Acquisition of SZD-51 glider
BASA members:
The club was presented with an opportunity to buy an SZD-51 Junior glider quickly at a reasonable cost, so we jumped on it. The Executive Committee and Sponsor Members have approved the purchase, and we should be taking delivery within the next two weeks.
The SZD-51 is sort of a modern fiberglass equivalent of the 1-34. It was designed from the start as a club glider, with a large payload capacity (242lbs pilot weight) and very rugged construction. It has a roomy cockpit, and apparently the one we are buying has been regularly flown by a 6′ 6″ pilot. Handling is described as docile by all commentators. Glide performance is good at 35:1, but at the rather low speed of 43 knots, so upwind penetration will be an issue. Control hookups are all automatic. These gliders are still in production in Poland, so parts should be available from the factory.
For more details, see this page.
A scanned copy of the POH is available here. Please read over it if you plan to fly the glider. (You will need to rotate the document clockwise in Adobe Acrobat.)
The particular glider we are buying was previously used as a rental glider at Williams. This glider was manufactured in 1988 and has about 1400 hours total time (airframe life limit is 6000 hours, with a 6000 hour extension possible). It has a polyurethane finish, and wingtip wheels. Damage history consists of some tail boom damage in 1991, and some minor wing dents, all repaired by Rex Mayes at Williams.
Other features and equipment are:
- The sailplane will be delivered with a fresh annual inspection, polish and wax, and new fabric covering on rudder in addition to repairing a small ding on the underside of the aileron.
- A new Becker 4201 radio.
- A new 12V 12ah battery in back and a cigarette lighter plug in the console will be installed (for a solar panel charger).
- Master power switch in panel.
- The glider has a pee tube installed.
- Rex moved the tow hook years ago from a CG position to just under the nose so very similar to the 1-34.
- Rex will aero tow the glider with his Super Cub to Hollister by 4/15/06, earlier if possible, weather permitting.
The glider does not currently have a trailer, a transponder or oxygen equipment, but Rex has committed to take care of those a little later. The plan is that in May, before moving the glider to Truckee, we will take it back to Williams for:
- Install aluminum oxygen bottle in fuselage.
- Put a quick fill connector, gauge, and outlet in the front panel with plumbing to oxygen bottle run through fuselage.
- Install Terra transponder in panel, with encoder.
- Move vario knobs from lower part of panel up next to vario to make room for transponder.
- Modify existing open Cobra 18M trailer to fit this glider. This includes new sides, shortening trailer by 2m, and fabricating wing and fuselage mounts.
Scott Boynton has posted some photos of the glider on the hgcgroup page on Yahoo. If you are a member of the hgcgroup newsgroup, you can sign into Yahoo and view the photos there.
BASA members will need a CFIG checkout to fly the SZD-51, just like any other BASA glider. So we’ll get the local CFIGs up to speed on it first, so they can give checkouts.
In the long run, the SZD-51 will replace our Schweitzer 1-34. We plan to hold onto the 1-34 for a few months, however, while we try to get Pegasus 2BA back flying again.
To pay for the SZD-51, we will be borrowing $20,000 from BASA members. The loans will earn 5% interest, and will be repaid from the sale of the 1-34 and from available cash flow. If you would like to participate in this loan, please contact me at harryfox@sbcglobal.net.
Thanks are owed to Scott Boynton for taking the lead on this acquisition.
– Harry Fox
[Update: There’s now a SZD-51-1 Junior Checkout document available. Please complete it before your cockpit checkout and briefing.]