Primary Glider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Here & There
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Primary Glider
Anyone had any experience of one of these wonderfully dangerous contraptions? We had a Primary Glider at our school...for the uninitiated it as in effect a plank with a seat and wings (fabric) that was launched by your compadres using a large bungee! The sight of my school freinds scattering at I launch for my first flight over the playing fields will remain with me forever!! 
I expect H&S binned them some time ago.
Smudger
I expect H&S binned them some time ago.
Smudger
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EGOE
Age: 58
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh my God, the infamous "Grasshopper".
Many a happy hour spent whizzing across the playing fields on one of those.
We had a chap who managed to "hop" it over the road into a field, all of us babies then had to go and dismantle it to bring it back.
We were still using it in '83, not sure when they went out of service.
Many a happy hour spent whizzing across the playing fields on one of those.
We had a chap who managed to "hop" it over the road into a field, all of us babies then had to go and dismantle it to bring it back.
We were still using it in '83, not sure when they went out of service.
Last edited by TheEvilDiesel; 5th Jun 2006 at 13:03. Reason: Speeling
Yes. I was qualified to fly our school's Grasshopper because I had done one solo in a T31 Kirby Cadet after 23 launches and 1hr 15mins logged. Ten seconds of sheer terror!
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glide angle 1 in 8
Grasshopper TX1 went out of service in 1986.
Serveral survived the axe until 88 when they were auctioned off at RAF Locking............
Most never flew again as they had been stored outside and the wings had warped one way - and the ailerons had warped another !!!
What a nightmare machine - you have to respect the guys who flew them - No Guts, No Glory !!!!
Arc
Grasshopper TX1 went out of service in 1986.
Serveral survived the axe until 88 when they were auctioned off at RAF Locking............
Most never flew again as they had been stored outside and the wings had warped one way - and the ailerons had warped another !!!
What a nightmare machine - you have to respect the guys who flew them - No Guts, No Glory !!!!
Arc
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: near an airfield
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Grasshopper
i actually have a share in our schools grasshopper, a small group of us fly it now and then, getting a quick cct out of it now, got about 50 odd launches,
trying to get video footage from the pilots seat next time we use it. its great fun,
trying to get video footage from the pilots seat next time we use it. its great fun,
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Here & There
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seem to remember having to do 12 'slides' with the wing spoilers before being allowed to 'launch'. I got to slide 3 and the spoilers slipped and I got airborne! Managed to keep it straight and level and avoided the Pavillion! Result!
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: due south
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had a Dagling in the club at Andover many moons ago.
On good thermal days when everything else was staying up we would drag it out and have spot landing competitions.
It would barely make 600ft on the winch, and then it would only just make it back to the launch point !
Good fun on a nice summers day, no instruments, so one judged the speed by the feel of the wind on the face and comparing the undersurface of the wing to the horizon to asssess the angle of attack.
On good thermal days when everything else was staying up we would drag it out and have spot landing competitions.
It would barely make 600ft on the winch, and then it would only just make it back to the launch point !
Good fun on a nice summers day, no instruments, so one judged the speed by the feel of the wind on the face and comparing the undersurface of the wing to the horizon to asssess the angle of attack.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Witney
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's an airworthy Danish-built 2 seater "primary" called a G2.
I've flown a couple of circuits on the front seat - got video of the whole thing -a view of feet on pedals and then 800' straight down - when I run it on the TV at my club, half the instructors go & hide in a corner.
Best fun I've ever had fully dressed
I've flown a couple of circuits on the front seat - got video of the whole thing -a view of feet on pedals and then 800' straight down - when I run it on the TV at my club, half the instructors go & hide in a corner.
Best fun I've ever had fully dressed
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Norfolk UK
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sedbergh, I think that's the one I saw at a vintage glider fly-in at Tibenham a few years ago - as we were helping out with the launching etc we were offered flights in some of the gliders, surprisingly, no takers for the G2! (I went up in a Sedbergh, much more fun than a modern plastic bullet - I think it managed all of 50 knots going straight down!)
Also, there's a Grasshoppper in 611VGS's Hangar too, though I don't know who it belongs to, or indeed if it's airworthy.
Also, there's a Grasshoppper in 611VGS's Hangar too, though I don't know who it belongs to, or indeed if it's airworthy.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Witney
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tim
yes, that's the one - it shows up at all the Vintage Glider Club international rallies - and there's normally a huge queue to fly (on) it!
There used to be a Grasshopper (or maybe it was an SG 38) in the Bicester hangar when the RAFGSA was still based there. It had an altimeter and ASI fitted (cheat!) but I never actually saw it flown.
I flew a Hols der Teufel primary at the VGC rally in Germany last year but it had a "go faster" nacelle round the pilot so you didn't get the same open-air effect (The owner soared it to over 1000 metres off a winch launch one day!)
But the T21 is still my favourite - but 'kin cold at 5000'
yes, that's the one - it shows up at all the Vintage Glider Club international rallies - and there's normally a huge queue to fly (on) it!
There used to be a Grasshopper (or maybe it was an SG 38) in the Bicester hangar when the RAFGSA was still based there. It had an altimeter and ASI fitted (cheat!) but I never actually saw it flown.
I flew a Hols der Teufel primary at the VGC rally in Germany last year but it had a "go faster" nacelle round the pilot so you didn't get the same open-air effect (The owner soared it to over 1000 metres off a winch launch one day!)
But the T21 is still my favourite - but 'kin cold at 5000'
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In a good pub (I wish!)
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Sedbergh
Tim
But the T21 is still my favourite - but 'kin cold at 5000'
But the T21 is still my favourite - but 'kin cold at 5000'
Many a happy day in the Barge and Mark III, but didn't get to fly the primary left at the back of the GS hangar (that's when they were Gliding Schools, long before the change to Volunteer and Squadron).
Certainly remember a blue warm day with nothing soaring, so was dressed only in T-shirt and shorts, then the thermals started, and by 5000' I did start to feel cold, but still happy as a skylark
There used to be a Grasshopper (or maybe it was an SG 38) in the Bicester hangar when the RAFGSA was still based there. It had an altimeter and ASI fitted (cheat!) but I never actually saw it flown.
Yeh Gods that's going back a bit, it was sold (along with the Fauvel or "Budgie") after Andy Gough died as it was deemed too dangerous for the "modern" winches.
Not sure if it is a myth but someone challenged Andy to give them a free aerotow if they flew the said Primary naked, Andy agreed & promptly towed them to 200 feet on the far side of Bicester town & kept flying a racetrack pattern until the tug's tanks were almost dry (in excess of an hour)
I seem to recall that the flight was re-enacted at Bicesters 40th(?) celebrations afew years ago with a more modestly clothed pilot
Yeh Gods that's going back a bit, it was sold (along with the Fauvel or "Budgie") after Andy Gough died as it was deemed too dangerous for the "modern" winches.
Not sure if it is a myth but someone challenged Andy to give them a free aerotow if they flew the said Primary naked, Andy agreed & promptly towed them to 200 feet on the far side of Bicester town & kept flying a racetrack pattern until the tug's tanks were almost dry (in excess of an hour)
I seem to recall that the flight was re-enacted at Bicesters 40th(?) celebrations afew years ago with a more modestly clothed pilot
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Witney
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rocket
it wasn't that long ago! Maybe 1999 or 2000. Maybe it was privately owned, but it was definitely there, with RAF silver/yellow trainer markings. Fraid Andy Gough was dead long before I started gliding.
I've heard the story about the low (naked) tow over Bicester too! There also used to be a wonderful photo in the Bicester bar of a lass strapped onto a primary. Either the shoulder straps were doing wonders for her bust measurement or she had the most amazing bra.......
it wasn't that long ago! Maybe 1999 or 2000. Maybe it was privately owned, but it was definitely there, with RAF silver/yellow trainer markings. Fraid Andy Gough was dead long before I started gliding.
I've heard the story about the low (naked) tow over Bicester too! There also used to be a wonderful photo in the Bicester bar of a lass strapped onto a primary. Either the shoulder straps were doing wonders for her bust measurement or she had the most amazing bra.......