Photos of the ex-Cornish Gliding Club 1967 ‘Wills’ Swallow under restoration at Feshiebridge, many thanks to David (Astir 8) and the syndicate owners:
I am really pleased to see her looking so good at 45 years of age, she was apparently well stored for a few years at Feshiebridge and the climate in Scotland seems to suit her.
Phil
Photos of the ex-Cornish Gliding Club 1967 ‘Wills’ Swallow under restoration at Feshiebridge, many thanks to David (Astir 8) and the syndicate owners:
I am really pleased to see her looking so good at 45 years of age, she was apparently well stored for a few years at Feshiebridge and the climate in Scotland seems to suit her.
Phil
Hiya Astir!
My apologies, I did miss the PM.
I remember it well, and have many, many launches in it. In fact after my 3 ATC cadet soloes in the Cadet Mk 3/T31 for my ‘A & B’, your ‘Wills’ Swallow was the next glider that I flew solo, and the first that I flew solo at Perranporth. I flew my Silver duration and gain-of-height in her.
As you know, I am sure, WD & HO Wills were valued sponsors of the gliding movement in UK in the 50/60’s. They promoted a competition between Gliding Clubs, in which each Club’s nominated representative (an ab-initio) who was trained by their Club to solo standard, and then tested by the BGA in every aspect of their efficiency in gliding operations both in the air and on the ground.
This would include the academic and practical aspects as well as general flying ability. This tested the Club in the quality of their training and instruction.
The competition was won by Mr Noel Ellis of the Cornish Gliding (& Flying) Club, where your Swallow, (a Dart canopy model) came and joined another Swallow (a tear-drop canopy one). She remained at Perranporth doing typical Club early-solo service, I suppose until replaced by a K6-CR, perhaps in the 1980’s.
New early-solo pilots inevitably took proud ownership, and she was kept looking good despite of hard use. I don’t remember and notable incidents to cause her damage in our ownership, although you may find ply repairs to her under-side due to our rough old runways.
The ‘dart-canopy’ had a ‘low-cut’ foreward edge which gave excellent forward visibility, but I found it disconcerting, wanting always to raise the nose in relation to the horizon, and therefore flying it on the slow-side.
It climbs very well on the launch, 50-55 kts as usual, even with airbrakes fully extended which I once demonstrated to my shame. The airbrakes tend to ‘snatch’ out when you unlock them. You can’t really stop it, just expect it and ease them as you need. ( I seem to remember some Swallows had a bungy modification to ease this snatching but I may be mistaken.)
Being light, she goes up well in a thermal, and her short wings make for good aileron response. The marked wash-out, I can only suppose that was introduced as a matter of necessity or thought to be advisable given her use as an early-solo machine.
She was much loved and gained many first-soles, Bronzes, and even Silver legs, and I am absolutely delighted to think that you might get her airborne again.
If you’ll forgive the vanity, here is a picture of me in her.
Avions Anciennes, you are quite right, we were poor as church-mice, and could only afford Woodbines, but had few other vices!
Best wishes,
Phil Hawkey.
Hiya Astir!
My apologies, I did miss the PM.
I remember it well, and have many, many launches in it. In fact after my 3 ATC cadet soloes in the Cadet Mk 3/T31 for my ‘A & B’, your ‘Wills’ Swallow was the next glider that I flew solo, and the first that I flew solo at Perranporth. I flew my Silver duration and gain-of-height in her.
As you know, I am sure, WD & HO Wills were valued sponsors of the gliding movement in UK in the 50/60’s. They promoted a competition between Gliding Clubs, in which each Club’s nominated representative (an ab-initio) who was trained by their Club to solo standard, and then tested by the BGA in every aspect of their efficiency in gliding operations both in the air and on the ground.
This would include the academic and practical aspects as well as general flying ability. This tested the Club in the quality of their training and instruction.
The competition was won by Mr Noel Ellis of the Cornish Gliding (& Flying) Club, where your Swallow, (a Dart canopy model) came and joined another Swallow (a tear-drop canopy one). She remained at Perranporth doing typical Club early-solo service, I suppose until replaced by a K6-CR, perhaps in the 1980’s.
New early-solo pilots inevitably took proud ownership, and she was kept looking good despite of hard use. I don’t remember and notable incidents to cause her damage in our ownership, although you may find ply repairs to her under-side due to our rough old runways.
The ‘dart-canopy’ had a ‘low-cut’ foreward edge which gave excellent forward visibility, but I found it disconcerting, wanting always to raise the nose in relation to the horizon, and therefore flying it on the slow-side.
It climbs very well on the launch, 50-55 kts as usual, even with airbrakes fully extended which I once demonstrated to my shame. The airbrakes tend to ‘snatch’ out when you unlock them. You can’t really stop it, just expect it and ease them as you need. ( I seem to remember some Swallows had a bungy modification to ease this snatching but I may be mistaken.)
Being light, she goes up well in a thermal, and her short wings make for good aileron response. The marked wash-out, I can only suppose that was introduced as a matter of necessity or thought to be advisable given her use as an early-solo machine.
She was much loved and gained many first-soles, Bronzes, and even Silver legs, and I am absolutely delighted to think that you might get her airborne again.
If you’ll forgive the vanity, here is a picture of me in her.
Avions Anciennes, you are quite right, we were poor as church-mice, and could only afford Woodbines, but had few other vices!
Best wishes,
Phil Hawkey.
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