On Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:39:59 -0700, ContestID67 wrote:

Someone at the gliderport brought in a 1969 version of "Joy of Soaring".
It was fascinating to flip through the pages. Many things are the same
then as now.

There were several pictures of gliders; Diamant, Standard Libelle, 1-26,
2-33, Sisu, Skylark 4, Dart, Kestrel - all of which I have heard of -
and a BJ-4 which I have never heard of. The sailplane directory only
mentions, with zero deails, a Beatty-Johl BJ-3.
http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...cfm?PlaneID=44.

The configuration of the glider is rather different in several aspects.

- The horizontal stap appears to be a counter-balanced all flying tail
with 2 visible weights on ~12" booms attached to the leading edge.
- The horizontal and vertical stabs are overly large.
- There is a small vertical stab below the fuselage that also houses the
tail wheel.
- There is something 3-4" long trailing from the wings at regular
intervals.
- The aspect ratio of the wing seems very high.
- There is a visible gap between the wing and the ailerons.
- The registration appears to be "ZS-GFD" which is South African.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_registration - The competition
number is "4".

Can anyone tell me more about this glider? Sure wish that Dick Johnson
was still around, I'd bet that he'd know in a heartbeat.

I will try to scan in a copy and get it on the web.

- John DeRosa

One of two built according to sailplanedirectory.com

Same wing as BJ-3, aspect ratio of 20.

"The BJ-3A was developed from the BJ-3 in 1968, followed by the BJ-4,
which features a new fuselage and tail unit and uses the existing BJ-3
wings. The original T-tail was replaced by a tall perpendicular fin with
an all-flying tailplane located on the fuselage behind the rudder. The two
BJ-4s were built for the 1970 World Championships."

Image of BJ-3
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/...rd=Beatty-Johl
+BJ-3&offset=0

Fowler flaps on the trailing edge.

Frank Whiteley