Small world, Jarek. Having finally got to look at the footage, I see Foka IV, competition number 70. That was in 1965. In 1969 Mike Timbrell, a couple of other Sydney Tech Gliding Club members and I bought a Foka IV from the Bathurst Soaring Group, a syndicate of eight that included Merv Waghorn. They had owned the glider for a few years, so it must have been imported soon after 1965. It had competition number 70 on the fin, in exactly the same style as in the film. I think there is a strong chance that this is the same glider. I did my Silver and Gold flights in it, and thereby established some great friendships with members of the old Concordia Gliding Club during their camps at Forbes. We had that very rigging tool, never had a problem but one had to be careful with alignment. Sadly, the glider was written off in a take off accident; the Foka IV had huge spoilers, far too much drag for a mere Auster to overcome. It was an interesting glider, all wood, having no spar. It depended on its thick plywood skins for the wings' strength. We encountered glue problems which thereafter always lurked, in my mind at least. Might have been a good thing that it went. Apart from that, I've always thought it to be the best wooden glider ever made. Another connection; I was taken for my first glider flight in 1968 by Peter Hanneman, ex RAF Red Arrows and recent New Australian. What chance that he was flying one of the (?) Hawker Hunters in the Opening Day aerobatic display? Peter may even have had a hand in the glider's purchase and he lives in Bathurst. Mike Timbrell is in a position to check, and I'm sure he'll let us know. Thanks for the memories. Paul Mander
-----Original Message----- From: aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net [mailto:aus-soaring-boun...@lists.internode.on.net] On Behalf Of Jarek Mosiejewski Sent: Wednesday, 18 May 2011 6:44 AM To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net Subject: [Aus-soaring] Fokas - South Carney Something about Fokas but on much happier note. Recently discovered in the archives, Polish propaganda movie about the 1965 World Comps in South Cerney from the Polish team perspective: http://www.flyingtv.pl/film,lotnictwo62,filmy-0,ile-10,samolot-415.html If you can bear the comments in Polish, a very slow server and lengthy socialist propaganda scenes, there are some interesting moments showing the world comps in the 60b, including a Foka being rigged with the proper T-wrench. Regards Jarek _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
