Gliders, tests and transparency.

Gliders, tests and transparency.

First of all, I would like to thank all the pilots interested in dustoftheuniverse blog and page.

Paragliding for me it is a ‘pure’ sport. Flying puts us in a place away from dull conversations, work problems, and daily routine life.

Being up there, focusing on the flight, visualizing the scenery, is an experience beyond fine description, where an individual would find him/herself floating in space and totally free.

The purpose of my tests is to be able to change wings, feel the difference, and share it.

To do so, I must purchase the gliders from manufacturers. That’s the best way to be free to make: Test, take the needed time, fly the glider anywhere I want, be free to compare it with any glider and discuss opinions with my friends.

Purchased gliders must be sold after, in order to get new ones.

Our custom status:

When each single glider arrives, the glider is detained by the customs. In the next 4-5 days they inform me and I must drive to the Airport that is 2-hour drive from my house, without mentioning the horrible traffic.

First visit consist to begin the terrible negotiations with the customs, then paperwork and a copy to be sent to the army in order to get a clearance paper.

After 3 days an army officer call to say that he is going to inspect the glider. After 5 days I began to call the army office to see if the clearance has been given. Once it has, I must again drive to the airport to began the clearance process.

I would wait outside the officer office 4-5 hours sometimes to wait for his signature! Got the paper signed and away now to the custom office to begin the release process and paying the customs fees (+Vat).

=  Around +500 including back and forth expenses paid, and 15-18 days delay with (a single) glider released! 

(I’m really grateful that ‘Imad’ a guy that works with me helps me with this issue)

Glider is tested and now I must sell it.

After the test, if a glider shows it’s potential on the videos and meets many pilots’ requirements, then the company, and the dealers and everyone working on this brand would positively benefit from it. I’m glad I contributed to that happiness…and the pilots who bought that glider are even happier!  :-)

As for me, I’m now struggling to sell that single used glider making sure that no dealer around the world is un-happy by his countryman pilot buying mine!

Knowing that he could have made some profits after the test selling to many other pilots…But that won’t sate his greed, sending emails to the main company as if the world had collapsed and the loss is enormous!

I will gladly send him any profit over it if occurred!

Glad that there are few alike, and many are gentlemen and professionals.

I’m not selling a new glider…Just (a single) 5-10 hours used glider. Wake up money worshipers…Think of the positive sides, rather than the negatives ones.  

Some complains that my prices are low.

With all the hard work getting one glider out, going for the tests, editing the videos, writing the tests, answering endless questions and emails, all free information to the pilots around the world, and they are available for any interested manufacturer.

Would it be fair to trade and profit after an honest opinion? 

After covering the above expenses. The prices are low, because they are also free from ridiculous profit!