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ericmunk

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Viewing 15 posts - 1,501 through 1,515 (of 1,519 total)
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  • in reply to: Vintage Gliders in museums? #1105330
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Here’s one for you taken last fall. The aircraft indeed suffered a severe accident (pilots ok) in June 1995 effectively writing off the one-off T.21C. Nose destroyed forward of the main bulkhead, one wing destroyed outwards of the strut (this wing also had the drag spar and wing attachments torn out of it) and various smaller damages to the other wing and aft fuselage. Reason was the canopy accidently opened on winch launch, the aircraft was unable to return to the field due to drag issues (big canopy!) and it hit a dune during flare off-field.

    It has been lovingly been restored at Hilversum (Netherlands) by a group of dedicated owners from 1997-2009. It was registered again last November. Lovely aircraft, superb craftmanship!

    in reply to: WZ795 pictures #1105591
    ericmunk
    Participant

    There’s some gaps in its history, but here’s what I have:

    From the original RAF record (via RAF Hendon Museum):
    Built by Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd., Kirby Moorside 1952; awaiting collection Kirby Moorside 26Sep1952; WZ795 Royal Air Force (Air Cadets) (delivered 7Oct1952); 9 MU 15Oct1952 (delivered 7Oct1952); 63 GC Flight 31Mar1953 (delivered 18Mar1953); damaged in accident Mar1953 and sent away for repairs; 63 GC Flight 30Apr1953 (delivered 13Apr1953); HQ.64 GC (FTC) 31Mar1959 (delivered 23Mar1959).

    Then a huge gap (1959-1980s)

    1980s: BGA.3488/FSK D. Smith, later Vince Mallon (RAF Laarbruch). I (with some friends) bought it in 2001 and we ended up spending 6 years rebuilding it, and then built a trailer for it (which is rather high because of the A-frame).

    Any information on the gap years (1959-1980) and ownership by D. Smith more than welcome!

    in reply to: Vintage Gliders in museums? #1105741
    ericmunk
    Participant

    The Aviodrome – apart from their own collection – received as a donation a collection of some 13 gliders around 2003 (2x T.34 Sky, Olympia, Gö.4, Skylark III, Skylark II, 2x Grunau Baby, Sagitta, 3x Rhönlerche, T.30 Prefect). On one condition: if there were any takers, they should be restored and flown by glider pilots and not put into storage. At the moment all apart from the Skylark II and two Rhönlerches are under restoration or are flying. Another Rhön is on display in a home for the elderly. A good way of dealing with it: costs for restoration, maintenance, trailers, etc are for the holders, with the guarantee of the aircraft returning to the national collection when the holders are tired of it – and in better nick than they were before!

    Having said this, the Aviodrome has a poor record of storage in the past, also for donated gliders some of which were reclaimed by their owners due to deteriorating condition (water damage, mechanical damage). The museum at this time displays a replica Zögling, Baby IIb, Ka.8b, Rhönlerche and Lilienthal glider. Several other gliders are in storage.

    in reply to: Scrapyard Photos; Any More? #1118065
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Fascinating Tocumwal pictures. Spent two years at that airfield (actually living in one of the big WW2 hangars). Not a lot left of the aircraft that were broken up there. There were two good spots, however, to taste the history of the airfield.

    The first was a Lockheed Hudson aft fuselage stored in the open behind a barn on private property outside the current airfield (but on the grounds of the bigger WW2 base). No plans for its immediate future, apparently. One side was bare alu with traces of yellow primer, the other still in original camouflage, with roundel and USAAF serial showing (41-23198, this would make it A16-128).

    Other site is the two big WW2 hangars just outside the current airfield that are owned by a private gentleman who used to be a Sunderland radio-operator during WW2. He uses them for storage of about any conceivable thing, and they were in the process of getting cleared out when I was there. One held a complete Dakota (VH-JGL later moved to Mulwala for display) and a fleet of dismantled Singaporean AF Hawker Hunters plus an incredible amount of spare engines, etc. At the time I noted 526, 502, 533, 535, 546, 506, 521, 538 (left to right in the photo) and 531, 529. Some of which have found a new home since. The other hangar held dozens of aircraft for spares or parting out. A lot of glider wrecks, some modern stuff (Cessna’s etc.), but also a stack of 6 fuselage frames I was told were CAC Wirraway, radial engines, WW2 aircraft wheels, dozens of antique cars. Moest of it has moved by now. At the time I was told ‘that the good stuff had already moved’, the good stuff apparently being amongst other things Mosquito cowlings and undercarriage legs, B-24 engine and various parts, a Boomerang (40 % complete) and a big collection of vintage gliders that went to Melbourne.

    Incidently, the third WW2 hangar still standing (Sportavia’s) at the time held a stored Dove and Albatross, both for sale.

    in reply to: EON Olympia 2b #1130408
    ericmunk
    Participant

    2012 sounds great. Have passed on your message to the custodian of PH-176, the last airworthy Fokker-built Olympia (1947) and the guy who is rebuilding what was left of PH-174 (not sure if he makes 2012 though), plus the man flying Nord 2000 BGA.2840 in Holland. Apart from that there’s an Austrian built Olympia stored in Holland in mint condition but without CofA. Maybe 2012 is a good reason for it to get active?

    in reply to: SAAF Shackleton #1133008
    ericmunk
    Participant

    I thought those were the engines? 😉

    in reply to: EON Olympia 2b #1142759
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Achmer, last summer. The odd looking contraption behind the Skylark is our 3.40 meter high T.38 Grasshopper trailer, by the way.

    in reply to: EON Olympia 2b #1143152
    ericmunk
    Participant

    FB: your Skylark BNK is still up and about. Came across it in Germany last summer at a VGC-meeting. In case you were wondering (but you probably know the current owners).

    in reply to: EON Olympia 2b #1143441
    ericmunk
    Participant

    FB, I may be able to help out with instruments in some months. We’re converting our Sky from feet to metric and have an ancient altimeter and a good speedometer going cheap.

    How’s the sternpost? Have seen some serious water issues with them on EoN Oly’s in the past…

    in reply to: EON Olympia 2b #1144531
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Presume you are already a Vintage Glider Club member? Good source of parts-sources for the restoration… At Slingsby’s over Salland we’ve certainly enjoyed the membership: we rebuilt and fly a Prefect, Grasshopper and Sky. We’re looking for a (potentially) flyable T.21 at the moment. Anyone?

    in reply to: Stacks of Yaks? #1158298
    ericmunk
    Participant

    The Dutch one is out of action for now. Damaged in a groundloop in Germany some time ago. Damage to port wing, undercarriage, prop. Will fly again though.

    in reply to: Viking mishap #1158781
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Turns out this is G-AGRW at Schiphol (indeed), but on February 17th, 1960 (not 1946). Up on its nose after the lefthand tyre blew during braking for a quick exit of runway 27 on landing. Crew was fine.

    The aircraft is now displayed at a McDonald’s near Schwechat (Austria).

    in reply to: Central Australia and Northern Territory trip #1161346
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Maybe this photo will help re the wreck between Katherine and Katherine Gorge. It is a Cessna 310 (VH-ANV) of Air North that was damaged in a refuelling accident at Darwin in October 1980 and put on ‘display’ here.

    in reply to: Slingsby Kirby Kite Prototype #1171099
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Have you tried Chris Wills for photos? I understand he has a substantial collection…

    in reply to: Slingsby Kirby Kite Prototype #1175273
    ericmunk
    Participant

    Dave,

    Lovely work: good luck with the Kite. That Minimoa,. would that be the former Dutch one that returned to the skies last year after a long restoration?

    Eric

Viewing 15 posts - 1,501 through 1,515 (of 1,519 total)