In article ,
Walt Connelly wrote:

Anyone wish to weigh in on the L-33 solo? I am in the market for a
single seater. Metal is preferred because you can tie it down outside
without the problems associated with glass. 1-34's are hard to find,
not a lot of metal ships on the market these days it seems.

Can anyone speak to the handling of this aircraft from personal
experience?

Walt

I'll second what others have said about the fine handling qualities of
the L-33. Actually, it seems so docile and solid, even at low speeds,
that I suspect it could lull one into a false sense of security. It will
spin just as readily as other gliders.

Having flown an L-33 from winch launch, I can say that it is well suited
to ground launch or winching.

My quibbles with the L-33 a Performance wise, it's a dog with no
legs. The lack of gliding performance will see most owners "out-grow"
the glider fairly quickly. Apparently, the L-33 is also fragile. The
skins must be soft as they just seem to accumulate dents. I would hate
to see one left out in a hail storm.

I would strongly advise anyone looking for a low-to-moderately priced
glider to try on a 201 Libelle (or a 301 if you can find one). They have
the most durable factory finish to be found on a glider, the wings are
light, they go together super easy, the ventilation will blow your hat
off in flight (if you want), and the performance/price ratio is
outstanding. It is hard to out-grow the Libelle. Not quite so easy to
fly as the Solo, but still easy and lots of low-timers do fine in
Libelles. Also, contrary to popular myth, Libelles are comfortable
ships, although they are tight if one has very broad shoulders. There is
legroom for those over 6', but for those with a long torso, headroom can
be a problem.

Good luck and enjoy whatever you decide to go with!