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"New"
glider for YCAB |
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29-Oct-13 |
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I
went for a quick run in the car down to the shops for
Sharon about an hour ago and came back the part-owner
with "Speedy" (Bernard Gonsalves) of another vintage glider
... purchased over the phone
while sitting in my car outside the Supermarket!
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Speedy and I have, over the last few
days, been agonising as to whether we should
"rescue" her. After a long discussion with
Speedy late yesterday afternoon, I had actually told the
present owner by phone that
we had decided against purchasing her as we really do
not have anywhere to store her at present.
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We
had made our "final" decision to walk away from
the purchase knowing true well that,
a few years down the track, we would be kicking
ourselves furiously for not taking up such a rare
opportunity.
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Then
at 5.33 pm last night, as I was getting ready to head off to a CGC
Committee meeting, I received the text message from
Speedy that I didn't expect (and, in reality, probably
didn't really need) ... it simply said "I will go
halves with you".
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I
am now planning to collect GLM from Gulgong (Cental
Western NSW) on my next family trip to Dubbo ... which is
scheduled for between now and Xmas.
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GLM
is a Schneider Kookaburra MKII two-seat sailplane
built in Australia in 1957 ... although there is a
rumour that she was returned to the factory fairly
early in her life after some significant damage had
been sustained and was upgraded
to a MKIII while being repaired ... this is yet to be confirmed,
however she also shows up on the CASA Aircraft
Register as a MKIII ...
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GLM
is a magnificent example of an Australian classic ...
the Kookaburra was the workhorse training glider for
most clubs in its day and is still an excellent
trainer or a very social way to fly with side-by-side
seating.
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She
was fully rebuilt and recovered 12 years ago, is in
like new condition, and has been hangared ever since the rebuild. Her 10-yearly Survey was
completed only two years ago and new harnesses were
fitted a year ago. She comes with an original but fully
refurbished open trailer.
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From the
"Vintage Times" (newsletter of Vintage
Gliders Australia) Issue 101 Jan'06 ... reporting on
Awards presented at the VGA AGM ...
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Something
makes me think that I will be making very good friends with Jenny and
Tony over the next few months (Craig and Ferguson that
is!).
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Kevin
Rodda
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Bernard
Gonsalves
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