Guest pookemon Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 This is completely nuts. Imagine going up in a Glider... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Hardly think the wing is stressed for that. Having the two gliders perform similarly when one is inverted is curious. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pookemon Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Yeah if you look at the still of the guy touching the fin, the brakes on the upright glider are out - so they're probably in a dive to maintain the speed of the upper glider with the lower one doing all it can to keeps it's speed down. The shape of those gliders is very rags and sticks but I suspect they're actually carbon fibre/fibre glass. I can't imagine they were built for wing walking though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 No they're sheet Al. it's one of only two gliders I've flown. I looked for the spoilers ( should've looked harder). Good bit of flying that. Mad Bastards. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flying dog Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Yeah, I've seen that a long time ago. Would love to know how to download and save it. Tried, tried and tried. Failed, failed and failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Yeah if you look at the still of the guy touching the fin, the brakes on the upright glider are out - so they're probably in a dive to maintain the speed of the upper glider with the lower one doing all it can to keeps it's speed down. The shape of those gliders is very rags and sticks but I suspect they're actually carbon fibre/fibre glass. I can't imagine they were built for wing walking though! L13 Blaniks kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 No they're sheet Al. it's one of only two gliders I've flown. I looked for the spoilers ( should've looked harder). Good bit of flying that. Mad Bastards. Nev The worldwide fleet of L13's was grounded about a year ago due to fatigue cracks in the wing roots. Not sure what the current state of play is but they used to get thrown all over the sky years ago. kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studentbiggles Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 The worldwide fleet of L13's was grounded about a year ago due to fatigue cracks in the wing roots. Not sure what the current state of play is but they used to get thrown all over the sky years ago.kaz Hi Kaz...............Don't I know it ......................I was training in our club Blanik two years ago.................what a beautiful girl she was................then she bit me on the bum I stalled her twice in under 2mins that got my heart rate going and my instructor doing this I slapped her when I put her back in the hangar Then a week or so later she was grounded Miss the old girl, especially when flying with eagles at 4500'...................That actually was the last flight I had in her..................Great way and memory to go out on though ................Alley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Don't underestimate those old Blaniks! Try that in a "Plastic Fantastic". The Blanik is the only sailplane I recall seeing flown with its canopy off (and in this case opened in flight)... couple that with its acrobatic capabilities and its a capable old bird. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Don't underestimate those old Blaniks! Try that in a "Plastic Fantastic".The Blanik is the only sailplane I recall seeing flown with its canopy off (and in this case opened in flight)... couple that with its acrobatic capabilities and its a capable old bird. I instructed in Blaniks at Euroa in the early 1980's. I sent one young uni student solo and he then got all enthusiastic in single seaters. Cross-country required a parachute so he decided to go down to Packenham to learn how to use it. Came back all excited and cajoled me into taking him for a jump from the Blanik sans canopy. I ended up tipping him out! kaz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan_c Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 There isnt many blaniks that are still flying as far as i know. Caboolture has done the required modifications to allow theres back in the air, and i have been flying that one, but I remember them saying that not many people bothered. I think they are a fantastic glider. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueadventures Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 There isnt many blaniks that are still flying as far as i know. Caboolture has done the required modifications to allow theres back in the air, and i have been flying that one, but I remember them saying that not many people bothered. I think they are a fantastic glider. Hi Nathan The Blanik (VH-GPS) at Central Queensland should be back flying in two or three weekends time. It is lucky some had the wing spar modifications done years ago. I hear one is a current project. Best I can make out is that about seven can fly. I see on a google search recently that a Red Bull one is flying again with the european modification at gives approval to fly again. It not as an extensive modification and the life extension is much shorther then the llewlyn modification done in Australia. Cheers and I hope to soon share the joy of a recent Blanik Flight. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have a hypothetical... could parts of an old Blanik be used in an experimental aircraft? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Well... the whole thing if you could just stick a motor on top and limit it to single seat and fly as per Ra AUS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
408059 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Well... the whole thing if you could just stick a motor on top and limit it to single seat and fly as per Ra AUS? Been tried many times in the past here in Australia and overseas. Some of the installations have been a success many have not. Lots of compromises and the Blanik doesn't like the engine vibrations. I suggest you talk to the old hands at the GFA who will be able to give you better history and possible leads to follow. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueadventures Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Well... the whole thing if you could just stick a motor on top and limit it to single seat and fly as per Ra AUS? I'd like to have self launching on GPS but for the ugly engine appendage and the drag. Bert Persons at Cabulture has flown many aircraft as test pilot and there is a clip of a flight in a motorised Blanaik look through the Caboolture webb page albums. Blaniks should stay pure gliders. You must come down for a flight sometime. I need my next trip down to finish its current form two list and get some time back under my belt. Cheers Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Hey Mike... I would be there with bells on... last time I "flew" a Blanik I was just about able to touch the rudder pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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