Yes, on the ADs comments earlier, ... check very carefully that the two
key ADs on the "wing/spar bonding check" and the "spar stub
reinforcement" have been completed (needed for most Diamant models,
except for Diamant18 in the USA which is classed experimental, so ADs are
not mandatory ???).

Yes, it may be hard to resell later, I guess it depends on the price.
Maintenance cost is virtually zero, if flys really well, but yes, it is a
bit odd, and the wings are quite heavy. Probably way over-engineered in
many repsects, and to stop flutter (I believe) lots of lead was added to
the flaps and/oe ailerons.

For me, I got lots or performance and hours of flying at a very low
price. A low hull value keeps the insurance cost down as well? I did see
a "Diamant wanted" ad on this site a year or two ago, but wasn't
tempted to sell then. May be in a few years if I am flushed with cash.

David.
Diamant 18 #33, UK.

At 15:42 27 June 2009, wrote:
On Jun 26, 6:17 am, Spam wrote:
A friend of mine is considering buying a diamant. He was told it's
very hard to rig. He's not a member of this group so I am asking for
him.

Anyone ever tried to assemble one? Or dis-assemble one?

Others have pretty well answered this already...but since I went to
the
trouble of generating this, and my news server was balking earlier,
here's one last attempt to send it!
- - - - - -

I've helped rig all 3 models (though not since the 1980's), including
an
extended-span former-18-meter version.

Rigging varies by the model/span. Disassembly of any model is (or
should
be!) a non-issue.

The 15-meter HBV model uses Libelle (301, I seem to recall)
wings, and rigs like a Libelle, except the Diamant's enclosed fuselage
aft of the canopy, covers what is open and top-accessible beneath
Libelles' removable canopy, and in that sense HBV rigging is less easy
than Libelle rigging. IOW, HBV rigging is just like almost all the
rest
of the 15-meter-span fiberglass fleet out there.

The 16.5 and 18-meter Diamants have (considerably) heavier, single-
piece
wings, which get no lighter if their span has been increased (a not-
rare
modification). Other than the weight at the tip, they never seemed
abbie-normally difficult to rig from this tip-holder's perspective.

As with all ships, alignment matters. If the person at the root
is impatient, unskilled, or - by far the worst! - uninterested in
gaining the (easy-to-gain) visual assessment skills required to
achieve
visual alignment, my Pythonesque advice is: Run Away!!! Run Away!!!
Two
wing stands may be a definite asset to the newer owner, in order to
allow the tip person to rest while the owner ascends the new-owner
alignment & assessment learning curve.

I've yet to encounter a difficult-to-rig ship...IF the root guy
understands alignment!!! For the record, THE worst assembly I was ever
involved in (a half-hour daymare) was a 15-meter glass ship (G-102),
rigged - and evidently aided by! - some absolute idiots. By the time
this tip holder figured this out, it was too late*...

Regards,
Bob - *never again - W.