Spot on. There is little point in training tomorrows pilots in yesterdays gliders, unless all they want to do is fly yesterdays gliders. It is also not a good advertisement for the sport, to give someone their first experience of gliding in ancient equipment when modern gliders (or even those that just look modern) are available and often visible on the same airfield.
In my own club the arrival of our first ASK21 simply resulted in members and passengers voting with their feet. IS28 utilisation has reduced dramatically, and the 21 is out flying every day. Our 2nd ASK21 is coming on line as we speak, and one more IS28 is available for sale. I have sympathy for those who find themselves caught short in this situation, but then as Mike said, the brick wall has been coming for some time and while the timing may be a surprise, the situation can't be. The real pity is that it cost two lives. "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls". In regard to efforts being made to get Blaniks back in the air, I think the bottom line will be for each and every Blanik owner and potential pilot to question whether they would now be willing to strap themselves, or a close family member, or a member of the public, into one and go flying - no matter what the paperwork says. I am sure there will be different views on this question, and I make no recommendations to others - but I know that I will never set foot in one again. Cheers Tim -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Borgelt Sent: Saturday, 21 August 2010 18:26 To: [email protected]; Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] L-13 At 04:45 PM 21/08/2010, you wrote: > > >I see this issue as a heads up to the need for developing and >fielding a glider FDR. > Technically that problem doesn't even rate as trivial. Hardest part will be organising the power supply. Airspeed switch plus some sort of internal battery back up when sailplane power isn't available. Administratively it won't be any good until the airworthiness authority accepts the record and agrees to use it to set fatigue life. Certainly measuring some gliders would be good to see if the loading spectrum that is used to set the fatigue life is realistic or whether it is very conservative. As for Blaniks, we've known since about 1978 that there was a fatigue problem with Blaniks. They've been flown for over 30 years after that. Surely everyone had to figure that the music would stop one day. They were a really nice glider in 1956 when first flown and comparable to many of the contemporary single seaters in performance. Training in them now is like running a power flying school now with Tiger Moths or J-3 cubs. Yes, it is done, usually offering conversions or the antique nostalgia experience. Mike Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments since 1978 phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 email: [email protected] website: www.borgeltinstruments.com _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3066 - Release Date: 08/21/10 04:35:00 _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
