Buying LS3a or ASW20a? ~$25k cross country glider. Which one and why?

On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 9:04:06 PM UTC-6, Michael N. wrote:
I'm looking for a glider for cross country in the $25k range.

Thanks, I guess at this point I am looking for "best bang for the buck" in the current marketplace. Including finish and instruments and trailer.

I really cannot go much higher than $25k so I am looking for a complete package (good finish, trialer, instrumentation package) for cross country.
I do want a flapped ship, as again I have lots of hours in complex aircraft, and I want the ability to get into short fields on landing out if I have too.

I am reconsidering now the Ventus B, also the DG202, as well as the previously mentioned LS3 or LS3a, and ASW20 (a,b, or c)

In my price range I do see an ASW20a and a Ventus B (maybe) without winglets. So I am also trying to see if winglets are still available for the 20 or Ventus.

Thanks for the feedback, please keep it coming.
Mike

On Monday, April 1, 2019 at 8:20:28 AM UTC-7, Michael N. wrote:
On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 9:04:06 PM UTC-6, Michael N. wrote:
I'm looking for a glider for cross country in the $25k range.

Thanks, I guess at this point I am looking for "best bang for the buck" in the current marketplace. Including finish and instruments and trailer.

I really cannot go much higher than $25k so I am looking for a complete package (good finish, trialer, instrumentation package) for cross country.
I do want a flapped ship, as again I have lots of hours in complex aircraft, and I want the ability to get into short fields on landing out if I have too.

I am reconsidering now the Ventus B, also the DG202, as well as the previously mentioned LS3 or LS3a, and ASW20 (a,b, or c)

In my price range I do see an ASW20a and a Ventus B (maybe) without winglets. So I am also trying to see if winglets are still available for the 20 or Ventus.

Thanks for the feedback, please keep it coming.
Mike

Mosquito should be another candidate.
You may find that for $25k you'll end up with something other than those two choices. But if you insist, the LS could be the best of the two for that price.
If you want "ready to fly", perhaps look at the overall condition of the glider and trailer before performance. That would include paperwork.
Jim

With 200 hours I would stay away from the Ventus w/o winglets unless your instructor says you have plenty of extra bandwidth available while flying and your thermalling skills are already very sound. It's not a glider that you want to learn how to fly XC with.
OTOH, if you are flying in the western US and know for sure you are in it for the long term and only want to buy and fly one glider in the next 10 years and your enthusiasm is high, the Ventus might be a good choice. But it will take you longer to get better at all of the XC skills than if you bought an LS-4 and flew it for 200 hours XC first. As was said, some of the unappreciated but very valuable things about the Ventus are auto hookups, pretty light wings, and it's easy to put water in it. Just pour water into the wing from a hose with meter attached. And it really, really goes. It's the perfect glider for me because I've flown a lot and I can't afford the next generation.
Buy a 4 or 3 or Mosquito or Pegasus or the like, fly it for 200-300 hrs. XC, then buy a Ventus. The numbers are only slightly different but the performance is dramatic and well worth it in my opinion, particularly with water..
An Oudie2 or similar is a very powerful easy to add computer sufficient for navigation. The radio is also important, should be clear and have a functional PTT.
And you should probably consider adding FLARM if it doesn't already have it..
And don't buy anything without a sound Komet or Cobra trailer unless you have hangar access.
Pretty tough to have all that and a good finish for $25K but I wish you success. 10 years ago it was impossible!

On Monday, April 1, 2019 at 1:26:03 PM UTC-6, wrote:
With 200 hours I would stay away from the Ventus w/o winglets unless your instructor says you have plenty of extra bandwidth available while flying and your thermalling skills are already very sound.

Can you comment further on the differences in handling of the Ventus B with and without winglets?

Thanks!

On Monday, April 1, 2019 at 12:47:08 PM UTC-7, Michael N. wrote:
On Monday, April 1, 2019 at 1:26:03 PM UTC-6, wrote:
With 200 hours I would stay away from the Ventus w/o winglets unless your instructor says you have plenty of extra bandwidth available while flying and your thermalling skills are already very sound.

Can you comment further on the differences in handling of the Ventus B with and without winglets?

Thanks!

Unfortunately I can't, never flown one with them. There have been comments in other threads iirc. JS's post above is a good one, safety is the primary concern with all of this. Another tack... your instructor, and competent conservative pilots that you hold in high regard that know your flying, that you have flown with, will know. Ask them what they think of your idea and if they get quiet and take a long pause, listen . This works for many, many questions in soaring... "I'm thinking of doing _X_, whaddya think"? If eyes dart towards the ground you probably have your answer. Like the day I was considering a Diamant...
And are you sure you would lose any significant amount of $ buying and selling glider #1? Gliders are getting cheaper over time i believe so if you buy one with a good finish, are not stuck with a "hot potato" as it were, then it's mostly just inconvenience. And you might have a much better idea what you DO want, say you have a chance to fly a Ventus for example, and then be in a position to jump and buy the glider you know you want when it comes up for sale.