I've reached my personal performance limit in a glider when I am sure that
on a certain day I would have gone further with a better glider. Where I fly
(French & Swiss Alps) this hasn't happened yet because there are many more
factors than just the glider performance.

That doesn't mean that I disregard people who buy a better glider even
though this don't stretch their legs - everybody spends his money for his
toys as it pleases him, there is nothing wrong with one pilot buying a
L-Spatz (or a 1-26 for those on the strange side of the pond :-), and the
other one buying a Ventus2cx.

If it's coming to club fleets, that's where the cost of gliders is important
(a private owner anyways better don't think about $ per hour :-)). There are
clubs out there, especially in Germany, which operate many latest model
fleets for reasonable prices, but that doesn't hold for every place.

--
Bert Willing

ASW20 "TW"


"Owain Walters" a écrit
dans le message de ...

I don't think that this is the reason for a decline
in soaring - it's rather
the attitude of many a club member who thinks he needs
to fly an ASW27
instead of an ASW20, or a Discus2 instead of a Pégase
- without having ever
reached a personal performance limit on a Pégase...

How do you define your 'Personal performance limit'?
And why do you need to acheive this before you buy
a better glider?

As has been touched on, the cost increase certainly
is effected by research and develpment - a well known
expensive area that shows no immediate profits. However,
without this R+D we would still be faffing around in
Prefects. There is plenty of choice for gliders in
all price ranges, if someone wants to buy a brand new
D2 then let them. Similarly, if someone wants to buy
a k6, then let them. I do not see what is wrong with
spending the money you work for on something that is
important to you. Regardless of how much it is. And
to be honest, regardless of how good you are.


Owain