I don’t have anything ready either, but can I ask if anyone thinks my suggestion of a few days ago to keep the thread going (if we think it is in danger of getting too obscure) might be useful? On 26 September I said:

If really we are running out of steam and unable to find any more obscure types, and risking boring some of our friends, maybe we should make this not just a “guess the type” contest; ie: add another question, such as where? Or when? Or whatever. Then even an easily recognisable type would provoke some head-scratching and research. Just a suggestion.

Laurence

No problem Thomas. No “insult” taken! I was just trying to think how GRP-like some wooden gliders are (M100, M200), and how some, like the Wa26, may be mistaken for wood! I have flown all those.
Still not found it though

Laurence

Akaflieg Stuttgart FS-24 Phönix

Laurence

Well done John. Photo taken by a friend on the island of Ballalae a few years ago.
Your turn.

Laurence

Is it OK to post a wreck? If so, what is this?

Laurence

Absoluely right Avion. We were up near the Croix de Coeur altiport above Verbier (at 2500m) a month ago when Ruppert himself was foot launching (photo), and also a local Verbier owner, Philippe Bernard. This glider can be either foot or bungee launched, winched or aerotowed.
Soon after this, on 19 September 2010, Phillippe was trying some (unauthorised) aerobatics at Saint Hilaire when the right wing broke. He pulled the emergency parachute, and landed safely. Lucky man

Clear take-off, Avion

Laurence

I hope this one is OK for Wotplane. I wanted to post something at least, as the thread is threatened. As I have said before, I do not post often, but I do follow regularly and enjoy it.
To please Avion, this one is neither metal, swept winged nor jet powered. It does fly however, and very well too. The setting is rather pleasant also!

If really we are running out of steam and unable to find any more obscure types, and risking boring some of our friends, maybe we should make this not just a “guess the type” contest; ie: add another question, such as where? Or when? Or whatever. Then even an easily recognisable type would provoke some head-scratching and research. Just a suggestion.

Laurence

As a teenager living in Peterborough in the 1950s, I used to watch the Valiants on the wide circuit from Wittering flying over the Westwood area. I am not sure what sort of approach it would have been. Gee-H?
They were common between 1955 and 1960. The first I saw was a very early production one, WP201, and they went right up to the last, XD875. XD818 (the nuclear test, Hendon and Cosford one) was among them. The first production Valiant, WP199 was at Marshalls in 1962, I recall.

Laurence