Just indulging some memories, as I logged a lot of hours in ‘Blankets’ during my 30 odd years of memebrship at the Cornish Gliding (and Flying) Club at Perranporth. I remember we used one on my Instructor’s course at Culdrose, along with the RNGSA Capstan and SZD Pucsaz(sp?).
At Perranporth, our first Blanik was originally privately-owned by a caring syndicate of Club members in the 70’s, before passing into Club ownership. The original owners kept it very well, and I remember helping to treat the metal (alclad?) surfaces with WD40 against the corrosive Cornish maritime climate. However, the airframe did have a shelf-life (I seem to remember 3000 hours but I could be wrong.) For a 2 seater, it didn’t seem too much of a beast to rig and de-rig and so it was popular for cross-country flying.
I am sure to the T21 generation of pilots, the Blanik had an upholstered palace of a cockpit, and was a dream to fly, as it seemed to ‘go round on rails’, with well-harmonised controls. The airbrakes were pleasant to use, and I could fly an accurate approach much more easily than in a K13. I think it had fowler flaps, but I am not quite sure why, we never used them.
The Blanik is probably not regarded, yet, as a ‘collectable’ aircraft. Please don’t feel too upset over the issue. There are many good people preserving classic and vintage gliders, and restoring many to flyable condition, and the Blanik will be with us for many years yet.
SoG
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