der rückwärts fuchs

07-Jan-12

OK then, its not exactly text book German (literally it would translate to "the backwards facing fox" ... if it were not for the missing verb). However, for our purposes at the airfield, it is supposed to be "the back-to-front fox". It refers to the registration of Alex Horvath's K6 (VH-XOF) which flew at Caboolture for the first time today ... and XOF does have a German flag on its tail!

Ka6 VH-XOF - stored in its hangar in Victoria (Feb'11)

After weighing and rigging XOF this morning (to complete the 40 Year Survey and Annual Inspection that have been undertaken over recent weeks by Bert Persson ... assisted by Bernard "Speedy" Gonsalves), it was a matter of hoping for flyable weather for Bert to take the evaluation flight today. The weather had deteriorated during "second breakfast" ... however eventually the cloud base lifted from the morning levels of around 1,500 feet to be around 2,400 feet by lunch time and a few blue holes appeared to the east of the field to allow Bert to aim for a 3,500 feet launch.

Bert supervises the rigging of XOF ... with "moral support" from owner Alex ... out of

shot supporting opposite wing tips are Kevin Rodda and Speedy). Note the excellent

condition of the fuselage surface ... this K6 looks as though it had been made from plastic!

Bert, Alex, and Speedy - excited to have XOF ready to launch.

Ready, and waiting for the tug to arrive..

Speedy appeared extra keen to share the evaluation flight with Bert!

Alex gently waves his "baby" away on its first Caboolture flight.

Bert in XOF returns from the gloomy conditions.

Given the prevailing conditions, it was a handy 1 hour 25 minutes before Bert returned from from the evaluation flight in XOF. Not known for being a man of too many words, he commented ... "she flies like a K6" ... good praise indeed from a "master" who has a great respect and affection for the K6's classic wood and fabric single seat glider design. Weather conditions had deteriorated further before Speedy took a 15 minute hangar flight.

It was a very pleased Alex who headed for home with XOF

de-rigged and safely tucked away in its trailer.

Along with GSR (Bernard Gonsalves), GRV (Kevin Rodda) and GRS (Barry McCarthy & Garrett Russell), Alex's XOF now makes it four K6 vintage gliders operating out of Caboolture. GSR and XOF are both German built (Schleicher Ka6-Cr models) while GRV and GRS are both Australian built (Schneider ES-KA6 models).

> Return to Home Page