Shuttleworths EON Primary Flys

It was launched at Old Warden, But they need a lighter bungee rope. They are also hoping to aerotow it.

Dave

So what was its flight? From one end of the Old Warden runway to the other? I’d be amazed if a circuit was possible from a bungee launch, without a ridge beyond it, in April. But maybe, if there are not yet crops in the fields, it just landed out beyond the threshold!

Amazing films there and it shows in the end the risks the early aviators took to get us to where we are now. Plenty of warning is given on the film so I don’t think any one could be offended or call you ghoulish.

Congratulations on that rebuild and the ground slides.

I thought more than twice about posting this link in your thread, because there is an element of tragedy in the final clip of the video compilation. A Primary is aerotowed, there is loss of control and the result is tragic and shocking. I should like to know who the poor pilot was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd-2RGM0SG8

It is ‘topical’ however, and I hope it doesn’t offend.

SoG

Some lovely photo’s here…

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208466007

Tug job…

Real wind in your hair stuff…There are plenty of Spitfires about.Why don,t you use one of them for a tow plane….:dev2:

Eon Eton TX1 BGA3214 / FEZ in flight.

Its great to hear of another Primary glider flying again. We aerotowed our EON Primary at Bicester on numerous occaissions at behind a Chipmunk with no problems.

I have flown the primary at Keevil on aerotow behind a Rallye several years ago.

the tow ‘aircraft’ was actually Peugeot 405.
Moggy

We tried that too with the grunau 9. The initial “air tests” were done behind a Toyota Tercel, but were discontinued after some very expensive noises came from the automatic transmission:eek: 😮 😀

Best to just stick with the bungees, that´s what this thing was designed for:cool: 😎

Is this one of those very simple gliders meant to give cadets their first experience of pilotage?

If it is, I flew one once (actually twice come to think of it). I recall it as a ‘Dagling’ and the tow ‘aircraft’ was actually Peugeot 405.

Flew the length of the main (only) at Swanton Morley and yes, it does come down like a brick 😮

Huge fun though.

Moggy

They are also hoping to aerotow it.
Dave

That will be an interesting exercise for all involved. We did it in Iceland about 10 years ago with a Grunau 9 primary glider, and it has not been repeated:o The tow plane was a 135 horse Super Cub, and the very experinced tow pilot who flew the aircraft, told us it was right on the limit of being too underpowered. The combo was not flown above (IIRC) 45 mph during the tow, as the ´9 was never designed for airtow the speed had to be kept down for structural reasons. How they arrived at the magic number of 45 mph, I do not know. However, at that speed, with the great drag produced by the glider, the Super Cub was well and truly on the backside of the powercurve. The tow was abonded at about 700 feet as the engine of the Cub was overheating at full power at such a slow speed. After release, the glider came down like a brick, the glide ratio was not very great.

Luton Minor is out of the question as a tow plane, I think.

😮

Actually. You’d better get your Luton Minor finished quick! :diablo:

It’d be easier to tow the Minor with the glider!!! 😮 😀

TT

Steve if you fancy it, you just need two hours to rig the blighter and the Grasshopper is all yours 🙂

They are also hoping to aerotow it.

Dave

😮

Actually. You’d better get your Luton Minor finished quick! :diablo:

Assuming that you won’t go far with a bungee launch from Old Warden (!), from where was it launched?

It was launched at Old Warden, But they need a lighter bungee rope. They are also hoping to aerotow it.

Dave

Assuming that you won’t go far with a bungee launch from Old Warden (!), from where was it launched?

Great news!

Is this the first stage in the new Shuttleworth pilot training scheme?