treadigraph
12th Oct 2023, 13:43
Long shot, but does anyone know if the GAL 56 tailless glider was ever tested anywhere in the Penrith area circa 1948. Friend's relative is quite certain that it's what he saw as a child, flying low enough to see the pilot over Helton a few miles SW of Penrith. The first had crashed near Lasham in early '48 killing Robert Kronfeld, the two remaining transferred to the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at Beaulieu. The GAL 56 fits his memory well...Given Winkle Brown's frank assessment of it's very poor handling, I can't see it being towed anywhere for any length of time! Only possibility I can think of is it was on tow to somewhere like West Freugh and had to release.
He's quite sure it wasn't the AW 52 which was certainly active around then and I can't think of any other suitable candidates.
So if anybody has any ideas at all, he'd be most grateful!
He's quite sure it wasn't the AW 52 which was certainly active around then and I can't think of any other suitable candidates.
So if anybody has any ideas at all, he'd be most grateful!