On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 8:04:06 PM UTC-7, Michael N. wrote:
I'm looking for a glider for cross country in the $25k range.

I'd like to get a flapped 15 meter, and have been doing a lot of searching and reading on the groups and have kind of narrowed my decision down to an ASW20 or LS3a

I have about 200 hours in gliders all glass, but never anything with flaps, however I also owned and have several hundred hours in a Mooney M20C so have good experience in complex aircraft that require good in flight planning for various aspects of flight.

I was also considering the following, and will list some of my reasons for weeding them out of my choice list.

Ventus B: Great performance, but my understanding from reading (no actual experience) is that they are not forgiving or maybe a better way of putting it, is they require full time attention which can be fatiguing on long flights.

DG 200 or 202, good aircraft but you have to pay annual fees just to buy parts?

Mini Nimbus: also good aircraft, just not up to the same performance level as an ASW20

That kind of leaves the ASW20 or LS3 in this price range and category. Unless I am missing something.

So which would you have and why?
I am leaning towards an ASW20 purchase, but am finding some very well equipped LS3a's in the same price range as a moderately equipped ASW20.

Assuming similar clamshell style trailers and self rigging gear, which is the better buy or which would you have and why?

Also, anyone knowing of an ASW20 or LS3 for sale not already on Wings and Wheels, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks, I know this topic has been brought up before, but I am in the final stages of preparing for a purchase before the 2019 season gets into full swing and would like to get some final advice before pulling the trigger on this purchase.

Hi Michael: I've owned an LS-4, a Ventus C, and my current LS-6. For me there would be no choice. The LS gliders are a joy to fly. They have no bad habits; they hold tight circles easily; and on long flights they are much less fatiguing. On my third Ventus flight in turbulence I went into a high speed stall without any warning, found myself looking directly at the ground and thought I was going to die. It took me three years to fully trust the glider. The Ventus C and especially the B require constant attention to the flight controls. They do not fly themselves. Flying the Ventus will eventually make you a very good pilot, but you may not entirely enjoy the experience.

I have never flown an ASK 20, but I hear good things about them. I would avoid the 20A because it has a bad habit of spinning at low speeds. We lost a club member in such an accident. This was corrected in the 20B, and people who have them think it's a very fine glider. I'm not sure I would obsess about winglets. In the class of ships you're looking at other concerns are probably more important. Good luck in your quest!
Matt