OPINIONS ON AN LS3A

[Gordon Schubert]

I CURRENTLY FLY AN L33 SOLO AND AM LOOKING FOR A HIGHER
PERFORMANCE SHIP. tHE LS3A CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM ABOUT
6'1' AND 240 LBS WITH BROAD SHOULDERS (REALLY). CAN
ANYONE GIVE ME OPINIONS ON THE GOOD AND BAD OF AN LS3A?
THANKS
GORDY

[Waduino]

Can I interrupt to ask how you liked the L33?
I guess I'm a year away, having just gone solo, but the L33 looks like a
perfect first plane for a low time pilot.
I too figure it would lead to an upgrade after a year or two.
----


"Gordon Schubert" > wrote in message
...
> I CURRENTLY FLY AN L33 SOLO AND AM LOOKING FOR A HIGHER
> PERFORMANCE SHIP. tHE LS3A CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM ABOUT
> 6'1' AND 240 LBS WITH BROAD SHOULDERS (REALLY). CAN
> ANYONE GIVE ME OPINIONS ON THE GOOD AND BAD OF AN LS3A?
> THANKS
> GORDY
>
>

[Liam Finley]

"Waduino" > wrote in message >...
> Can I interrupt to ask how you liked the L33?
> I guess I'm a year away, having just gone solo, but the L33 looks like a
> perfect first plane for a low time pilot.
> I too figure it would lead to an upgrade after a year or two.
> ----
>

You'd be better off going directly for the LS3. It's a pussycat to
fly (if you can handle an L33, you can handle an LS3), it's pretty
much in the same price range, and it will fare better in an off-field
landing (the L33 has an easily damaged tail boom). You will outgrow
the L33 pretty quickly, the LS3 will keep you happy for a long time.
Why wait?

[Slingsby]

Gordon Schubert > wrote in message >...
> I CURRENTLY FLY AN L33 SOLO AND AM LOOKING FOR A HIGHER
> PERFORMANCE SHIP. tHE LS3A CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM ABOUT
> 6'1' AND 240 LBS WITH BROAD SHOULDERS (REALLY). CAN
> ANYONE GIVE ME OPINIONS ON THE GOOD AND BAD OF AN LS3A?
> THANKS
> GORDY
Look at the Genesis 2. The same Cleveland wheel and brake system as
is used on Cessna aircraft. A well designed and built wing spar which
will not delaminate in turbulance, now or ten years from now unless
you figure out a way to pull a lot more g's than any other glider is
capable of pulling. A very large and comfortable cockpit which will
easily fit you, shoulders and all. Climb performance equal to any
other standard class glider, better high speed performance. Better
stability in turbulant air. No gel coat. A tailboom which you probably
can't break during a groundloop, off field landing, or bounced landing
although anything is possible, just not as likely as with a regular
boomsnapper. Read the thread about doing stall/spins in a Ventus
because you probably can't do any of that in a Genesis unless you fly
with a seriously aft cg.

[clay thomas]

(Liam Finley) wrote in message >...
> "Waduino" > wrote in message >...
> > Can I interrupt to ask how you liked the L33?
> > I guess I'm a year away, having just gone solo, but the L33 looks like a
> > perfect first plane for a low time pilot.
> > I too figure it would lead to an upgrade after a year or two.
> > ----
> >
>
> You'd be better off going directly for the LS3. It's a pussycat to
> fly (if you can handle an L33, you can handle an LS3), it's pretty
> much in the same price range, and it will fare better in an off-field
> landing (the L33 has an easily damaged tail boom). You will outgrow
> the L33 pretty quickly, the LS3 will keep you happy for a long time.
> Why wait?

I love my LS3a. I am 6' 1.5 inches and 185 lbs. I have plenty of
shoulder room but I am not built like Arnold. I took the seat back out
and have plenty of room lengthwise. The 3a is an honest ship with no
bad habits. I felt comfortable in the first 100 yards down the runway.
It took longer than that to get real comfortable so be sure and get a
good briefing before you fly one. Load it up with water on a good day
and it will really get along. Clay Thomas

[BTIZ]

I fly the LS-4.. not "broad shouldered" but of average 5'10" and 200#, I'm
not able to reach anything that slides back behind my elbows on the side
rails.

The LS-4 is easy transition ship, with owning an L-33 you should transition
easily. We require a Grob 103 checkout and experience before checking out in
the club LS-4. We also make them fly with the CG hook in the Grob. Steady
state, consistent performance in low energy tail down landings are the key.
(flame suit on) We are a training club and have a standard progression from
SGS 2-33, to 1-26 as a student, then after the rating to the Grob 103 and
LS-4.

So just try the -4 on for size.. watch the weight and balance.. you are
approaching the "max seat wt". of most European gliders of 110Kg or
242pounds (US). The max seat weight is based on structural loading.. I could
not even fly with you in the Grob 103 with you in the AFT seat.. max GW.

You will need to compute the CG location.. and include your parachute and I
bet you are over Max seat weight. But still may be within the CG and Max
GW..

Watch the Max GW limit when adding water and watch the Max "non lifting
surface" weight.

Do all these computations before you buy. You may find that you can fit,
stay in CG and Max GW, but will exceed the seat limit (242#) and may never
fly with full (nor more than 1/2) the water load.

good luck.

BT

"Gordon Schubert" > wrote in message
...
> I CURRENTLY FLY AN L33 SOLO AND AM LOOKING FOR A HIGHER
> PERFORMANCE SHIP. tHE LS3A CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM ABOUT
> 6'1' AND 240 LBS WITH BROAD SHOULDERS (REALLY). CAN
> ANYONE GIVE ME OPINIONS ON THE GOOD AND BAD OF AN LS3A?
> THANKS
> GORDY
>
>

[[email protected]]

Gordon,

I was 6' 2" and weighed 240 lbs and found the fit acceptable in my
LS-3A. Now I am 6' 2" and weigh 210 lbs.

I will admit that I purposefully dropped the 30 lbs this year, but
that was to fit into my clothes better and had nothing to do with
the glider.

You know the LS-3A is a great glider.

On 13 Nov 2003 15:36:06 GMT, Gordon Schubert
> wrote:

>I CURRENTLY FLY AN L33 SOLO AND AM LOOKING FOR A HIGHER
>PERFORMANCE SHIP. tHE LS3A CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM ABOUT
>6'1' AND 240 LBS WITH BROAD SHOULDERS (REALLY). CAN
>ANYONE GIVE ME OPINIONS ON THE GOOD AND BAD OF AN LS3A?
>THANKS
>GORDY
>