Harry Medlicott wrote:
Hi All,
As the one who started the debate on the Puchaz and its safe? handling qualities, may I say it has been very disappointing to read some of the repsonses by Puchaz jockeys.
Hi All
I have followed the discussion regarding Puchacz safety record, particularly as it pertains to spinning, both here and earlier this year on r.a.s.. I have a vested interest, as I am a member of a club that has two of them. As well, I like flying them. As a precursor I should state that I am a relatively new glider pilot having flown some 230 h in about as many starts in 9 different types over the last 3 years. So you may consider my opinions in that light.
I have found Harryâs comments interesting in the extreme. Having read all posts by the âproâ Puchacz posters I have found them well argued, considered and largely well supported by the available evidence. So, why is Harry finding them âdisappointingâ? Has he somehow got some greater knowledge then those that he disparagingly refers to as Puchacz jockeys, in what would seem a thinly disguised effort to make their opinions count for less. I apologise in advance if it was simply a term of endearment. In another post Harry stated âMy third personal conclusion is that any club which imports a Puchacz until these problems are resolved has rocks in the head.â, fine he did state that it is his personal opinion, however given his standing in the gliding community it is unlikely to be taken as such. So I wonder what gives Harry the right to judge any club that chooses to import Puchacz, or continue to fly them. After all if it is not safe to fly a new Puchacz it must be even less safe to fly an old one. Therefore, by implication, all clubs that fly them should ground them. I wonder how many clubs would have the financial resources to replace Puchaczes by the suggested ASK21, even if they did think this was a good idea. Whilst the number of accidents ascribed to spins in this aircraft is disturbing, the number should not be considered in isolation. The Puchacz seems to be the glider of choice when it comes to spin training, so, is it surprising that it is involved in more spin related accidents then gliders that are never used for this purpose. Some claims were made that very experienced pilots were involved in these accidents. Given the analysis by Bill Dean of the UK accidents, it would seem that in certain situation experience counts for little. Further, I recall reading somewhere that out of past 10 Austrian gliding champions, 6 were killed in gliding accidents. Perhaps greater level of skill may lead to the acceptance of greater level of risk (and yes I do know that they fly in the Alps ï).
I believe that such personal crusades against a particular aircraft are ill advised. If one adds to it Mike B. comments about the Blanikâs on this forum sometime ago, (quote from memory Q. would you fly one? A. âI would not even walk under oneâ) it is obvious that a large section of Australian training fleet has been flagged as dangerous. So what is a newcomer to gliding that researches this group to think? Better walk away. Given the often mentioned problem of declining numbers in gliding, hardly a result we would want. And yet, I am not aware of a single fatality in a Puchacz in this country.
I was amused by a comment in this thread that we should discontinue spin training as spins have been designed out of modern gliders. Whilst I do not feel competent to comment on âspinabilityâ of modern gliders, it should be painfully obvious to anyone that a very large proportion of Australian club fleet does not consist of those ships. Most gliders I fly were produced in the 70ties and 80ties (well, apart from those Puches). Whilst I would love to fly the latest ASW28 with a ballistic recovery system installed, at this stage I am not willing to commit the 140000 or so dollars required.
To finish on a personal note, I for one will continue to fly the Puchacz happily, do the occasional loop, chandelle or a spin and feel lucky to have an access to a glider that permits me to enjoy these maneuvers.
Kind regards
Paul Bart
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