Rollason Turbulents, how many left?

Late to the thread but last I heard of Turbulent G-AJCP was from the owner at Van Nuys, California.

I learned to fly in the Condor G-AXGZ at Sturgate Airport, Lincolnshire, England.

Both long, long ago!

Couple of Rollason Turbulents, Redhill 1968 🙂

At the risk of thread creep, the answer to your question (post #81), Deskpilot, is yes. It’s currently in store at the GPPA museum, Espace Air Passion, at Angers-Marcé (see http://www.musee-aviation-angers.fr/collections/avions-et-voilures-tournantes/).

A red Turbi flew over my house on Tuesday heading for the Adelaide Control Zone which is less that one nautical mile away. Turbi and Transponder, really? There used to be one at Adelaide Biplanes based at Aldinga Airfield south of the city but they got rid of it a while ago now.

Steve

Ah, seniors moment. So it is. My error.

The only one I know of is the Stark Lavadoux ( think Gallic Piper Cub )

That’s Starck – as in André. Quite a prolific designer of light aircraft for amateur construction (see http://www.aviafrance.com/constructeur.php?ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1243). The Lavadoux is the AS-80.

The last shot of BZ shows her off to perfection and the young lady doing the pre-flight is worth more than a second look too.
The original post gave me a thought. How many Rollason Condors are left, how many Rollason anythings for that matter. If you managed three dozen all told I reckon you’d be doing well.

Is the ‘Stark’ being mentioned the same one who designed the AS-37
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HI pngb4

Good to hear from you , and welcome to the forum.

I am interested to hear of the Stark. What might that be? The only one I know of is the Stark Lavadoux ( think Gallic Piper Cub )
The sole example I saw got hung up in trees at Woburn ( near Old Warden) about 20 years ago . Is yours a licence built Turb?

Have you any photos of your project you can post?

Andy Smith

I’m hunting for photos at the moment, will put up something when I find them. Yes, Stark built some Turbs, I assume under licence. This one seems to be an interesting version of the French design, with some different mods as compared to the Rollason one, Rollason’s beefed up the spar and spar/fuselage join, and used an Ardem 1500 VW conversion, stark had the Stamo 1400 conversion. No change from Druine’s spar, which would be a worry as stark extended the wing one bay each side and had a higher AUW. Can’t quote figures at the moment as the books are elsewhere. The original French cert. only called for +3g. Also differences in the carbs, ignition and engine mounts – so versions of French, Rollason’s, Stark’s, and now mine in the engine dept.

Had a canopy, side opening, and heel brakes. It was certified in normal category in Aus, fitted with a large & heavy tailwheel instead of a skid, maybe a DCA requirement.

Another change is in the seating. I think SAM had the cockpit bulkhead moved back a bit as my 6′ fitted in (just). Stark had a recess to take a chute let into the bulkhead, and originally had only a lapstrap. Modified, obviously for AUS certification, for a 4-point harness, but I’d rate their shoulder strap anchor at about 1/2 g!

An interesting project!

Stark appear to have manufactured some in Germany. Various snippets on the net .

HI pngb4

Good to hear from you , and welcome to the forum.

I am interested to hear of the Stark. What might that be? The only one I know of is the Stark Lavadoux ( think Gallic Piper Cub )
The sole example I saw got hung up in trees at Woburn ( near Old Warden) about 20 years ago . Is yours a licence built Turb?

Have you any photos of your project you can post?

Andy Smith

Found this thread by accident – I flew SAM in 1969, sad that it didn’t survive. Have been working ( for too long) on the restoration of the only Stark build imported to Aus by Schneiders in 1960. The original papers are a bit optimistic as limit loading is given as 6G. That’s in spite of the wing being one bay longer on each side, and a higher gross weight. Anyway, I can probably nail the “wood” problem. It wasn’t the wood that led to it being grounded in about 1970, but the glue. Don’t know what it was, but it deteriorated to the extent that dismantling for rebuilding was done by hand – bare hands at that. Both the owner and I have been overtaken by medical problems and the old anno domini, so it will have to go to yet another owner to finish the re-build. Pity, a lovely little type. I still remember Redhill to Old Warden on a fine afternoon. Doubt you would be able to do that direct over Tower Bridge non-radio these days,

Ref post #58. And What, may I ask is the “long-term wood issues” to which you allude?
I was a founder member of the Amateur homebuilt movement in the late 50’s and early 60’s, and, of course with the Turbulents. Most of these early examples are still flying 50 odd years later. I operate a Dragon, Fox, Minor and Proctor, am rebuilding a Gemini, Messenger and Moth Major ( and hopefully a Magister), all of which are even older and all of which are WOOD. I am, by the bye, involved with the Mosssie rebuild, also WOOD

Thank you 🙂

I can’t see how to private message my contact details

Left click your username.

I can’t see how to private message my contact details

Hi there. I stumbled across this by accident. Anyway long story short, my father finished the build on G-APOL , completed the permit to fly and was owner operator for about 10 years. If you want any info or his contact details feel free to message me 🙂

The text of the article would suggest that it is a control line model.

Phew, if that’s a control line model of a Turbulent, I’m glad that it’s not a pastime in which I participate. I never did take hammer throwing to Olympic standards! But if the text is broadly correct then to me, it looks more like a hawser line model to be flown attached to a merry-go-round. Either that or the DT article is really about properties in Bekonscot!

Turbulent G-APNZ is I believe now with a trust with the intention of restoring her.

The text of the article would suggest that it is a control line model.