Westmacott Skylark

What a memory, T-21! There is indeed a photo of the Westmacott Skylark in the February 1960 issue of S&G. It can be seen at http://www.lakesgc.co.uk/mainwebpages/Sailplane%20&%20Gliding%201955-1960/Volume%2011%20No%201%20Feb%201960.pdf. It’s a useful image in that one can get an idea of its diminutive size when its viewed as a backdrop to the brothers who built it. Furthermore the commentary to the photograph does bear out the view expressed by K8B. But isn’t building, towing and flying a Skylark a much better way for young lads to pass their spare time than being mesmerised by a Nintendo!

Thanks, T-21. A search of the FlightGlobal Archive had already drawn a blank. I’ll contact S&G to see if they have anything.

Back in the sixties there was a photograph in Sailplane & Gliding magazine of this machine. The BGA hold a library at Leicester and may be able to help.
Also try the “Flight” archive as well.

I wonder whether the Westmacott brothers had in mind the Granger brothers Linnet of 1926 (originally a glider but subsequently installed with a small engine) when they designed and built the Skylark. It’s sad that there don’t seem to be any photographs of the latter.

It looks rather like a relative of the Tiger Cub microlight, which appeared in the 1980’s, and then disappeared again. That was designed by Russ Light, who went on to design the much more appealing Sherwood Ranger

Bearing in mind that it was built as recently as 1959, one would hope that someone might have photographed it and know something of its career and fate. Anyone?

I don’t think the Westmacott machine could really be described as a glider, it was just a tethered man-carrying kite, incapable of free flight. . .

The book say’s that R.J.Westmacott later entered the Rollason aircraft Design competition with T.G. Chambers, and their Chamcott Challenger was placed 5th. But thats all.

Dave

What a machine 😀
What happened to the brothers ? did they go on to design a slightly less ‘draggy’ glider ?? :diablo:

All i can find is in Norman Ellison’s Book ‘British gliders and sailplanes 1922-1970.
One only built, in 1959. Total cost £5, which included £2 for the wheels. It was towed on its flight trails by a jowett Bradfod Van.