Diana-2.

Cockpit size may be a factor in the USA, but in the rest of the world,
most people are still reasonably sized.

I agree on that. Americans are over sized and need to consider that
more than anyone else. However, the American market is small compared
to the rest of the world anyway. It would be interesting to study
physical fitness Vs. placing at a World soaring contest. I can not
remember grossly overweight pilots ever placing in the top 3. I think
there is a correlation and cause and effect there. Sorry but I think
true.

Reichman wrote is his book that fitness is a very important element of
success in competition soaring.

I suggest you buy one and come out and kick our butts with the
overwhelming performance advantage.
But- don't crash it.
Perspective- I had a long exchange with Gerhard Waibel when he was
doing the ASW-28. I wanted a smaller wing with higher aspect ratio. He
went slightly the other way. His practical explanation was that he
wasn't designing the product only for me as a racer, but that it had
to work for many users and be usable in a club environment in order to
be a viable product.
It could also not compromise the level of safety established.
I have 2 gliders in my shop now where the pilots likely would have
been seriuosly injured if the gliders they flew did not have this
important attribute. This is not possible without some additional
structural weight.
It also must be repairable using techniques available in existing
repair shops. The JS1 guys paid a lot of attention to this important
point.
Owner needs to be confident he will be able to get parts and support.
Buying my next racing glider depends on being able to sell the one I
have now. I doubt there are more than a handful of folks that compete
that aren't in the same situation.
The Dianna 2 is a remarkable machine, but my personal evaluation was,
and is, that it does not measure up to other options in the areas
other than performance.
FWIW
UH


Everything people have said, but I kind of suspect a large factor is
just very few people are interested in buying a new 15m glider. I
suspect other things are secondary behind that.

The action for new gliders is is in 18m. The incremental cost of say
an ASG-29 over an ASW-27 is likely to be payed back in resale value
even if the purchaser is not a die-hard contest pilot. And the ASG-29
and similar gliders lets people compete in 15m class if they want to.
So the only market for the Diana 2 are people wanting to spend $$$ for
a 15m only glider, willing to put up with the small cockpit with side
stick (I'm 5'9" and average build and spoiled by my ASH-26E, I just
have no interest of squeezing into a tight cockpit for long flights),
take ownership risks with a riskier resale value, much less experience
in the field with maintenance and support etc. I'm surprised they sell
as many as they have.


Darryl

Darryl Ramm wrote:
The action for new gliders is is in 18m.

I'm not so sure. Our club has a couple of 15/18m ships. You'd be
surprized how many leisure pilots fly them with the 15m wingtips as soon
as the weather is halfways reasonable.

On Aug 6, 10:59*am, John Smith wrote:
Darryl Ramm wrote:
The action for new gliders is is in 18m.

I'm not so sure. Our club has a couple of 15/18m ships. You'd be
surprized how many leisure pilots fly them with the 15m wingtips as soon
as the weather is halfways reasonable.

By "new action" I meant sales of new gliders. What configuration
people will fly in a 18m/15m configurable ship and whether they would
buy a 15m only ship, a 18m/15m configurable ship or even an 18m only
ship is a different question.

A 18m/15m ship has a configuration advantage over a 15m ship and
therefore likely another reason to purchase (e.g. an ASG-29 or
similar).

Darryl