Exactly Alan, up at Belatta in May 1968 we found that the Blanik was a
real sled compared to the T31b. Bill Riley towed one down with the Lake
and refused to take it back..
GW
Alan Wilson wrote:
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
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