Dennis, I wouldn't exactly consider you a newbie. Gliders will teach you a lot of skills that a ballistic sport plane will never teach you. I have seen my share of people who can bore holes in the sky with their hot sport planes but become like "deer in the headlights" when they have a deadstick. I have seen one guy put his plane down in the woods when all he needed to do was make a single 90 degree turn to make the runway, he had plenty of altitude.

I would still have my first Gentle Lady but my wife spiraled it into the ground. I am really tempted to get another one. It's a whole different sport with its own set of skills.