Bert Willing wrote:
Yes the situation is very different in the Alps - there are a lot of clubs,
few habitants so these clubs (especially in the South) rely on foreigners
coming for visits - and that's only possible with payed staff.


Yes, i understand.

Even if you take French prices, I still think that soaring is not more
expensive than a season of skiing or whatever. Only, people rather tend to
want all of it...

You know, there are less and less people who can afford skiing. I am
a researcher in Paris University, and with this sort of salary it is out
of question to go skiing a lot, or buy an expensive glider or similar
things. The little money i can put aside, has been diverted into buying
a house, and it would be completely irresponsible doing otherwise.


What also drives prices high is a bit the attitude of club members which I
sometime observe. People look at a Pégase and say "not very exciting, I'd
prefer a LS8"... whereas they come nowhere towards the performance limit of
a Pégase. I certainly don't advocate Fauconnets or Wassmer gliders, but you
can buy a second hand Pégase for about 1/5th of the cash you have to put
down for a LS8, and you still have a L/D of 40+.


Your comments are completely coherent with what i have heard many times.
And it is more justified to prefer flying an LS8 than a Pegase, compared
to an LS4. This is exactly the form of badmouthing and snobbiness Lennie
was speaking about and which is so prevalent in the people practising
this sport. With any glider of the class of LS4 or Pegase, almost
anybody with reasonable training can do very nice flies, XC, etc.
I think it is the aim when thinking about a widely available and cheap
glider (or a good second hand one).




--

Michel TALON