And goes better...ah, nostalgia...Gold Distance/diamond goal in a Skylark IV, o/r Challock, through the 'Gatwick Gap' (does it still exist, I ask myself?) and round the big aerial thingy at Chilbolton....

Hello All,
I stumbled across this thread whilst looking for information on Skylark 4s. I am in a position to purchase a 1963 Skylark 4 but I have a few reservations and need some advice.
The sailplane has a blemish free history without any damage and was overhauled and recovered about 10 years ago.......that's the good part. The problem that concerns me is that it has been kept in an open hanger for the last few years and although has a current CofA hasn't been flown for at least a couple of years. Because there is some wood deterioration on the end rib of the center section and I bore scoped the inside of the wing. Although I think the deterioration is just on the outside, I did find a lot of mouse droppings all through the center section. The glider does smell musty but other than the stated problems, looks to be in fairly good condition. I have some photos of the affected area, but I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to post them!
I would really appreciate any advice you can give me.

Thanks,
Ian

Hi Ian

I've owned a share in a Skylark 4 for longer than I care to remember.

Musty and wood gliders don't go well together. Get a second and third opinion from people who understand wooden airframes. Diagnosis by photos wouldn't be enough.

best of luck
Dave

mice and wooden aircraft are not compatible, not just the droppings but mouse urine and the nibbling damage

take an experienced inspector with you

good luck...beatiful machines...and nothing that can't be fixed....given time and money

GAZSD

Thank you both for your sound advice. As much as I would love to own this sailplane, I think I will have to pass it up. The mouse issue really concerned me more than the deteriorating wood because of the associated urine. If the sailplane was cheap enough, I would probably be willing to tackle the restoration but the owner is asking $9000 for it and I was expecting an immaculate example.

There is a Dart 17WR for sale in England........does anybody know anything about importing a sailplane into the USA?

Thanks again,
Ian

Your first stop should be the British Gliding Association.
This is a very rare glider, I would expect it to be annexe II. All darts have a bonded spar, and delamination has in the past been a problem causing several to be stopped flight. Lovely to fly, but not a little boy's aircraft.
You might consider a standard libelle, which should be fairly easy to find in the USA, a lot were exported there.

He is havin a giraffe :)
A wooden glider in that condition is worthless unless historic and rare - and I would hardly call a skylark 2 ultra rare LOL
As PC posted - you might be better off with glass - Std Libelles are lovely little gliders (esp with top and bottom airbrake conversion ) - unless you are over 6 feet tall !
Another lovely glider is an Open Cirrus (a little like a grown up libelle) but of course it all depends on what is available !
I certainly would not pay much for any Dart variant !

If I understand correctly it was $9000 being asked for the Skylark 4, which would be way too much in the UK, even for a good one with a good trailer.

I just built a new trailer for mine, and the trailer is probably now worth more than the glider! (and it was flown by Nick Goodhart in the 1963 world championships).

But I love it dearly.

Darts are not Annex II

You are absolutely spot on Astir 8 - it was the Sky 4 - but still waaaay too much for even a 4 !!

I agree that $9000 is way too much for a Skylark 4, but this is the States where even a 1-26 or a K6 goes for $8000!!! You can call me weird, but I seem to have a perversion for vintage wood. I'm looking into importing a sailplane from England, even with the cost of shipping it works out cheaper and I feel that gliders are much better cared for in the UK.

Unfortunately, a Libelle is out of the question for me as I'm 6'4". I even have a hard time fitting it the back seat of a ASK21 with a parachute.

Thanks to you all for the advice.

Ian

If you like vintage wood, most polish gliders seem to be made for the tall and skinny. You might consider the cobra, or the foka.

Be aware that both the Cobra and the Foka (and a few other types) have the same rigging method and need to be rigged with very great care to avoid a probably fatal accident.


SZD COBRA WARNING


Also:
Air Accidents Investigation: Download PDF document


The BGA has issued an alert on this, unfortunately it doesn't want to load for me right now.

Same method as my Standard Mucha, not to mention the Bochain. So? Rig properly, like any other glider. Then do a proper pre-flight inspection.
I've seen other types mis-rigged, and other types have failed due to mis-rigging.

I was at the Foka accident, so if considering this type or an aircraft that uses the same rigging method please double check.

A sad unavoidable accident, however, if the correct manufactures rigging procedure had been followed along with using the correct tools for rigging the UK Foka this accident could have been avoided.

Sad, indeed. Unavoidable? Well, no.

As you say

I had a share in a Cobra about 40 years ago. I liked it it. We never had any problems rigging and de-rigging it. The only problem that we had was the gel coat covering the plywood surfaces started to craze quite badly so she had to go back to Poland to be re-finished. After that; no more problems.

Well please enlighten us all ? they used the WRONG tool to join the wing, simple.

Really it was down to unfamiliarity with rigging the glider. See the AAIB report previously referenced.

Having said that, a lovely glider to fly. Just be aware of the potential problem and the ways to avoid it.