I think it might be argued the main reason checklists aren't used is
they can't be found when you need them. This is particularly true in
aircraft with restricted space in the cockpit.

To this end, there is a solution which has worked well for me. The
checklist is neatly inkjet printed on both sides of a card, then
laminated in plastic. This produces a stiff, plastic card which is
extremely rugged. The card is dangled from the right side of the
instrument panel on a short length of parachute cord so it falls
between the pilots right leg and the cockpit wall. When you don't
need it, it's completely out of the way - when you want it, just grab
the cord and pull up the checklist. These cards have survived years
in training gliders.

Space restrictions on the card force short, concise checklists
covering essential safety items. (i.e. lock spoilers, latch canopy
etc...) IMHO long lists are less likely to be used.

On Jan 12, 9:29*am, T8 wrote:

What I'd like to see in the soaring community as a whole is better pre-
takeoff checklist discipline. *There's no more efficient use of effort
in the pursuit of better safety to be had (I am mindful of several
sailplane and one tow plane fatality last year alone where checklist
failure was clearly a root cause). *One could lay the groundwork for
this in a club briefing, but it will require follow up on the part of
instructors & chief tow pilots.

-Evan Ludeman / T8