On Jun 18, 4:17?pm, Dan G wrote:
On Jun 18, 3:32 am, "BlueCumulus" wrote:

As said before the prototypes of the Diana-2 have the wing position about
5cm (2") more tailward than this first "Serial Machine". Why the wing-
position was moved forward is not clear but confirmed.

Confirmed by whom? Where?

Dan

I have been in contact with the owner of the machine that these
rumors are centered. To the best of my understanding, most of the
problems with this particular glider are in the adjustment of
linkages. My Diana 2, serial number 002, has the re-located forward
wing position. My spoilers come up symetrically, my flap handle stays
in the correct indent, even in rough air-face prints on the inside of
the canopy to prove it, it is difficult to get -2 flap position above
100kts, so I do pre-select -2 before speeding up, the ailerons are
weak on takeoff before the tail comes up, but they do work and will
keep the wings level-even in a cross wind with the front water tanks
full (46 gallons). Inner wing stalling/stalled while thermalling???
Don't think so.... Chip Garner told me about watching the Diana 2 at
the Grand Prix and was impressed with how well it climbed in weak
thermals, and also how it ran solidly past everything else in glide -
not by just a bit, either. I don't circle steeply in strong themals
out here mostly because the bumpy ones will throw you over the top -
not comfy with the flaps in themalling setting-learned that in my
304CZ. The Diana 2 will circle 45 while thermalling. Yaw and pitch
instabilities? Nope - tracks like an arrow- plenty stable to eat,
navigate and manage hydraulic overpressure situations. The pitch trim
is sometimes noisy - springs/cog wheel/ratchet - sometimes a "kerbang"
if it is pre-loaded when you release the trim. Works great. What
about the Dean Carswell and Richard Johnson report in Soaring? Are
they on the take from the manufacturer? Egad-what is this world
coming to.....
The Diana 2 is a very different glider. Most glider pilots are
very conservative by nature, brand loyal and resist to radical
change. A lot of people see this glider as a threat, because it is so
different. I've been told to my face at Warner Springs that this
glider is a piece of crap. The person telling me this owns a newer,
non-competitive 18m ship. This is not the first time the Diana 2 has
taken a salvo on this group. I'll bet if it said ASG-35 on the side
of the fuselage, you'd all be waiting 2-3 years to get one, and the
whining/wimpering would be internalized....
Bill Liscomb
Diana 2 N562BL Serial Number 5621002 130hrs t.t.