Vintage gliders at Lasham

That’s me on the Grasshopper BTW 😉

Excellent meeting, with loads of fun.

Lasham is only a hour+half from me so I thought I’d go an have a look
I was lurking around the launchpoint mid day on the final saturday and saw the Grashopper being winched launched
On the light nylon cable rather than the heavier steel one.

Had a look round the new vintage hanger on the far side of the airfield.

I just can’t imagine why anyone would attempt to fly a 4×2 with wings attached!

Why not? There’s whole hoards of passengers flying pressurized coke cans thinness skinned planes on a daily basis. I’ll take the 4×2 any time. At least it won’t have an explosive decompression if it fails… 😉

For your peace of mind: the strength does not come from the wood, but from the wires. And they’re brandnew.

Derek Piggott was at the rally when I was there.

Dave

You need to take a trip to Old Warden, they regularly airtow their EoN primary glider to altitude behind their Super Cub.

I think only the modern aerobatic machines they get in scare me more than watching the EoN – I just can’t imagine why anyone would attempt to fly a 4×2 with wings attached!

Does Derek Piggott still turn up at Lasham? Many years ago I was taught history by one of his sons…

Adrian

Eric, Yes they did want the wood from the spar. They also owe me a beer. Next time we meet, We can drink. I think bits of glider from the workshop have been used all over Europe.

Dave

You need to take a trip to Old Warden, they regularly airtow their EoN primary glider to altitude behind their Super Cub.

They do too at Lasham with the one that is based there. Ours was just visiting.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Primary glider on long finals, though!!

You need to take a trip to Old Warden, they regularly airtow their EoN primary glider to altitude behind their Super Cub.

I understood the Germans also are very interested in the wood in the spar since that is no longer available should they want to make any repairs to their flying Spatz and Bergfalke. And Dave, I think I still owe you that beer.

The only time you’ll find me flying a Primary is suspended from a tripod in a strong wind.
It was an enjoyable day at Lasham, although rarities from the Continent were a bit thin on the ground I thought. Still, many thanks to all of you who made the effort to cross the Channel and entertain us.

Most welcome. Shame you weren’t around that evening for the tripod flying then, a great hit with pilots and visitors alike!

We did bring the Sky and Prefect as well, although you probably missed that Prefect since it never made it to Lasham (tow bar broke off on the ring road of Antwerp. The aircraft is fine, which is about the opposite from what the conditiuon of the highway is at that place!). Cross over to Terlet (Netherlands) in two years (VGC Rally) and you’ll see more continental rarities than you care to count!

And very nice they looked, Dave.

I had a good time at Lasham. I had a few people try to buy my Kite 1’s off me. I did take an old L Spats wing down for the Germans, who wanted the metal fittings of it. Spent a bit of time rigging our old Kirby Kite and Grunau Baby.

Dave

Glad you liked them, Eric. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Primary glider on long finals, though!!
The only time you’ll find me flying a Primary is suspended from a tripod in a strong wind.
It was an enjoyable day at Lasham, although rarities from the Continent were a bit thin on the ground I thought. Still, many thanks to all of you who made the effort to cross the Channel and entertain us.

Wow, sublime. What is it like to sit on the edge of nothing and fly around?!

Anon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-_nsM7kODo

Wow, sublime. What is it like to sit on the edge of nothing and fly around?!

The Grasshopper and its begoggled pilot look more like something out of a Mad Max film than a vintage aeroplane rally:highly_amused:

Great pics, slicer.

Anon

Thanks for those. Lovely pictures. I think I saw you taking the pics on short final (hence the waving) of 27 that day. I think you were at the back of the winch queue?

Eric

Yes it was a superb event. Is this also you in the pilot’s seat – well seat is a generous term! I was amazed to see the Grasshopper aero-towed to a fair altitude!

Tim

Yes, that’s me as well. Never seen so many pics of myself in a thread before…

The Grasshopper has a Vm that is also Vmax for aerotow of only 46 kts, so we can tow behind most slow tugs that have the right performance at slow speeds. The Super Cubs is on the fastish end, but will do the trick if flown by an experienced tuggie as it is near stall when towing the Grasshopper. Any faster than 46 kts is not a very wise idea structurally-wise: Vne is only 70 kts, and it starts to develop aileron-reversal towards that (the wings warp more than the ailerons can compensate). It is a very interesting aircraft to fly actually, although I doubt we’ll ever make up for the time we spent rebuilding it (it was a wreck when we started).

More Grasshopper action…..and respect!!

Eric

Yes it was a superb event. Is this also you in the pilot’s seat – well seat is a generous term! I was amazed to see the Grasshopper aero-towed to a fair altitude!

Tim

That’s me on the Grasshopper BTW 😉

Excellent meeting, with loads of fun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busterthebear/

Enjoy.

The tour they offer is superb.