Although I’ve known about the Slingsby Grasshopper for many years, it still amazes me to think that it actually flew short hops across wind swept airfields – being towed by Land Rover or numerous cadets who would run ahead while pulling a tow rope.
Apart from demonstrating the basics of controlled flight, did anyone ever manage a circuit or have a flight time that was measured in minutes rather than seconds?
I joined the ATC too late to experience this glider, though in all honesty knowing my level of bravado, I’d probably have stayed at home – not being made of the same “stuff” that other cadets had in abundance. So, what was it like to be strapped in and are there any still flying?
By: G-ASEA - 27th December 2010 at 11:12
Good Luck with getting it done by Febuary. I never make new year resolutions, that way I never break them! I’ve just started doing a bit more on my Kirby Kite as im bored stiff and have done any glider work for a while. I may go out hunting as there used to be another Grunau Baby stored at the other end of my village.
Dave
By: Fournier Boy - 26th December 2010 at 18:25
The xmas break normally a time for being with loved ones, so having got the family thing done yesterday, the old grassy is having a turn today! Have sourced replacement Spruce for the rear fuselage capping strip, all the wooden structure has been sealed and now the ailerons and tailplane await their covering! I now have employed help to push through the customer projects so I hope to get through some of my projects in the coming months. Have set myself the near impossible target of not doing ANY work on the Fournier until Grassy is finished. Lets go for a New Year resolution and get it flying in February!
Wish me luck!
FB
By: Fournier Boy - 23rd December 2010 at 00:41
Eric, totally agree with you there, and I laughed myself into a total mess.
Merry Christmas to you sir!
FB
By: ericmunk - 22nd December 2010 at 18:57
Surprised it fits at all!
By: G-ASEA - 22nd December 2010 at 18:46
Some people do wear a helmet. Willy Hacket test flying the Scud 11 at Old Warden this year.
Dave
By: ericmunk - 22nd December 2010 at 18:36
There used to be one at High Wycombe’s It was kept in the C.C.F. rifle range, which always seemed to be pushing their luck a bit.
No that’s funny. The maintenance form of the Grasshopper is called “Glider and winged target servicing form”!
By: ericmunk - 22nd December 2010 at 18:34
I feel really uncomfortable seeing that image. Nothing worn as protective clothing, no helmet,.. An accident waiting to happen if you ask me!
Ah yes, so wearing a helmet and padded overalls makes flying this aircraft safer. Good to know that. I would suggest gloves, a builder’s hardhat, bright orange jacket, safety shoes, a back-up whistle (handy for landing in high crops), a gasmask and a rotating/flashing light on top of the A-frame too. Just to be sure. :rolleyes:
Seriously: what you DO need is goggles. The mindboggling speed of the Grasshopper makes your eyes tear. We also modified the seat cushion for extra stuff padding (hard landing are a problem with these things: you need to dive a bit to gain the speed to flare properly, especially with heavy pilots). Apart from that, we only bungee with cables that are properly certified and new (old ones have a habit of breaking unannounced, serious chances of injury or death there!). Car launches, aerotows and winch launches we only do with people who are not only properly licensed, but also have a history of sanity and fine judgement. Which does wonders for the safe operation of the airplane.
PS: you’re not the only one feeling really uncomfortable. But then again, some really uncomfortable people have flown the aircraft since 😀
PS2: I know nobody who flies any glider wearing a helmet (as this is restricting vision in tight cockpits) or protective clothing (no fire hazard there)
By: Edgar Brooks - 22nd December 2010 at 16:04
There used to be one at High Wycombe’s Royal Grammar School, during the 1950s; I had the doubtful pleasure, once, of helping to haul on the elastic rope. It was kept in the C.C.F. rifle range, which always seemed to be pushing their luck a bit.
Edgar
By: G-ASEA - 22nd December 2010 at 15:07
I feel really uncomfortable seeing that image. Nothing worn as protective clothing, no helmet,.. An accident waiting to happen if you ask me!
You should have see Geoff Moore at Dunstable. He flew a EoN Primary with no clothes on at all some years back. Not a pritty sight!
Dave
By: David Burke - 22nd December 2010 at 11:58
The person appears to be the crumple zone anyway so I wouldnt worry too much!
By: Fouga23 - 22nd December 2010 at 11:49
I feel really uncomfortable seeing that image. Nothing worn as protective clothing, no helmet,.. An accident waiting to happen if you ask me!
By: ericmunk - 22nd December 2010 at 10:46
There’s one for sale in Holland (not ours) which has been fully restored/overhauled and with a current CofA. Very good condition, saw it last year. PM me if interested…
PS: it also has VERY low hours 😀
By: Deskpilot - 22nd December 2010 at 01:00
The Australian Grasshopper
When I saw the title of this thread I thought it would be about this aircraft. I know which I’d rather have.
Grasshopper (Aus, 81). The Grasshopper was designed in Australia by Colin Winton as an ultralight aircraft, weighing only 254 lbs when empty. Single-seat, mid-wing ultralight. Fuselage fiberglass with tube, fiberglass and Dacron wings. Wings removable for transport. Forerunner of Jackaroo. Wing span 27’.
By: Fournier Boy - 22nd December 2010 at 00:41
I’m getting there – dont rush me!!!! Space is limited and customers are queuing so bit difficult to spend hours sewing! Due to quieten down in April at the moment, but then again I am considering the Lasham Regionals……
FB
By: G-ASEA - 21st December 2010 at 21:42
I’ve had a few people contact me about restoring Grasshopper’s lately. So lets hope we see a few more getting airworthy.
Dave
By: Deryck - 21st December 2010 at 21:36
We had a Dagling Primary in our club in Canada. It never flew during the years I was there!
By: ericmunk - 21st December 2010 at 19:28
At least flying ’em is fun…
By: Fournier Boy - 19th June 2010 at 09:38
We’ve found a rudder! Have located a T38 Rudder in Cirencester which I hope to pick up one weekend in July, needs a recover so I will do this when I cover the tailplane.
Meanwhile in the workshop, all the tailplane and rear fuselage metal fittings have been stripped, dipped, and protected, reassembled and reattached. Have some bead blasting to do on the tailskid and that will remain off until the back end has been fabriced.
Port wing and aileron have been completely stripped and examined and I need to conduct the wood repairs before this gets covered.
Next step is to strip the Stb wing which as far as I am aware does not require any repairs and then we are in fabric mode!
Might have a few days off next week to go to the Camphill Vintage Rally, weather depending, so not much going to happen on poor old grassy…
For those that emailed me about the available Grob Astir project, I am still awaiting final clearance from the underwriters before I can send out pictures, I do apologise but I hope to have that sorted this week.
FB
By: Fournier Boy - 8th June 2010 at 14:14
Another update, this time on the move traveling along the A12 to London! Tom and I have just been to rescue the two Everett Aero T38s from Ipswich, parts from these will go to get our T38 back flying.
As for our dear airframe, the tail feathers are stripped and work started yesterday on the port wing. We should have all the wood repairs complete by the end of this week, and I have a work experience student joining me next week who will be tasked with helping strip the stb wing.
All looking good so far for fabric back on by end of June, then its the forward fuselage that need tackling 🙁
Regards
FB
By: Fournier Boy - 18th May 2010 at 20:06
Work started today on the rear fuselage strip (rest of workshop full of Slingsby Vega, ASW15, Ventus 2CT, and Libelle so not enough space for wings!). The rear fuselage is going to require a capping strip repair which I think we’ll do at the same time as the tailplane and rib repairs. Possibly going spruce shopping tomorrow (lots of aviation suppliers around here!) so hope to maybe do some gluing at the start of June.
Plan is to finish the Vega and ASW15 tomorrow (Ventus went tonight) which will give me some workshop space back. Libelle will hopefully fly this weekend so aiming to start Grasshopper wings on monday!
Piccies to follow when I get around to downloading camera!
FB
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