Originally Posted by
Olympia 463
Well as a retired civilian gliding instructor, who was trained on a T31, and ended up teaching on the K13, I am not so sure that for ATC purposes you need an expensive kite like the ASK21. I have flown the 21 (in 2007 - to see if gliding was like roller skating, something you never forget) and I admit it is a magnificent trainer but it is GLASS with all the attendant problems you get with repairs. The good old K13 was a much simpler machine and easy to repair - tube fuselage, wooden wings etc. Why not get Schliecher to knock off a hundred or so K13s , at what would be clearly be a lower price and quicker to make than the 21 ? Cadets in my time did well enough with the T21 and T31, Remember we are not training glider pilots here just getting kids into the air. In the good old days we used to repair our T31s with minor damage during the week ready for next weekend. I was Technical Officer in my club and I know about these things.
It's hard to find a good K13 these days - most of them that are sold are bent - and importing doesn't help as these gliders don't get the BGA weight concession which may well matter with the strapping teenagers of today. There is also this little matter:
https://members.gliding.co.uk/librar...ection-042-07/