Libelle 201 query

Originally Posted by Martin Gregorie[_5_]

On Fri, 29 Jan 2016 22:26:44 +0000, Ommadawn wrote:

I have a significant history of hang gliding, RC model soaring and FPV
piloting.

How will you be launching your Libelle?

I ask because its *essential* that you get properly briefed by a current
Libelle pilot before you winch it. You may also find these notes useful:

http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libelle/h201_notes.html


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

I'm partway through my XC road trip epic to see this bird. Just covered 1000km today, and same again tomorrow, then another 250 odd km next day. Alone in a country motel room...
I just hope it will be worth it.
Thanks for the links JS. I see the Libelle pops up in pics in the latest AG mag too.
My club uses winch launch. I had already discovered the Libelle notes, thanks for the pointer though Martin. I actually did my Silver C in a Club Libelle back in 1980. That had a parallelogram stick, and a tendency to pop the nose on launch. The winch launch procedure was to hold the stick full forward against the stop until she un-stuck, then gradually rotate.
I imagine the 201 may be similar, but without the brilliant TE airbrakes of the clubby. My club used to own a 201, way back in the day, but I never got into it. My brother in law ended up buying it from the club.
The one I am going to look at was built in 1973. When did they stop using balsa sandwich? Is there any simple way to see if this one is composed of balsa? Is there a complete list of serial numbers? I found one for the Cirrus, listing the reg history of every one built, or lost in accidents.
Cheers guys.
The epic continues. Watch this space...

On Sun, 31 Jan 2016 10:15:02 +0000, Ommadawn wrote:

The winch launch procedure was to
hold the stick full forward against the stop until she un-stuck, then
gradually rotate.

Fairly close to what I do, then.

I imagine the 201 may be similar, but without the brilliant TE airbrakes
of the clubby. My club used to own a 201, way back in the day, but I
never got into it. My brother in law ended up buying it from the club.
The one I am going to look at was built in 1973. When did they stop
using balsa sandwich?

I don't know the date, but from memory that was about s/n 192 but may
have been spread over more gliders. The balsa replacement was quite
gradual over at least 10 gliders - something like wings first, then stab,
followed by fin and finally control surfaces. I think the transition was
completed with s/n 321. This is also the point when the H.201 officially
became an H.201B.

The old and new tailplanes differ in size (difficult to spot unless you
kave both the compare) and in LE radius. The old tailplane has a fairly
sharp LE - 10-12mm radius while the new B-series tailplane has quite a
blunt LE, which I'd guess is at least 12mm in radius.

Is there a complete list of serial numbers?

Not that I know.

Try Glasfaser, http://www.streifly.de/

They have owned the type certificates since Glasflugel folded, maintain
the TN/AD list and are generally helpful and friendly to deal with. Their
English is excellent too.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |