Caproni A-21SJ

Indeed it was, Nick, so here goes...

It was April 2, 1988 (I looked in my logbook) at Marfa, TX. I was there
with a group from the Texas Soaring Association (TSA) and had my grungy,
beat up Mosquito. I saw this guy (Nick) pulling a glider out of the trailer
and went over to offer assistance.

It was an ASW-19b freshly restored after a trip through a barbed wire fence
and finished like brand new. It had a lightening bolt flashed across the
fin and the contest letters, ZAP. There was also a Porsche prancing horse
on the instrument panel
(http://flippies.com/adflipoff/wp-con...he-logo-05.jpg)
or was it the Ferrari logo? I'm not sure... I still have the digital stop
watch that was velcroed to the panel. It served me in my next three
gliders, two LS-6s and my current LAK-17a. It's retired to my dresser now
but is still running after 25 years. I think I replaced the battery once in
all that time.

I remarked on how great the ship looked and Nick told me all about the
restoration. He then asked what I was flying and I told him it was a
Mosquito. He said that the Mosquito was his favorite ship and I immediately
offered to trade with him even-up. I also asked what it would cost to
finish the Mosquito to the same standard as his -19. I gasped at the
number...

We flew our gliders that day and, that night at dinner in Alpine, TX,
decided to swap ships for the next day. Thermalling together on April 3,
and discussing each others' gliders, one or the other of us, I don't recall
which, allowed that we could make an even swap!

After landing, Nick rummaged through his papers and found one FAA bill of
sale. Since we didn't have two forms, we flipped a coin to see who would
get the official document. I won and Nick sold me his -19 for a dollar and
other valuable considerations. I wrote out a bill of sale on the back of an
envelope and handed it over to Nick with the promise that, upon returning to
Dallas, I'd execute a proper bill of sale and mail it to him. He accepted
my word and I followed through.

What a perfect contract, as Nick said - thermalling together and closing the
deal in flight!

Thanks for the memories, Nick!

BTW, someone else on this news group is still flying ZAP. Maybe he'll join
it.

Dan

wrote in message
...
Hi, Dan! A friend alerted me to the A21SJ. Thread being picked up...after
these many years..gasp!
Re the Capronis...still have both I-Jett and Starship ...that's the last
one made..number 257. The A us bird we called DUE. Pron dou-way. She is
not 257...That was a number of convenience.
Have considered re-engining at least one of the birds....right now both
girls are in storage pending more time in future.
Dan...you should tell how we met up.....it is a hoot. The most perfect
contract ever !

Cheers,

Nick L.

Go ahead.

http://member.guinnessworldrecords.c...spx?existing=0

Thanks for that,Dan. The idea of acquiring a sailplane whilst thermalling at Marta is too neat to forget!
You might be amused to note that I still own a Missile....the last serial numbered one in the Americas,I believe. I still think a great deal of that sailplane!
Cheers,
Nick L.