OK All,

So I've been 'round and 'round trying to figure out the right glider
to buy (all year). I'm sure you all are getting tired of me by now! :-
P

But I have a related question for you (for once that does not involve
a "Which glider is better" question):

How detrimental to performance are the effects of time on a glider?
I'm talking about things like roughened gelcoat, flat-spots on the
wing-skin by the spar-caps, etc. Do you think they affect flapped
gliders any differently than standard-class gliders?

(In case it makes a difference, I'm specifically concerned about 20
year old aircraft manufactured in the mid-to-late-80's)

Also, every time I get close to buying a glider of this vintage, I
start considering the fact that it will be the biggest purchase by far
in my life at this point - and seeing aging gelcoat, surface corrosion
on metal bits, worn-out cockpit interiors, etc makes me get cold
feet. Am I just being a wuss and overreacting? I'm usually not one
to dwell on appearances - but the sheer dollar amounts, and the fact
that skin-friction-drag is important, make me jumpy with gliders....

Any thoughts?

Thanks, take care,

--Noel
P.S. For the record, I found a late-90's SZD-55 in great shape that I
would have bought, but I am just a bit too tall to fit comfortably...
Argh!