On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 9:04:06 PM UTC-6, 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.

I owned an ASW-20 for 25 years; now fly an ASW-27. Never had winglets on the 20 and did not have any problem keeping up with a Ventus unless they were fully loaded with water. The only issue with the 20 is the manual hookups. Since I am older and more forgetful, I would not go back to manual hookups. The 20 is much better performance than the LS3. If you are going to do competitive flying with a full load of water, then I would go with the Ventus; however, I think to get one with a good finish you will be looking at 35K.

For recreational flying and considering the cost, I would go with the ASW-20, assuming you follow checklists and do a very thorough pre-flight control check. By the way, I flew an entire day in strong mountain conditions with out the blot in the tail of my 20!

Stu 2Z