On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:41:57 +1100, Peter Creswick wrote:
>clubs perhaps buying inappropriate equipment for their "real needs".
The club committee decision process on fleet purchases is further
complicated beyond what Peter talks about regarding aircraft handling
& spinning characteristics.
In some clubs the decision is a committee one, sometimes a club
special general meeting one. Where the views of CFI and instructors
may or may not get special attention by the voters.
And the eternal concern about money.
I was pleased to have several clubs contact me when considering
buying a big span 2 seater from the US that was very much cheaper
than a Janus
(for the record my recommendation was that no club should own one,
including to the eventual Canadian purchaser who bought it privately
and put the same operating restrictions on his as I have on mine).
In this field clubs split into those with the funds to look in the
new sailplane market, and clubs who are limited to the second hand
market (including that airframe above which left the factory 20 years
after manufacture and only had a handful of hours on it).
The latter clubs are working both with second hand gliders actually
available in the market, plus types where the handling may well be
less ideal than current equivalent type (early Standard Class types
when compared to recent types). Or choosing a type that is available
but less ideal than what was wanted but is unobtainable (say in the
first solo single seat slot).
These 'take what you can get' types then have to be blended into the
club fleet, where pilot past type experience is with different types
and thus varied pilot reaction/expectations, member reaction
('why didn't 'the club' but....')
Those clubs who can buy new, buy a complementary single seat follow
on to the 2 seat primary trainer are fortunate indeed.
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