Given that while in Lanzarote I flew three different gliders, I thought it was worth writing some comparisons.

Airwave K2 144. Basically I was too big for this glider, but it din't seem to affet the handling much. Very positive and direct, very Airwave. In that respect I liked it a lot, certainly the kind of glider you could just get up on and fly. Seems others found it a bit stiff to turn, but maybe my overloading solved that. Top landing was fine, bottom landing was more unsure, couldn't real position the flair right.

Seedwings Merlin 148: a sweet glider that had me a bit unsure on my first flight (20mins scratching). The handling was tuned very light, but after 30mins or so of the 2nd flight I was confident enough on it. Sink rate was great, as good as anything else flying with us, and pulling the VG on certainly increased speed performance - although the bar pressure did appear to become even slightly divergent! Rather weird, is all I can say.

Aerial Arts Clubman 180: this was a vintage model, complete with what looked like original fittings. It was light enough and climbed well, with pretty rubbish penetration (of course). Hadn't flown one since 1988? In fact, I wondered how really we learnt to fly on these things. It seemed so much less positive in roll and pitch compared to modern gliders that it seemed to me to be a bad choice nowadays (only available 2nd hand I guess) for a beginner - there are far better handling gliders around that work for beginners and intermediates.

And how does my old Laminar Easy rate? Well, Clearly under the K2 and Merlin in terms of complexity, but much superior to the Clubman. The Easy is a great glider to fly and enjoy; even XC. I guess the Merlin for me would work well. The Litesport seems a touch more sophisticated, though I would say that the high speed handling of the Merlin would have me a bit worried...   

1:42:50 PM