DG-300 or LS-3?

Noel,
First of all, I have owned a grand total of one glider(DG303) and
done one contest, so I may not be the greybeard you want to hear
from! If you are planning on flying in sports class, the DG300 has
the better handicap(at least for OLC, 106 vs. 108), so if you fly even
with an LS3 you will win the day.
The responses on the thread have indicated years of experience and
multiple glider ownership. My gut feeling, from observing pilots and
gliders on fun days and contest days, is that you and I would
probably have to move up to ASW27 or comparable to get to the next
level in performance. Just fly the heck out of your DG300 until then
and have fun. I really feel it comes down to experience and comfort
level in varying conditions and terrain rather than equipment unless
you are at the top level.
Is it possible that I got a letter from you when you were searching
for a DG300/303?
Good luck in your quest, and I echo some other posters here
regarding the auto hookup on the LS3 elevator. And I concur with you,
loved the LS4, almost bought one!

Dean "GO"

On Apr 23, 8:54*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
Hello all - I've got a question for the competition pilots out the

Imagine you're a budding competition pilot with about 300 hours in
your logbook. *You've done a couple of Sports-class competitions and
find them highly enjoyable. *You begin to make plans to buy a partial
share in a high-end machine in 2010/2011; but then have to change
gears financially and keep costs in check.

Now imagine you've standing in front of two aircraft:
1) A near-mint-condition DG-300 (with auto-hookups, great
instrumentation, and DG's ergonomics and visibility). *The ship has
spent its life in the desert southwest of the USA.

2) A recently-refinished LS-3 (_not_ an "a" model) with good equipment
- but an airframe that's a full 10 years older than the DG. *The ship
has spent its life on the East coast of the USA. *Assume that it is
only $3000 cheaper than the DG-300.

According to some old Idaflieg data, the LS-3 is significantly better
above 60 knots while the DG-300 has a noticeable climb-rate advantage
at slower speeds. *Not sure how accurate the Idaflieg data is, though.

What would _you_ consider to be the better ship to own? *If you owned
one of them, would you sell it to get the other?

Thanks for the assistance,

--Noel

I would go for the 300, very tough gel coat and superb to fly. Good in
weak thermals as well
Jackie