Some just don’t know what gliding was in those days. Blaniks were often the best glider around. My log book shows several 500 k attempts at Birchip in 1970/71. On Dec 30, managed 470k on Jan 02, and finally 557 km Birchip, Stawell, Hattah and back [as nominated] and it only took 8 hours. Among reasons, I doubted my ability to push the Gruanu IV past the 300k diamond goal in the previous summer.
Ah….. Memories. Alan Wilson _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Stuart & Kerri Ferguson Sent: Wednesday, 24 December 2008 12:05 PM To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.' Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Blanik Bashing Terry wrote For many years the Blanik gave Australian clubs (and probably some of those elsewhere in the world) an excellent two seater training aircraft which was strong, reliable, forgiving, and had the ability to bite when requested - i.e. spin when mistreated, ………………………………..for those who have moved on to DG1000 etc may need reminding that there are still clubs out there relying on Blaniks, we sold our last one because those who wanted to fly her could not maintain her and those who could maintain her did not want to fly her. I am happy to report that she is now with a club who has members who love to do both - the legend lives on. Merry Christmas to all. SDF _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Terry Neumann Sent: Wednesday, 24 December 2008 9:21 AM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Blanik Bashing simon holding wrote: Maybe we should set up an online season contest for Blaniks. Then we'd see some proper flying. Any one can do a beatup in a modern glider - takes real guts to try it in a Blanik. Back in the days when real men flew gliders, Bert Persson flew 500km in a Blanik in the 70's out of Alice. Brian Underwood and Don Nottle flew the first 2 seater 500 km triangle in Australia from the Balaklava field in the Blanik GXM. They had a few attempts before they finally succeeded, but succeed they did. I have to say (again) that I really am surprised how poisoned some minds are against the Blanik. This can't be healthy - not in the season of goodwill! For many years the Blanik gave Australian clubs (and probably some of those elsewhere in the world) an excellent two seater training aircraft which was strong, reliable, forgiving, and had the ability to bite when requested - i.e. spin when mistreated, without the need for something special to be done prior to takeoff. Frankly, despite somewhat exaggerated suggestions to the contrary, they looked good as well. At a time when the fastest and meanest looking device around was a Boomerang (in some respects they still hold their own) the Blanik was a sleek, sophisticated (if over engineered) aircraft which was light years ahead of anything we had at the time. Oh yes, they were relatively inexpensive too. Well before someone discovered that they had a nominal service life, one with twice that number of hours was being thrown around the sky over Waikerie in January 1974 by one of the Polish team members in a very memorable aerobatics display at the World Gliding comps. Surely this proves something. For mine, the Blanik was still one of the nicest handling aircraft of the relatively small number of types I have tried over 40 plus years. Some of them I did not care for at all. (We won't go there now - not at Christmas). OK, Blaniks were not at all nice to work on. Point taken. Agreed! Accepted! People get upset at the mention of their name. (OK won't I say the word again....)! However I'm quite comfortable for them to be lumped in the same category as the EH Holden. Both were classics. I had a lot of fun in an EH as well (We won't go there either ;-) ). Happy Christmas to all, safe and adventurous flying for 2009, and for those who desperately need it, a Blanik free new year. Regards, Terry Imagine what is going to be said about the ASG 29 on this forum in another 50 years? Will it be as great as the Blanik? Simon _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]"[email protected] t To check or change subscription details, visit: HYPERLINK "http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring"http://lists.int ernode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1848 - Release Date: 14/12/2008 12:28 PM Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.9.18/1848 - Release Date: 14/12/2008 12:28 PM
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