Charlie Spratt

1979, Sunflower Gliderport, Standard Class Nationals. Flapped gliders were permitted to race in Standard Class, but they must either have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed to indicate if the flaps were not at zero. They were permitted to use the flaps up to three minutes per flight. This was to permit use during the critical takeoff and landing phase, and kind of important to those flying PIK-20Bs. Charlie was assigned to be "The Flap Fuzz". His job was to check the seals and timers on all flapped sailplanes when they landed. Since people were landing all around the airport, Charlie needed a way to get around. He was given a small, 100 CC dirt bike. That would only drive in first gear. So, there was Charlie the Circus Bear on this tiny little motorcycle, screaming like mad, doing 10 MPH across the ramp, scurrying from glider to glider when the gaggles came home. And he did it all with a big smile.

Steve Leonard
Wichita, KS

On Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 10:21:00 AM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
1979, Sunflower Gliderport, Standard Class Nationals. Flapped gliders were permitted to race in Standard Class, but they must either have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed to indicate if the flaps were not at zero. They were permitted to use the flaps up to three minutes per flight. This was to permit use during the critical takeoff and landing phase, and kind of important to those flying PIK-20Bs. Charlie was assigned to be "The Flap Fuzz". His job was to check the seals and timers on all flapped sailplanes when they landed. Since people were landing all around the airport, Charlie needed a way to get around. He was given a small, 100 CC dirt bike. That would only drive in first gear. So, there was Charlie the Circus Bear on this tiny little motorcycle, screaming like mad, doing 10 MPH across the ramp, scurrying from glider to glider when the gaggles came home. And he did it all with a big smile.

Steve Leonard
Wichita, KS

We started going to contests in 1978 when our kids were 7 and 10 years old. They thought Charlie was the greatest. He had model airplanes, fireworks, and a Holiday Inn bath towel and room key so he could stop at any Holiday Inn and jump into the pool to cool off and clean up. Our kids were looking forward to the next contest to hang out with Charlie at the gate. At the end of the first contest day I had barely rolled to a stop when the kids came running up and excitedly said" Dad, you aren't going to believe it! CHARLIE IS AS OLD AS YOU ARE!"

On Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 10:21:00 AM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
1979, Sunflower Gliderport, Standard Class Nationals. Flapped gliders were permitted to race in Standard Class, but they must either have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed to indicate if the flaps were not at zero. They were permitted to use the flaps up to three minutes per flight. This was to permit use during the critical takeoff and landing phase, and kind of important to those flying PIK-20Bs. Charlie was assigned to be "The Flap Fuzz". His job was to check the seals and timers on all flapped sailplanes when they landed. Since people were landing all around the airport, Charlie needed a way to get around. He was given a small, 100 CC dirt bike. That would only drive in first gear. So, there was Charlie the Circus Bear on this tiny little motorcycle, screaming like mad, doing 10 MPH across the ramp, scurrying from glider to glider when the gaggles came home. And he did it all with a big smile.

Steve Leonard
Wichita, KS

"...have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed ..."

Sounds strange. I can imagine ways that the flap handle could be locked in position or sealed (maybe "warranty void if seal broken" labels). But how does a flap "timer" work?

On Sunday, April 12, 2020 at 3:55:34 PM UTC-4, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
On Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 10:21:00 AM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
1979, Sunflower Gliderport, Standard Class Nationals. Flapped gliders were permitted to race in Standard Class, but they must either have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed to indicate if the flaps were not at zero. They were permitted to use the flaps up to three minutes per flight. This was to permit use during the critical takeoff and landing phase, and kind of important to those flying PIK-20Bs. Charlie was assigned to be "The Flap Fuzz". His job was to check the seals and timers on all flapped sailplanes when they landed. Since people were landing all around the airport, Charlie needed a way to get around. He was given a small, 100 CC dirt bike. That would only drive in first gear. So, there was Charlie the Circus Bear on this tiny little motorcycle, screaming like mad, doing 10 MPH across the ramp, scurrying from glider to glider when the gaggles came home. And he did it all with a big smile.

Steve Leonard
Wichita, KS

"...have their flaps locked in position, or have a timer installed ..."

Sounds strange. I can imagine ways that the flap handle could be locked in position or sealed (maybe "warranty void if seal broken" labels). But how does a flap "timer" work?

My flap timer was a sealed box with a magnetic switch that closed if the flap push rod moved more than about 1/4 inch. It had to satisfy the CD. Rules allowed 2 minutes of flap time to land. This was on a PIK-20 that had landing flaps only.
UH