October Soaring magazine OLC League article

On Thursday, October 2, 2014 10:11:00 PM UTC-5, Ernst wrote:
The picture (as the pictures in "Soaring Milestones") reflect the state of soaring in the US. SGS 1-26 and 2-33 are the backbone of US soaring club equipment.

It is not he lonely ASH-30Mi over the Sierra Nevada.

And we need more Tony Condon's.

EH

Really? Our US club has two 1-26s and a 2-33 in it's 10-glider fleet. And guess what, they get flown the least, if at all. The only reason one of our 1-26s flies is because it has a sports canopy! As far as the 2-33 - it just sits there, gathering dust, while the Blanik (L-13AC), K-13, K-21 and G-103 get flown every weekend.

Now, I enjoy a flight in a 1-26 as much as anyone - fun little retro ship - but for a new convert to the sport, its the shiny glass that attracts!

And as far as the 2-33 goes, the last person who flew it was myself, just to remember how much progress has been made since those ancient gliders were designed! (oh wait, they came AFTER the Blanik and K-13...ooops).

Kirk
66

The weather's getting cool in USA-land....
Does this mark the opening of 2014-15 "2-33 bashing" season?

Yes, it's a shame that an article Mark submitted was accompanied by inappropriate photos. (haven't seen that issue yet)
I do remember one issue of Soaring magazine which contained 5 identical photos of a Glasflugel 604. Three were on one page.
Evidently we don't submit enough...
Jim

On Friday, October 3, 2014 1:09:06 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
The weather's getting cool in USA-land....

Does this mark the opening of 2014-15 "2-33 bashing" season?

No "bashing", just stating facts.

I've got a lot of time in the Golly Whomper, as Pez used to call it. First glider ride, got my private rating in it, etc. And in it's day it was the backbone of the US fleet.

I just don't think that is true anymore, and hasn't been for many years.

Kind of like the old wives tale that nobody ever died in a 2-33 crash (look it up).

But if anyone has the interest in this to prove me wrong with numbers, knock yourself out!

Kirk

I learned in a 2-33 and thought it was the coolest glider around, when I flew the 1-26 I thought I was a high-speed operator.

Not going to bash either one, but am damn happy to be in a 40+ carbon ship 30 years later, especially one that I built.

Brad

On page 12 of the October issue of Soaring there is a great article, "A Perfect Day". Take a look at the aircraft that are being used to spread the joy of our sport. It would seem that all I see are Schweizers! It is way too early to imagine our sport without the Schweizer fleet.

I was at Pierson, FL's gliderport a few weeks ago and there were three 2-33's slogging it out all day giving primary instruction. Sarah uses one at Chilhowee to give instruction. Our club is giving two check rides this weekend in our 2-33. I admit that I would rather fly our K13 but thank goodness for the 2-33's out there! The 2-33 is definitely the "backbone" of many organization's training operations.

Lane

Now, I enjoy a flight in a 1-26 as much as anyone - fun little retro ship - but for a new convert to the sport, its the shiny glass that attracts!

Have not seen the article and pics yet, but will tell you that shiny also runs off many people when they find out how much it cost.

The 1-26 allowed me to purchase my first glider while the kids were still in the house, begin flying contest, and do all my badge work through diamond.

It is important to let people know that they can get in and play for the price of an old used car instead of a mortgage.

Now flying a Silent-IN.

Kevin
92
192 (former), now has a good new home.

On 10/4/2014 7:26 AM, wrote:

Now, I enjoy a flight in a 1-26 as much as anyone - fun little retro ship
- but for a new convert to the sport, its the shiny glass that attracts!

Have not seen the article and pics yet, but will tell you that shiny also
runs off many people when they find out how much it cost.

The 1-26 allowed me to purchase my first glider while the kids were still
in the house, begin flying contest, and do all my badge work through
diamond.

It is important to let people know that they can get in and play for the
price of an old used car instead of a mortgage.

I saw shiny glass before ever seeing anything else (clubmembers' H-201 and AS
W-12 at their respective homes as I was being handheld into the sport as a
wet-behind-the-ears collich grad), next weekend viewed the club's 1-26, and a
weekend later took my first flight in their (almost brand new!) 2-33. Forty
two years later I can even remember a brief, unvoiced, spot of mental dismay
at the perceived chasm between those glass babies and the club's equipment,
but since none of the "real soaring-capable adults" seemed to notice or care,
I remained silent...and forgot about it for several years as those unsexy
metal cans introduced me to soaring's charms.

For some, it's the activity that matters, not so much the equipment.

(Does snow in the mountains count as winter yet?...)

Bob W.