F.L. Whiteley wrote:

In the UK, we did some evening rides for a group of fireman from the local
fire college. Not much lift late in the date, but some really got off on a
four-loop cloverleaf with a beatup at the end.

A club near Houston reports having been approached by Six Flags about a
concept for winch launch and soar back. I suppose a couple of loops or
something similar might be the icing on cake.

Granted, this type of operation may not appeal to many of us, but there may
be some other interest there.

I think that one could make a glider which did both fairly well.
The higher wing loading and less aspect ratio which appeals to the
pleasant ride also lend well for aerobatics. Perhaps not enough
for easy rolls, but certainly for loops.

So I certainly wouldn't want to restrict such a glider from loops, if
this didn't greatly increase the cost. It just seems from my experience
that most of the time when someone wants a "spicy" ride, steep turns,
30 degree dives with 30 degree pullup (apogee arcs), and full forward slips
seem to be exciting enough.

I personally think non-aerobatic glider flying is so interesting on its
own, especially the launch where you hear only the air going by
(no offense to the self-power guys) that it's neat enough.

Sure there are some hard cores who want a full aerobatic as their
very first ride, but the ones who can take it seem few and far between...

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Mark J. Boyd