Vintage gliders

I attended the 80th Anniversary of the Auckland (New Zealand) Gliding Club today.

Of interest was the appearance of two vintage gliders at this event.

ZK-GAA is a Elliotts EoN Olympia 2B which was registered to J R Court & G A Hookings, Auckland on 3Nov1949, the first glider to be officially registered in New Zealand. Its first flight took place on 12Feb1950.
Although complete, this machine has been in storage for many years and the registration was cancelled in 1998. Today is the first time it has been assembled since 1982.

Elliotts EoN Baby ZK-GAF is ex G-ALRS and BGA626. It was registered to Auckland Sailplanes Ltd. 10Nov1952. I understand that it has been in relatively constant use ever since. It was scheduled to fly today but due to (unspecified) problems it did not do so.

Also on the field was Tiger Moth ZK-BFF. Ex-T5807 and G-ANBW, this aircraft came to New Zealand in 1954. After a few years in the aerial topdressing game, it spent time towing gliders in the 1960s.
After a few circuits off the strip it did perform one aero-tow today before returning to its nearby home base.