SZD-55

[Alf]

As I am a pondering the purchase of a new sailplane, I haven't seen to
much about the SZD-55.

Is it an outdated design? I can't find any vices with it, other than
there are not many for sale. I see more jantars than 55's.

On paper, for the price, it looks like a good performer with good
handling.

[GK]

- It was designed in 1989, LD 1/44 TESTED not CLAIMED (please refer to
Johnson tests - http://www.ssa.org/Magazines/Johnson.asp), took second
place in Worlds. There isnt too many of them around and for the price
of a new glider it seems like the best bang for the buck these days.

[fado...@yahoo.com]

1:44 ? One foot forward for every 44 feet down. That's even worse than
a PW5.

[Armando Pucci]

Jantar Standard 2 or 3 are more popular to beginners,
a good choice to learn cross country, and still competitive
on club class.

SZD-55-1 is a evolution project, light and easy to
assemble, self connections controls, easy to fly, good
and honest characteristics, if you set the C&G correctly
and learn thermaling with high wing ballast will beat
a Discus…

A good choice!

Armando R. Pucci
Ventus 2cM (AR)

[jacekk...@raypolandandsons.us]

SZD-55-1 is an excellent choice. You will be very pleased. And don't
listen to all those ill fated advices...let those guys fly whatever
they want.

[Bob]

Alf wrote:
> other than there are not many for sale.

Maybe that is testament to how content the owners are!

Ease of assembly, flying characteristics, value/performance for the
money...... it takes a lot to beat it.

Bob

[Nils Hoeimyr]

Agree to all of that. ;o)

Note that the SZD-55 is in production again,
you will find more info here: http://www.szd.com.pl

Nils [ SZD-55 "AZ" ]

[Udo Rumpf]

Here is the Website for the North American SZD representative.
http://www.windpath.ca/
He will be flying a brand new SZD55 at the Sports Class Nat's in Utah this
Spring.

[WDM]

As one of 2 SZD-55 owners at our field, I can attest to the great
support both from Allstar out of Poland and the North American
Distributor (Jerzy at Windpath). We have had great ease in getting
parts and service. We have been very pleased so far.

...WDM

[Kevin Christner]

WDM wrote:
> As one of 2 SZD-55 owners at our field, I can attest to the great
> support both from Allstar out of Poland and the North American
> Distributor (Jerzy at Windpath). We have had great ease in getting
> parts and service. We have been very pleased so far.
>
> ...WDM

Jerzy provides excellent support. I got a new panel for my Jantar from
him and everything was great.

Kevin Christner

[snoop]

As the other one of 2 on our field, I echo all the good things being
said about both Windpath and the SZD55. It's a fun ship, and it has
been a painless ship to maintain, and fly.

My son checked out in it when he was almost eighteen years old, coming
out of 1-26's and a lot of PW-5 (another great ship), flying. He's
flown it in two nationals, with a bunch of landouts, and it just keeps
on tickin'. The gear is strong, and simple. Plus it sits higher than
most, so when you land in a soft field it sits high, and the gear doors
stay out of the mud/soft dirt, for easier rolling to the trailer.

Watch for pictures of our 55 (UN) on the TSA website. We're picking it
up this weekend from 2XX Dave Mocklers's shop where he has done a
complete fuselage redo. It looks great! Dave guarantees it to go twice
as fast with the new finish. With me flying it, that is entirely
possible!

[Yurek]

"Alf" <pik20b...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<1107702973.1...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>...

Some 55's owners explained how happy they are with theirs sailplanes.
I would just like to point the question of the "outdated design".
Last year, a German pilot, Michael Sommer, confirmed excellent
performances of this glider by winning - on board of a SZD-55 the
Australian Championship in the class 15 m in Gulgong. There is no
error, you did read well : in 15 m class, not in the standard class !
In one of tasks, he reached the average speed of 159,55 km/h in a race
of 421 km...