From: David Higgs
Sent: 26 September 2009
To: 'cgc list'
Cc: 'Dave Donald'; 'Nigel Arnot'
Subject: [cgclist] Even more wood and fabric ......

Seen enough of wood and fabric gliders yet ?

If not, read on ….

This home built Woodstock glider was unboxed and rigged today for a formal weigh and balance examination.

She is changing over from British to Australian registration, and with my ride for the day temporarily offline being fitted with new harnesses this morning, JC suggested I watch over some very experienced shoulders and see what goes on.

When I say “home built” it was between the lounge suite on one wall and the china cabinet on the other, at least 15 floors up in an apartment building lounge room in Hong Kong. There was just enough room to fit one completed wing to the fuselage at a time. Luckily a very understanding partner only had to endure this for 4 years !!

The first launch was off the apartment balcony. The fully completed fuse and wings were individually bubble-wrapped and lowered by ropes down the outside of the building to the ground for assembly at the local aero club.

There are 2 versions of the canopy surround. This windscreen for that wind-in-your hair experience, and an enclosed perspex bubble for threatening weather.

I looked through the entire bulging photo album of the whole build process – it’s truly amazing and all amazingly true.

My unexpected bonus at the end of the day was a wood and fabric daily inspection endorsement – definitely not out of place these days.

Cheers,

David

… oh yeah – Boonah , not Caboolture .. and that thermal-seeking blue sure gets around.