FAA to ground 80% of Glider Training Fleet... it's just a question of when

On Friday, April 5, 2013 11:28:38 PM UTC-4, ASM wrote:
Now Eric, you need to get off of your high horse.

The SZD 54-2 Perkoz is ready for purchase as well as the PW-6U.

http://soaringcafe.com/2012/04/world...ilplanes-dead/

http://soaringcafe.com/2012/12/the-szd-50-puchacz/

http://soaringcafe.com/2012/12/szd-54-2-perkoz-part-2/



Jacek

The SZD-54-2 deserves more attention than it is getting in the USA

My FES conversion cost about $30,000. Whether it is worth that much extra on a new or newish PW6 or equivalent would depend on alternative launch facilities and potential benefits of never having a short flight/always getting away if it is soarable/cross country ability with virtually no risk of landout.

I would be interested in seeing the math (as you guys say) for different cases.

Chris N

The IS28b2 Lark is not the perfect trainer, it's heavy to rig, not as docile as a Schweizer, but it's rugged, has decent performance, looks great, and is all metal. Why the Romanians dont get it together to put it back into production is a mystery to me, especially in light of the potential demand. They were very affordable in their day (which may be why IAR is in bankruptcy) but maybe they could still be reasonably priced.

It's a good solid design with a type certificate already in place. How much would you pay for a brand new Lark today? Does anybody know if IAR or anybody is considering building them again?

MM

Maybe someone should just put the 2-33 back into production?

Boggs

Go right ahead. You think anyone will buy them even at 1/2 the cost of a PW-6, Puchacz (yes, they'll build you one, ready to ship in about 90 days last I checked) or a Perkoz? I don't. The newer members in our club don't want anything to do with our 2-33. It's ugly, it's ungainly and it glides like a flat rock. Aside from the fact that they are durable and safe, there isn't much to like.

T8

On Friday, April 5, 2013 10:26:25 AM UTC-4, Waveguru wrote:
Maybe someone should just put the 2-33 back into production?



Boggs

In the UK, until a sustained campaign over the last few years, about 1/3 of the fatalities in our gliding were following a cable break or other premature termination of launch, usually as a result of spinning in. (It should not have happened, and we have learned how to much reduce such events, but it was a fact.)

I hope the present efforts to increase the proportion of cable launches – by winch or car – in the USA do not go through a similar high accident rate. Please learn from our mistakes and how to avoid them, not repeat that history.

By the way, having a FES and seeing how I could in theory get away from a medium height or higher cable break, I believe that a lot of the old cable break/low slow turn/spin accidents would have been avoided had they had FES to climb away with.

Chris N

See here how to have a crash (these pilots were lucky – they survived).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCct8cDtyk

Chris N

On Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:28:05 -0700, Chris Nicholas wrote:

See here how to have a crash (these pilots were lucky – they survived).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xCct8cDtyk

Chris N
Chris,

Why is this a must-sign-in-to-view item?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

I have no idea why, but I just clicked on it – no signing or adding any name or whatever – and it played OK.


Regards – Chris

For anyone who is in the market, there will be a good opportunity to compare the ASK-21, PW-6, Blanik L-23, and SGS 2-33 side by side at the same airfield at Sugarbush Soaring in Vermont this summer. www.sugarbush.org The PW-6 will be new. The other gliders are in good condition.

The conversation comparing the relative merits of the various designs will be continuous throughout the summer. Lots of pilots. Lots of CFI-Gs. Pleasant weather. Bring your glider. Open 7 days a week.