On Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 1:02:33 PM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
If ordering a $150,000-$300,000 glider the extra $1,400 dollars while not insignificant is money well spent for both the buyer his/her family and the others pilots and their families he/she shares airspace with. There was a thread a while ago about who is responsible. Well we are all responsible for the safety of everyone around us. This is why we do not back up on freeways (almost hit an a__hole doing this), we use blinkers while changing lanes, we install PF in gliders ...etc. I know there is a cost argument which fails miserably in the context of lives at stake. Agreed a 1-26 might not warrant a S-mode transponder, PF and strobes due to price. I usually go with the safety options weather it be sailing (have done lots of off shore racing and sailing) driving, antilock brakes, all wheel disk brakes regular service...

Fifteen years ago I reinstrumented a 4 person power aircraft I had, and while the TCAS was too expensive ($30,000) I did install a S-mode transponder and an instrument which would alert and show traffic from the S-mode. That was the best money I spent in instruments and I used it every flight and on multiple occasions it saved my bacon! Sometime glider pilots while flying $100,000 plus gliders can be cheap. I personally think my life it worth the extra several thousand.

On Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:33:48 AM UTC-7, Craig Reinholt wrote:
On Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 7:22:36 AM UTC-7, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
The strobe on the Schleicher glider's is a strip about 18-24 inches long with multiple LED lights, Very bright and a great safety option. It is part of the leading edge of the vertical fin, so there is no aerodynamic penalty. It is popular option but still some chose to order without the strobe.

1,260.00 Euro option

Jonathan, go spend all the money you like but stop lecturing and second-guessing others. You subtly apply your standards to everyone else criticizing their choices and trumpeting your own. And don't call me cheap, I beg of you. Reread you post, it comes across as pretty arrogant.