Recently spoke to an Ulverston chap who recounted a story concerning a friend learning to drive a morris minor 1000 on Cark airfield runway. He remembers distinctly a gyro glider being towed by a land rover apparently it was doing touch and goes on the top of their Minor roof! I immediately thought Focke Achgelis Bachstelze? Apparently there were several German U boats located post war not far up the coast at Barrow in Furness shipyard – one wonders whether thats where it originated from. I see the youtube has some Pathe footage from 1960s of a more modern gyro glider which was apparently becoming popular past time in England at the time so this is another possibility
Anybody spread further light on this?
Could be a good toy for old warden to ad to their show reportoire!
By: Consul - 27th April 2018 at 22:20
The speculation that this could have been an Fa330 is presumably just a headline attention grabber, not a serious suggestion? There were certainly Benson-based gyro-gliders around in the UK in the early 1960s and so a far more likely contender. The earliest example I remember seeing was one being towed into the air behind a car, during the Battle of Britain day display at RAF Gaydon in 1961.
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th April 2018 at 21:28
Of course it could have been a ex-German example, but I’ve never heard of one escaping into civil ownership.
I believe the Northern Aircraft Preservation Society, and the Merseyside Aviation Group had a Fa330 in the 1970’s, so some made it out into civil hands.
By: Sabrejet - 27th April 2018 at 11:53
Bizarre: in terms of likely candidates, I’d say the FA Bachstelze would be the last thing I’d consider. As J Boyle says, more likely to be a Bensen (sp?) or similar.
Or Amelia and Fred in some sort of home-made contraption possibly?
By: J Boyle - 26th April 2018 at 23:18
My guess is any gyro glider flying in the period would have been a Benson design or something similar.
They were very common back then towed by autos and boats. Most, if not all were homebuilts, you could buy a kit from them or get plans. They were extensively advertised in the period in aviation and “how to”/DIY magazines.
Of course it could have been a ex-German example, but I’ve never heard of one escaping into civil ownership. They are reportedly the most numerous examples of ex-German aircraft and are well represented in museums.
But they don’t look like Bensons or Wallis examples.
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April 26, 2018 at 10:28 pm