On 2/09/2012 09:01, Todd wrote:
That approach is far too logical. Any rated glider pilot should be
able to do that as it is a required PTS task. But then, given the
glider communities propensity to destroy gliders and kill them
selves, logic and fact and a through understanding of the flight
characteristics of our gliders may not be relevant (or desired).


Yes. See the recent discussion about 'crow hops'.

Since Wilbur and Orville taught themselves, probably around 100 million
people globally have been taught to fly conventional aircraft.
Nevertheless, Jerry saw converting a qualified pilot to a certified
glider as a plunge into barely explored territory for which he had to
find his own unique solution. He could not be convinced that smarter
people than he had already solved the problem.

Not only that, the glider he wants to fly was built by one of the most
reputable aeronautical engineers in gliding to a certified, tested
design yet he decided, before flying it and after consulting only
himself, that the flight control system needed modifying.

One simple explanation for the high accident rate is that gliding seems
to attract a lot of this type of personality. Sometimes this is
beneficial - but not to the accident rate.

GC