Long ago, I was renting (!) RF-4s and RF-5s out of Biggin Hill, the WWII
base. I am ever grateful to the young guy who ran Sportair.
He let out renters solo, first time out (necessarily). The birds were
registered as light aircraft - but years later, on the basis of quite a
few hours in this type, the UK regulatory agency (was it DAA?) endorsed
my license with a self-launch glider add-on when I came by to update it!

Brian W

Wayne Paul wrote:
Brian,

I really enjoy flying my old HP-14. It is a lot of performance for the dollar. If you follow all the links you will see that I enjoy making modifications. Some to improve performance, and some just because I want to.

Just a short note. The type of ticket required to fly an aircraft here in the US depends on what is stated on the Air Worthiness certificate (AWC). If the bird in question (RF4) AWC states it is an "Airplane" then you must have a SEL to legally fly it. If the AWC states "Glider" then you must have a glider rating with a self-launch endorsement in your log book.



"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message ...
That's a good looking sailplane Wayne. I loved the brag about holding
down to 18000 ft. I have had lots of pleasure flying a Fournier RF4
down to the Channel Islands. That was often billed as a self-launch
glider, though I flew it on a private SEL ticket.

Brian W

Wayne Paul wrote:
Brian,

You might want to look into the Experimental Soaring Association. (http://www.esoaring.com/) There is quite a bit going on. Each year there is both Eastern and Western Workshops, etc.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s there was a lot of activity in the homebuilt sailplane community. In fact I purchased and currently fly a sailplane from that era. (http://www.tinyurl.com/N990-6F) My website features sailplanes designed by Dick Schreder (http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder)

Depending on where you live one of Sandlin's designs could give you a lot of enjoyable flying.

Cheers,
Wayne


"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message ...
I was browsing with homebuilt for a keyword, and ran into that
delightful web site that features Goat, Bug, and kindred ultralight
gliders or as he prefers to think of them, flying chairs.

It's not so often you run into free for downloading drawings, in various
standards. Drawn beautifully, and which give a distinct impression of
being pretty much unbreakable in normal use, and offering a way out in
abnormal use (a throw out parachute that lands you tail first, with your
back supported).
The techniques were recognizable as grown-up versions of how early
Rogallos were put together - with crossbolts, sleeves, tangs and
gussets - using alloy tube and steel cables. Good on ya, Sandlin!
(Wish there was a bill of materials - it would be tempting to buy the
materials just for the pleasure of putting one together.)

Brian W