L-13 "Blanik"

[hasegawa]

[scaber]

QUOTE (hasegawa @ Oct 19 2014,1:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This brings back many fond memories. I learnt to fly in one of these - and also the K13. I might have to look this up and relive some of my youth! Thanks for sharing.

[Ian Warren]

Last time a flew a glider on a PC was Flight Unlimited One, crikey that was almost 20 years ago.

[Splitpin]

Great to see a glider again , excellent screens .... love # 1 .

[hasegawa]

MEMORYS.... Fine, if we can bringing them back with "virtual flights."

[BruceR]

Yes, I think this will bring back memories for a few of us. I did a lot of instruction flights in the Otago Gliding Club's Blanik back in the 70's. We purchased it brand new. I recall one Saturday morning I was taking a group of girl guides for joy rides so they could get their (something) badge. It had been raining that morning and the inside canopy started fogging up while we were still on tow over the Wingatui Racecourse area. My 16 year old passenger was in the front. On our Blanik there was a small red lever on top of the panel which opened the air vent seen on the top picture (although the red lever is not shown). I asked this girl if she could see the small 'red' lever on top. She said she could. I then asked her to lean forward and push it to one side to open the air vent. Instead she pulled the yellow tow release lever also shown on the top picture, and off tow we came. For a moment the racecourse was looking good for a landing. It was a calm day with no wind so we were able to do a straight glide home to the Taieri airfield without doing a circuit.

Memories .............


Bruce Ross

[Ian Warren]

Bruce, I like that one ... did they ever do an eye check on the Girl to find out if she was colour blind, a good example of the similar sort off thing , a very prominent FSX aircraft painter who's work is extremely well done is off all things colour blind, JanKees told off this little story painting a DC-3 giving it that weathered worn torn look and his daughter comes up ... stops looks at it and says "Why is the top of that DC-3 bright fluorescent green" it was suppose to be a worn metal grey, after his history of painting, it just shows the skill JK has - wonder if the girl you had was that way.

[BruceR]

No, but I think she was a little embarrassed. She only had about a 5 minute flight, whereas all the others had at least 20 mins. I think there was a bit of a race between myself and the tow plane to get onto finals first.

Bruce Ross

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (BruceR @ Oct 22 2014,4:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, but I think she was a little embarrassed. She only had about a 5 minute flight, whereas all the others had at least 20 mins. I think there was a bit of a race between myself and the tow plane to get onto finals first.

Wonder if she returned and gave it another go ? you would never no I guess.

[Naki]

Memories for me too. The Blanik was the first and only glider I have flown in....from Taranaki Gliding Clubs old field on the slopes of North Egmont

[hasegawa]

The Blanik is a Design of the 50´s... Are they meanwhile all gone in New Zealand? Or is one or another example still flying? One question... was the instrumentation like western standart with ft and speed in mph or Eastern Meters and km/h?

This example has metric instruments typical for the former Eastern Block and Russia still today.

[Naki]

There is only one Blanik left on our register. Whether it's flyimg I'm not sure. It's in New Plymoutj so it may of been the one I flew in.

[SeanTK]

Nice to see a glider make an appearance in the forums. I have some history with that part of Oahu as well, so it's cool to see the location pictured too!