At 15:47 14 September 2010, RN wrote:
The current issues with the L-13 Blaniks has our club looking at
alternatives and developing a plan for the future training gliders we
will need.

We would be very interested in other club's experience with other
trainers, and what you are using and planning to use in the future.

Our evaluation parameters include high useful load for heavy students
and instructors, ease and availability of parts for maintenance and
repair, durability for student solo operations, and up front cost .

John


First of all..most important is to have a training glider at the club
whatever it is..well you know..no training no new pilots in the club..

Although, alot of of the older wood/metal/fabric gliders are a treat
to fly and thermal. But more mordern trainers prepares new pilots better
for the newer breed of gliders.

What to buy??

Defenetly depends on how much money one got to spend..That also
mostly depends on how much it will fly per year..

Small club..maby just have little money to spend/ flyes it 100 hrs a
year?
Big club have more money obviusly..they maby can fly it 3-4 times as much
as the small club..

In my oppinion, Duo, DG 500, DG1000 (a beast to ground handle) ect
are not primary trainers. Not rugged enough..

1 If you have/want to spend alot. ASK 21, best trainer in total..of
imortance is that its still in production, and have great quality in build
and manufacturer support! But its expencive..even used.
60.000 Euro for a old with maby 6-8000 hrs on it...But its also a
indicator of popularity and quality. Also, it will hold its walue over
time. Wich probably makes it the cheapest over time. But, again you have
to have the money... If money is not much of an object..Buy a new
ASK-21mi!!

2. If you cant reach a ASK 21, Twin Astirs are alot of bang for the buck.
Yes, handeling is a bit of a tank compared to a ASK 21.
But it glides far better... It is rugged enough for traing. Ofcoarse
Twin 2 and 3 are better, its a development.. You can buy one for about
20-30.000 euros. Grob is after reconstruction still giving
support with bulletins ect. Spareparts sales are outsorced to Lidner
(german glider workshop) So, Twins are good value trainers.

3. Polish glass trainers flyes good, but are of less build quality than
the above, support/spareparts is what I know, unsure..
But also rugged construction.

4. Again, most important is that you have a glider to safely train
new pilots and clubmembers...No trainer, no new members..
Performance is fun, but in the end, flying is fun, whatever u
can fly in!!!

5 Nothing lasts forever..not even gliders (but they do survive longtime)
When too old, its time to replace them with something newer..But risking a
clubs economy to buy something beyond
limits is just stupid..Its better to have the club alive, then not
having a club at all...

6 To keep the the new pilot active, he/she needs something
fun to fly after he got the licence too..so one maby shouldnt spend
all the funds on a trainer..a glider with resonable performance
for XC ect.. Some clubs (including my club) have been so focused
primary training that they forgets about the next steps in the gliding
career..So many basic trained pilots quits way to early..
That is a bad example of wrongly distrubuted enery and assets.


We changed ouer 2 Bergfalkes for Twins 15 years ago, and never
looked back. If we could afford it, we would buy ASK 21. But Twins have
worked great. No major issues at all, due to construction ect. Repaires
yes, if you damage a wing, it needs
repairs..regardless of manufacturer ect.. Thousends of landings with new
pilots. Some better than others..some really hard..never
a damaged undercarrige. It has done good job as trainer. Its also used
for xc traing. All in all, its a good club glider.

Now, as most clubs, we dont have the same amount of new members that want
to learn to fly. So, we want (if we can find the funds) to sell 1 twin,
instead buy a Duo. Its a good 2 seater
for the more "advanced" training, XC ect. But still a very good
glider for the members who are more experienced..And yes, hotter ship for
trial flights and "gift certificate flights".. Better promotor glider
than the now well used Twins...