The 1.5m diameter steel pipe hoop we ordered from Metal Shop Technics is ready, and Laurie will pick it up next Thursday morning. He will then bring it over to Bonnells Bay so we can sort out the details. The fuselage will be supported in the hoop by the conical bores in the carry-through spar…

Rob Moffat informed me that he will be requiring the workshop tidied and our wings removed by 1.Sep. as he and Laurie Simpkins will be conducting a mandatory 10-Year Survey on the clubs Puchatek VH-GKD. It was a foul day, so didn’t mope too much about not being able to fly that day. Instead, rolled…

I was invited by Rob Moffat to join a working bee on the Vintage Gliding NSW Bocian 1E. VGN members Neil Bennett, Peter Rundle and Rob Moffat were there, as well as a couple of ladies. Neil was replacing the undercarriage bungees. This involved a couple of trial and error attempts to get the bungees…

Laurie is away in Qld. visiting family and spoiling his grandkids, so pottered around the shed solo. I sorted and cleaned a section of the storage shelves to create a dedicated KYU section which will NEVER be encroached upon by general stuff. In line with the “sterile cockpit” concept, I’d like to think this will…

Removed rudder. Suspect bent bottom bolt. TO BE REPLACED. Glue separation at bottom of fin. MINOR WOOD REPAIR. Rudder bottom. MINOR WOOD REPAIR Removed front and rear canopies. They are wrapped in flanellette and stored inside timber framed crates covered in builders plastic. Removed canopy hinges and main pin cover plates. Some of the wood…

The SZD-9 Bocian is a Polish two-seat glider, known for its versatility in training, record flights, and aerobatics. Developed by SZD (Glider Experimental Works) in 1952, it was designed to replace older trainers and quickly gained popularity for its performance and robustness. Over 600 were built, with exports to 27 countries. Our Bocian VH-KYU was imported to Australia by the Geelong…

Laurie and I are members of the Central Coast Soaring Club at Mangrove Mountain airfield. While I have been around gliders all my life (I started at age 15 in Germany), Laurie has only recently been introduced to our great sport. I have always been interested in older sailplanes and motor gliders, with syndicate memberships…