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#191
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When the PW5 was first available in the Uk another glider made by the same
manufacturer with better performance and only about 1000 pounds more was available - the Junior. 15M, a proper looking glider, and rated by Derek Piggot as one of the best gliders for an early solo pilot. Why was this not considered? Because it couldnt be kit built and was 15m. Now compare the amount of depreciation on the PW5 and the Junior. The Junior holds its value better because it is more useable, robust, better performance and better looking. The PW5 has failed on one of its main criteria for the World Class- cost. Yes it is fairly cheap to buy new, but nobody is going to be happy with 50% depreciation over 5 years. If you compare total cost of ownership over that period including finance costs to buy, running costs, depreciation ease of sale etc., you will find quite a number of new gliders that are cheaper, and more desirable. OK sharpen your knives to disect this argument. :-) Nigel (dont own a glider but have the choice of 12 single seaters to fly) |
#192
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OscarCVox wrote:
When the PW5 was first available in the Uk another glider made by the same manufacturer with better performance and only about 1000 pounds more was available - the Junior. 15M, a proper looking glider, and rated by Derek Piggot as one of the best gliders for an early solo pilot. Why was this not considered? Because it couldnt be kit built and was 15m. Now compare the amount of depreciation on the PW5 and the Junior. The Junior holds its value better because it is more useable, robust, better performance and better looking. The PW5 has failed on one of its main criteria for the World Class- cost. Yes it is fairly cheap to buy new, but nobody is going to be happy with 50% depreciation over 5 years. If you compare total cost of ownership over that period including finance costs to buy, running costs, depreciation ease of sale etc., you will find quite a number of new gliders that are cheaper, and more desirable. OK sharpen your knives to disect this argument. :-) The committees didn't have depreciation data on a PW5 in the mid-80s, when this process was started. There was considerable interest in the idea at the time, with 20+ initial entrants. It is easy to suggest changes after the experiment is carried out, hard to design the next one to appeal to people who will be in the sport 10 or 15 years from now. -- ----- change "netto" to "net" to email me directly Eric Greenwell Washington State USA |
#193
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In article ,
Robert Ehrlich wrote: Eric Greenwell wrote: Jon Meyer wrote: Are you therefore saying that the world class must have less than 15m span just so that it cannot be construed as being equivalent to one of the existing classes? No, I'm saying it must be smaller to be cheaper. Bigger costs money. I think that such a suggestion is completely contrary to the aims of the world class, which are in my opinion, very good. Here was an important goal: "substantially lower costs than then-current new gliders". It's the first one on the list in the history section of the World Class Soaring Association (www.wcsa.org/history.htm). At that time the LAK-12 was still in production and met the goal: substantially lower costs than then-current new gliders". Although size is certainly a factor of the price, it is not the main one. The WC requirement that the glider have construction plans public and open to anyone for building seemed like a good way to ensure the manufacturer wouldn't "gouge", but this seems to have backfired. I don't think this requirement should be put forth in 2009. Perhaps this will encourage more entries... Perhaps make the plans and such public and buildable by anyone, but have no requirement that it is easy to build... Thus allowing the Sparrowhawk and others to compete... -- ------------+ Mark Boyd Avenal, California, USA |
#194
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It is one of those sad truths that the very, very few people who are
willing to stand up and do something for the good of the rest of us will win our unending ridicule. But lets be honest, we second guessers count for little to nothing. Teapot tempests, all of us. If you don't like the PW-5 or the World Class, unglue your bottom from the chair in front of the ras and go create a new World Class. Of course, you'll find it difficult, unpleasant, and posture yourself for unending ridicule. And you may even discover why the PW-5 was selected. But I suppose most of us prefer to be ridiculous in spirit than ridiculed in fact. |
#195
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PS, signing off for the season... there's sky out there to sculpt.
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#196
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If you don't
like the PW-5 or the World Class, unglue your bottom from the chair in front of the ras and go create a new World Class. Of course, you'll find it difficult, unpleasant, and posture yourself for unending ridicule. And you may even discover why the PW-5 was selected. But I suppose most of us prefer to be ridiculous in spirit than ridiculed in fact. Dont need to. The club class is doing all that the World class was supposed to and is oversubscribed in competitions all over the world - except the USA, Why dont you follow the same format and forget the world class as a good idea that went wrong and embrace the club class like everybody else. I know! It hasnt been invented by the good old usa so it cant be any good. Why reinvent the wheel with your sport class? |
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