Regarding the open canopy, was that by design, or an interesting post-launch discovery? 🙂

A bit of both. It slides backwards (by design) and may be opened in-flight. Very nice. There is however an SB to periodically check the endstop for wear, as the canopies had a habit of going full-stop-and-beyond when opened. There’s a very nice story in ‘Delta Papa’ by Derek Piggott where he lost a canopy in-flight that took out the tail as well. His student and himself bailed out at circuit height and the Bocian landed upside-down in a field of cows (it was repaired). Personally I have been a bit suspect of the endstops on any Bocian I fly ever since I read the story…

Sadly almost all Bocians were grounded due to an issue with cracked wing spar mounts about a year ago. The ‘fix’ which costs the best part of £2,000 per aeroplane was deemed beyond economic repair in most cases, hence their ready availability for sculptures, garden ornaments etc!

You sure? That sounds awfully like the LET L-13 Blanik that was grounded in November 2011, for which an STC became available in 2012, a fix that is a lot more expensive. The Bocians main problem is its factory-imposed service life and TBO, combined with a history of poor glue joints. Shame, a lovely aircraft to fly, even with open canopy.

Please don’t mention B***a, for the sake of humanity don’t for gods sake !

Why? What’s in Bermuda?

you are quite correct. 😉

I think the photo actually proves him wrong. The undercarriage has collapsed. A Magister sits low on its undercarriage. But not *that* low.

Can anybody please ID this aircraft. It was posted on the Vintage Glider Club wall on facebook. Its a bit like Hinkler’s Ibis, but it is not it?

Dave

Hi Dave,

That’s the one-off Carden-Baynes Bee.